Poconos tourism and year-round community in Paradise Township
Sweeping vistas of the Pocono Mountains, creeks full of trout and forests that shade hiking trails easily explain Paradise Township’s name. Weekend-trip recreation destinations still pull visitors from New York City and Pennsylvania more than a century after the railroad started a resort boom in the region. Today, Paradise Township has become increasingly attractive to full-time residents who don’t mind a little “Honeymoon Capital of the World” nostalgia. “My son worked at the Paradise Stream couples resort. They still do the champagne-glass hot tubs and heart-shaped bathtubs,” says Walter Lewis, a Realtor at Keller Williams Real Estate with 20 years of experience serving Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. “Paradise Township is a beautiful place. Monroe County as a whole is affordable for people who would otherwise be renting in northern Jersey. Interstate 80 is the jugular vein into New York City. You can live in the Poconos here, have a Pocono housing cost, but have a city wage and a house with a nice yard.”
Private recreation and Paradise Township’s public land
Beyond attracting visitors to play the slots, Mount Airy Casino Resort also maintains outdoor recreation facilities, including miles of forested hiking and biking trails. “Mount Airy actually has a great golf course,” Lewis says. At Mountain Creek Riding Stable, equestrians meet for guided trail rides through the woods. Between the township’s nature preserves and those maintained by the state or the Pocono Heritage Land Trust, residents can access thousands of acres of nearby recreation land. Hikers seek out the ruins of Fieldstone Farm Tank Creek Preserve’s namesake farmhouse, while anglers and hunters seek out trout and deer at State Game Lands 221. The Roof and Little Park are classic community parks, home to athletic fields and playgrounds. During freezing, snowy winters, residents might drive 20 minutes to the ski slopes at Camelback Resort or go snowshoeing on trails closer to home.
A blend of housing styles on hilly, forested land
Single-family homes of many styles and eras line hilly country roads and private, forested developments throughout Paradise Township. Some cabins and simple bungalows have existed since the prewar era, while larger new traditional homes have been around only for the past few decades. Midcentury builders brought plenty of ranch-style homes and simple Cape Cods to the township. Lots also vary widely, from small, secluded acreages in the forest to more typical suburban properties in homeowners’ association-controlled subdivisions. Communities like Timber Hill offer access to shared athletic courts, pools and clubhouses. Prices range from around $200,000 to $500,000. The township’s rustic beauty and nearby resorts make it attractive for weekend visitors and second homeowners. Paradise Township’s regulations prohibit short-term rentals in residential districts but allow them by permit in specific business zones.
Traveling around Monroe County or to NYC
Commuters to Monroe County’s seat start down state Route 191 on the 11-mile drive to Stroudsburg. Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pocono is about 12 miles away in East Stroudsburg. New York City is about 85 miles away via Interstate 80. Besides the limited Pocono Pony bus service at Mount Airy Casino Resort, cars are the only way to get around. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is about 40 miles away.
Attending Pocono Mountain School District
Swiftwater Elementary School serves kindergarten through third grade and earns a B-minus from Niche, as does Swiftwater Intermediate School, which serves fourth through sixth grades. Pocono Mountain East Junior High School also earns a B-minus. B-rated Pocono Mountain East High School offers dual enrollment opportunities through institutions like East Stroudsburg University.
Shopping and dining in Paradise and Mount Pocono
Business life is sparse in Paradise Township, largely made up of mom-and-pop shops and restaurants on country roads. Kasa’s Pizza is known for its fresh pies and indoor kids’ play place. The Water’s Edge Restaurant offers a fine dining menu and views of a nearby pond through floor-to-ceiling windows. The township’s resorts are also home to a few restaurants. Small, historic churches like Keokee Chapel hold services throughout the township, as do larger ones like Innovation Church. For big box stores like Walmart and ShopRite, residents head several miles west to strip malls in Mount Pocono.
Events through Mount Airy and Paradise Township
Mount Airy Casino Resort hosts private events throughout the year, but it also draws crowds to plenty of cover band concerts and dance parties throughout the summer months. Many other concert series and community get-togethers are put on with Paradise Township’s neighboring municipality, Barrett.
Flood risk on Paradise Creek and Cranberry Creek
Waterways like Paradise and Cranberry creeks may flood nearby homes and roadways after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
