Nicholson is a scenic rural community with a small-town feel
Known as the home of the world’s largest concrete railroad bridge, Nicholson offers country living and a small town center in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains. The Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, also called the Nicholson Bridge, was built in 1915 and is visible from much of the borough. Freight trains still cross the bridge today, and the town celebrates the bridge’s history each year on Nicholson Bridge Day. “In Nicholson, you get peace and quiet, but you're close to everything,” says Rhett Butler, a Realtor with Next Door Real Estate who’s sold homes in the area for eight years. U.S. Route 11 passes through the area, connecting it to the larger communities of Clarks Summit and Scranton, which are within 20 miles. “There's stuff to do in the area, but you don’t necessarily have to leave the town if you don’t want to,” Butler says.
Character-rich homes, farmhouses and lakefront cottages
In the town’s center are homes from the early 1900s, with styles including Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Craftsman. Ranch-style and split-level houses are more common in the rural areas nearby. These can sit on multiple acres far from neighbors and are surrounded by woods or farmland. Custom homes inspired by cabin architecture and late 1800s farmhouses are also available. Properties near Lake Sheridan are more closely packed, and homeowners here must join the Lake Sheridan Cottagers’ Association to use the lake. “You can get yourself a pretty good house for a relatively reasonable price,” Butler says. Prices typically range from around $130,000 to $530,000. Some homes in town and near Tunkhannock Creek are at risk of flooding; homeowners here might have to buy flood insurance.
Main Street offers local dining and shopping options
Main Street is the town’s commercial hub, where a row of locally owned businesses and restaurants overlook the Tunkhannock Viaduct. Here, Nicholson Diner serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches in a casual atmosphere, and The Office Bar and Grill offers classic pub fare. Germana’s Pizzeria has Italian comfort food, chicken wings and hoagies. Main Street is also home to a beauty salon, an antique store and a pharmacy. The Dollar General here is the closest option for groceries, and more retail and grocery stores are 20 minutes away in Tunkhannock, including Tractor Supply Co., Walmart and Weis Markets.
The annual Nicholson Bridge Day
Each September, community members come out to Main Street for Nicholson Bridge Day. Within sight of the Tunkhannock Viaduct, hundreds of people celebrate the borough’s history and its iconic bridge. The day includes a train display, vendors, live music and a chicken barbecue.
Clubs at Lackawanna Trail schools
Kids can attend school at Lackawanna Trail Elementary, which receives a B-minus from Niche, and then go to the C-plus-rated Lackawanna Trail Junior/Senior High from seventh through twelfth grades. High schoolers can join 20 clubs, including the Ski Club, which skis at Elk Mountain Ski Resort and takes a trip to Vermont every other year.
U.S. Route 11 connects to other towns nearby
U.S. Route 11 is Nicholson’s main thoroughfare, leading 14 miles to Clarks Summit and 20 miles to Scranton. State Route 92, also called the Viaduct Valley Way Scenic Byway, leads 13 miles to Tunkhannock. Sidewalks in town make it pedestrian friendly. Houses of worship here include St. Patrick’s Church and Nicholson United Methodist Church. Geisinger ConvenientCare Nicholson is an urgent care center in the community, and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City is a 20-mile trip. Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is 32 miles away.
Recreational opportunities in town and nearby
Nordahl Park in town has a playground and is a gathering place for events held by the Nicholson Women’s Club, like Easter egg hunts and plant swaps. The Christy Mathewson Little League plays youth baseball at Tom Bell Little League Field. More in-town recreational options include Belvedere Entertainment Center, a bowling alley and bar that hosts bowling leagues, and Nicholson Tourism Center, which hosts history-themed events in a historic railroad station. “People use Old Route 11 for biking, four-wheeling and snowmobiling,” Butler says. “When they expanded the road, the old route got left in the woods.” He adds that Lackawanna State Park, 6 miles away, and Elk Mountain Ski Resort, 17 miles away, are other popular ways to get outside.
Written By
Annie Franklin
