Always something to do in Packanack Lake
Located in New Jersey's Wayne Township, Packanack Lake is named for the Pacquanac tribe, whose name means “land made clear for cultivation.” It’s a fitting name, given that the area started as marsh and farmland, but in the 1920s, some of its land was cleared for something else: a lake. The little homes that rose up around the water started as vacation homes, but it didn’t take long for people to decide they wanted to stay. Today, Packanack Lake is a private year-round community where life centers around the water. “Within those homes in Packanack Lake, it’s blocks and you’re at the lake, you’re at the beach,” says Francesca Messercola, the CEO of Messercola Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Prosperity. She’s lived in Wayne for 36 years and has sold homes in Packanack Lake for 18 years. “So it’s kind of like vacationing at home every day. That’s the common thread, is the fact that you’re able to kind of take in the fresh air and take a walk around and decompress at the end of a workday.”
Packanack Lake is an active community in every sense of the word. There are always people walking, running and biking along its roads, and the Packanack Lake Country Club and Community Association hosts a wide range of clubs for residents of all ages. Messercola says there’s a huge mom’s club, plus clubs centering around books, gardening, athletics and more. “It’s a great culture for that area because it’s very inclusive and it does have a lot of benefits to it,” Messercola says. “So if you’re an active family, no matter your age, there’s always something to do.”
Swimming, boating and fishing at East Beach, West Beach
Packanack Lake has two beaches, East Beach and West Beach, each with its own boatyard. Swimming, kayaking, boating and fishing are all popular activities at the lake, but the area around the lake is just as popular. “Packanack Lake is great for walking, and it is great to see nature, animals, and families enjoying it,” says Jocelyn Russo, a licensed real estate salesperson at Coldwell Banker. A 3-mile path rings the lake, which Messercola says many people use for their daily walks or runs. In 2023, two fiberglass bridges were installed at the lake’s northern end, connecting the east and west sides of the lake and serving as a popular spot for prom, engagement and wedding photos.
At the southern end of the lake, Packanack Golf Club has a nine-hole course with two tee boxes at each hole; the Packanack Lake Tennis Club has well-maintained courts. Membership at either of these two organizations comes with an added fee above the community’s annual dues, but it costs a little less for residents than it does for those who live outside Packanack Lake. Also right by the water, Kilroy Field offers spaces for baseball, softball and soccer or lacrosse. “There’s a very large athletic association,” Messercola says. “And that does not just include the kids. They start doing programs for the children around the age of 2, but there is adult kickball, adult softball.” Beyond Packanack Lake’s wide variety of athletic and recreational opportunities, Messercola adds that Wayne Township has even more, including the new Wayne Community Center. Located in the town’s old YMCA, it offers many of the same services, just under management of the town.
Small fixer-uppers starting around $400,000
There are still a handful of Packanack Lake’s original log cabins, but most of them have been replaced with bigger homes. Today, most of its streets are lined with Cape Cods, hi-ranches, Colonial Revivals and new traditionals, with a few Tudors scattered in the mix. Small fixer-uppers without direct water access can drop to around $400,000, but homes on the water usually start closer to $600,000. Updated or newly built homes on the water, which often feature huge walls of windows at the back of the house overlooking the lake, can cost up to $1.8 million. Homeowners who choose to join the Packanack Lake Community Association, which opens up access to the clubs the neighborhood is so well-known for, also pay yearly dues. The CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
Weekly gatherings at the community center, Packanack Lake Day
The community center’s calendar is jam-packed with weekly and monthly events, from mah jongg to yoga, but Packanack Lake also has big annual events that bring everyone together. “Every June, they have a Packanack Day, and they’ll have fireworks, food trucks, inflatables,” Messercola says. “It’s a great opportunity to meet and know your neighbors.”
Restaurants and shops along Route 202
Lakeside Restaurant and Bar is one of the neighborhood’s most popular gathering spots. Serving a mix of American and Italian cuisine, it features white tablecloth eating areas, a large bar and live music on the weekends. There are more options along U.S. Route 202, including Blossom Asian Bistro and Lee’s Sushi, which has both sushi and Korean food. For sweets, Packanack Bakery is the go-to. “Packanack Bakery is very well known for their delicious crumb cakes,” Messercola says. “People will come from all over to get those crumb cakes, whether you like the powdered sugar, the chocolate drizzle or just the simple old-school one.”
The major thoroughfare is also home to businesses like car dealerships, hardware stores and pharmacies as well as a Super Foodtown supermarket and a few chains. In fact, Messercola says, it’s so close to the middle school that many students walk to the Starbucks after school lets out. Just 2 miles away, there are even more shops and restaurants along Hamburg Turnpike, including more major grocery stores like ShopRite and Trader Joe’s. Willowbrook Mall also offers tons of major retailers and a movie theater about 5 miles from home. “Wayne has endless shopping, from food stores to clothing stores, shoe stores, and tons of malls,” Russo says. “It’s easy, it’s convenient, and anything you need is right at your fingertips.”
Highly rated Wayne schools
Niche gives the Wayne Valley Public School District an A and lists it as the best district in Passaic County. Children attend Packanack Elementary School, which has an A-minus rating and is listed as the second-best public elementary school in the county, before moving on to George Washington Middle School and Wayne Valley High School, which also earn A-minus ratings. Both schools are among Niche’s list of top 5 middle or high schools in the county. Wayne Valley High is also known for its athletic programs; its football teams have a spirited rivalry with the teams at the district’s other high school, Wayne Hills High.
Major highways near St. Joseph’s University Hospital
U.S. Route 202 runs alongside Packanack Lake’s western side, bringing residents to Interstate 80 or U.S. Route 46 in just a few minutes. St. Joseph’s University Hospital is 10 miles away. New York City is 22 miles away, a trip that takes about an hour and a half.
Occasional hurricanes bring risk of storm damage
Hurricanes and tropical storms occasionally hit New Jersey. When they do, there’s only a minor risk of flooding, but there’s a major risk of high winds that can damage homes.
