Home of an annual car race east of Wilkes-Barre
Laurel Run is a borough bordering Wilkes-Barre on the eastern side of Interstate 81. With a population of around 500 residents, it’s a rural area that contains mostly trees. Nearly everything is directly outside the community, from schools and restaurants in Wilkes-Barre, to outdoor recreation hotspots bordering the borough. Laurel Run’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4. Though it’s generally a quiet place to live, Laurel Run comes alive every July for a much-anticipated annual event. “Laurel Run is best known for the Giants Despair Hillclimb,” says Alan Stout, Executive Director of Luzerne County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Giants Despair Hillclimb is a tradition dating back more than 100 years in which hundreds of people gather to watch cars race uphill. “They go up a steep inclination, racing against the clock,” Stout says. “All the cars line up and take their turns. You get a kick out of what people do to the cars. There were over 130 cars this year – some were formula cars, and some were souped up on their own.”
Limited housing supply in Laurel Run
Within Laurel Run’s hilly terrain, roads extend past dense swaths of trees. Grassy yards typically include several mature, leafy trees. The residential landscape includes raised ranches and bilevels. However, homes rarely come on the market. In recent years, two have been sold around $360,000; this is also the median sale price.
Students may attend Wilkes-Barre public schools
The Wilkes-Barre Area School District, rated C on Niche, serves the area. Students may attend Heights Murray Elementary, rated C-minus, G.A.R. Memorial Middle, not rated on Niche and Wilkes-Barre Area High School, rated C-plus. G.A.R. Memorial Middle has an early morning Learning Academy, which offers students free breakfasts and extra instruction before the school day starts.
Outdoor recreation surrounding Laurel Run
Laurel Run sits on the edge of Pinchot State Forest, a swath of about 54,000 acres that stretches throughout five Pennsylvania counties. Within this state forest is the Seven Tubs Recreation Area, where waterfalls cascade into seven small pools. This scenic spot has long been a popular destination for hikers. Additionally, locals can hunt on State Game Land 292, which borders Laurel Run, and golfers can tee off at the nearby Wilkes-Barre Golf Course, a public 18-hole course. On the other side of I-81, The Dome Sportsplex hosts indoor and outdoor sports games of all sorts, from field hockey to baseball to soccer.
Proximity to the retailers and restaurants of Wilkes-Barre
While there are no grocery stores or retailers within the boundaries of Laurel Run, big-box stores like Target, Wegmans and Lowe’s Home Improvement are directly on the other side of Interstate 81. Restaurants are also a short drive away. “Laurel Run is not that far from downtown Wilkes-Barre – you can get to Bank+Vine and Cork Bar & Restaurant within 15 minutes,” Stout says. Bank+Vine serves French fare while Cork Bar & Restaurant leans more Italian and New American; however, both offer wine, cocktails and an upscale atmosphere.
Quick access to Wilkes-Barre hospitals and highways
Although there is no public transportation within the borough, Laurel Run is well-connected to the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton metro area. Laurel Run is close to several hospitals in Wilkes-Barre; the closest is Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, about 3 miles away. Laurel Run is located between Interstates 81 and 476; Laurel Run Road connects the two highways. Interstate 81 leads about 12 miles north to Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.
