Paupack Township places outdoor adventure at your front door
Whether you live in a home off the water and shrouded by trees or on an airy property by the shore, Paupack Township offers prime access to one of the Pocono region’s top attractions. This Wayne County community runs right up against the massive Lake Wallenpaupack, a magnet for outdoor fun. The township is full of subdivisions, and some have houses with private docks on the water. A variety of restaurants are readily available by the lake, and a full pipeline of public schools is a short drive away.
Lot sizes, home styles and pricing vary widely across the township
Paupack Township has almost six dozen subdivisions in total, offering all sorts of homes in a variety of settings. Developments like Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, Briar Hill and Paupack Point sit by Lake Wallenpaupack. The Paupackan Lake Estates and Whitney Lake subdivisions offer properties along the smaller, private Paupacken and Whitney lakes. Or you can trade direct water access for more land. “You get farther away from the lake and you start getting properties that have more acreage, more rural areas,” says Vernon Waltz, a local Realtor with Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors who’s been in the business for roughly 20 years. “Everything is spaced out a lot more.”
Lots around this area range anywhere from about one-fifth of an acre to 10 acres, and the architecture includes an eclectic mix of A-frame-, ranch- and New Traditional-style homes. Houses directly on the water can sell for prices from the upper $300,000s to well over $3 million, depending on square footage. Other properties range from the lower $100,000s to the upper $700,000s. HOA fees vary from about $30 to almost $200 per month.
Boating, fishing and hiking spots are readily available
This community’s defining feature stretches a whopping 5,700 acres. Lake Wallenpaupack is the second-largest lake contained entirely within Pennsylvania. Its shoreline stretches 52 miles, filled in part by some of Paupack Township’s waterfront properties. But even if you don’t live on the water, you can access the lake relatively quickly from spots like the Mangan Cove boat launch and fishing pier on the northeastern end of the township. Powerboats are permitted, with no horsepower restrictions. Anglers can catch species such as bass, catfish and trout.
Those who want to swim can visit the Palmyra Township Public Beach, located less than 2 miles from Mangan Cove. Other adventures along the lake are available at places like the Shuman Point Natural Area, which features an almost 4-mile hiking trail. Another popular spot is the Lacawac Sanctuary, where there are 12 more miles of trails and a variety of educational offerings for kids and adults. “They have a lot of summer programs for conservation and learning about all different kinds of things related to nature,” Waltz says. “That’s a huge draw; that's really popular.”
Local schools offer classes and clubs for a variety of interests
Paupack Township falls within the highly rated Wallenpaupack Area School District. All four of the schools that area students may attend are clustered roughly 7 miles outside the township off U.S. Route 6. The list includes:
- Wallenpaupack North Primary School, which features kindergarten through second grade and has a Parent-Teacher-Student Association that organizes events like a holiday fair and a sweetheart dance
- Wallenpaupack North Intermediate School, a site for grades 3 through 5, where students can participate in activities like show choir
- Wallenpaupack Area Middle School, which has grades 6 through 8 and electives in topics including business and entrepreneurship
- Wallenpaupack Area High School, where students in grades 9 through 12 can explore clubs focused on aviation, video, weight training and chess, among others
Italian, German and pub fare anchor the area’s dining mix
The pull of the lake creates the foundation for a varied dining scene in this area. The options can suit multiple tastes, with spots like:
- Mike's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, which often offers a variety of specials throughout the week and weekend
- Capri Restaurant, a spot featuring a lake view and an Italian-focused menu
- Der Jaeger, a German restaurant with an attached antique store where reservations to eat are required
- Totem Pole Inn, a pub that regularly hosts live music
There’s also a Dollar General in the township for quick household pick-ups, as well as an IGA grocery store and a CVS pharmacy just north of the community, for more needs.
Scranton area’s jobs, hospital and airport are less than an hour away
The Paupack Township area can feel like a total outdoor escape, but it’s still only about 30 miles from Scranton, the region’s big city. Scranton is a hub for jobs, and its Geisinger Community Medical Center has a 24-hour emergency room. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport sits just outside the city and offers direct flights to destinations ranging from Chicago to Orlando.
![Wayne Epps Jr.]()
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Wayne Epps Jr.
