Tobyhanna’s balanced tourist and year-round community attractions
Tobyhanna extends from the highly developed Pocono Mountains resort areas at the crux of Interstates 80 and 380 to the countryside of western Monroe County. The township’s balance of tourist attractions, short-term rentals and year-round community centers cater to year-round residents and fleeting visitors. “Tobyhanna has a lot of communities within it, each with their own rules,” says Ourania Renata Mavrogiorgos, an associate at Re/Max of the Poconos who specializes in Monroe County. “The HOAs have their own pools, lakes and things like that. Then once you move toward Blakeslee, it’s a more rural area. The Poconos has always been a vacation area, but it’s a good mix of younger families looking for a home and buyers wanting a second home that can produce some income.”
Preserves, parks and Poconos recreation destinations
Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area covers tranquil, forested acres along Tobyhanna Creek, a destination for trout fishing or taking a stroll to the scenic Tobyhanna Falls. Boardwalks and trails take visitors around Thomas Darling Preserve’s wetlands. At State Game Lands 318, hunters and hikers make use of foot trails, heading through the woods and toward glacial ponds called the Lost Lakes. The township’s more typical community parks, Keiper Park and Blanche D. Price Park, offer playgrounds and athletic fields. While it shares the township’s name, Tobyhanna State Park is in neighboring Coolbaugh Township. Still, residents are within 15 miles of the park’s swimming and boating lake, hiking trails and overnight campgrounds. Out-of-state tourists flock to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono Manor. Tobyhanna’s residents can get discounts at the safari-themed indoor waterpark through a program offered to surrounding counties. Jack Frost Mountain Ski Area and Jack Frost National Golf Club are just west of the township.
Homes in amenity-rich communities that allow short-term renting
Single-family homes in custom and classic styles fill Tobyhanna’s rolling, forested hills, mainly in private developments like Arrowhead Lake. Tobyhanna’s median single-family home price is almost $300,000, lower than the national median of about $400,000. A fixer-upper cottage can go for around $100,000, while a luxury waterfront home can go for around $1.4 million. Many buyers care most about the amenities available in their communities. Some, like Greenwood Acres, offer access to boating lakes and playgrounds for less than $100 in monthly dues. Homeowners association fees are usually higher in developments with more extensive athletic amenities. “Lake Naomi Club is an amazing community,” Mavrogiorgos says. “It’s more upscale. They’ve got 18 tennis courts, a golf course, a beautiful fitness center, exceptional indoor and outdoor pools, the lake — it looks like a vacation resort.”
Many buyers come to Tobyhanna looking for a second home or an investment property in the Poconos. For a time, the township capped short-term renting in the borough; Only 12% of homes in Tobyhanna were allowed to be STRs. This rule was voted out in 2025. STR operators will still need a permit and will be held to the township’s standards, plus any regulations set by individual HOAs.
Getting groceries and lunch in Blakelsee
Strip malls line state Routes 940 and 115 in the little village of Blakeslee. There, diners tuck into homestyle breakfasts at Chat-n-Chew Cafe or go next door to get takeout from China Pearl. There are other restaurants throughout Tobyhanna that serve classic American dishes, like Moyer’s Country Kitchen and Jubilee Restaurant. Shoppers browse tchotchke stalls and summertime produce at the Blakeslee Flea Market. Ahart’s Market and DG Market carry groceries, but there are also big box stores, like Walmart, in Mount Pocono.
Traveling around the Poconos and to NYC
I-80 offers a roughly 25-mile drive to the Monroe County seat of Stroudsburg and a 100-mile drive to New York City. Scranton is around 40 miles away on I-380. St. Luke’s Hospital – Monroe Campus is closer, around 10 miles away. The Commonwealth-Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport are about 25 miles from home. Route 940 has bike lanes, though most people drive around the area due to the community's spacious layout and lack of sidewalks.
Events through the township and at Kalahari
Tobyhanna’s parks are venues for family-friendly annual events, like the National Night Out celebration in August. The Blakeslee Community Center hosts frequent craft fairs and open mic nights. Alongside plenty of conventions and private events, Kalahari also hosts larger holiday celebrations, like the Kalahari KABOOM! Fourth of July Celebration.
Attending Pocono Mountain School District
Tobyhanna Elementary Center earns a B from Niche, while Pocono Mountain West Junior High School gets a C-plus. The B-minus-rated Pocono Mountain West High School offers career education programs through the Monroe Career & Technical Institute. Students spend half a day at MCTI and the rest of the day at Pocono Mountain West High.
Flood risk on Tobyhanna Creek
Waterways like Tobyhanna Creek may flood properties and roads after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult Federal Emergency Management Agency maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
