Tunkhannock Township’s high-octane tourism and Poconos tranquility
Tunkhannock Township is a pocket of the Poconos that tourists know for its engine-revving NASCAR races and proximity to busy ski resorts. Those that stick around in this Monroe County community after race weekend, however, get to know its quieter sounds: the rush of Tunkhannock Creek, the calls of birds nesting in preserved wetlands and the rustle of mature trees swaying in public and private recreation lands. “Tunkhannock Township is a little more rural, a little truer to its natural form. The Pocono Raceway is a huge attraction, but there are also ATV trails, places for off-roading and so many other things to do,” says Ourania Renata Mavrogiorgos, an associate at Re/Max of the Poconos who specializes in Monroe County. “If you want a quiet life in the Pocono Mountains, Tunkhannock is the way to go.” Tunkhannock Township is a pocket of the Poconos that tourists know for its engine-revving NASCAR races and proximity to busy ski resorts. Those that stick around in this Monroe County community after race weekend, however, get to know its quieter sounds: the rush of Tunkhannock Creek, the calls of birds nesting in preserved wetlands and the rustle of mature trees swaying in public and private recreation lands. “Tunkhannock Township is a little more rural, a little truer to its natural form. The Pocono Raceway is a huge attraction, but there’s also ATV trails, places for off-roading and so many other things to do,” says Ourania Renata Mavrogiorgos, an associate at Re/Max of the Poconos who specializes in Monroe County. “If you want a quiet life in the Pocono Mountains, Tunkhannock is the way to go.”
Long Pond preserved land and Pocono Mountain recreation hubs
The Nature Conservancy maintains thousands of acres of land in the patchwork swathes of the Long Pond Preserve Complex. Hiking trails cross diverse habitats surrounding the preserve's namesake pond, including pine barrens, swamps and bogs. Visitors can learn more about the Pocono Plateau’s unique ecology at the Hauser Nature Center. Other preserves and state game lands offer places for bird-watching, hiking, hunting, and fishing in the hills that roll around Tunkhannock Creek. Private recreation areas give residents access to more high-octane hobbies, including revving along muddy ATV trails at Alvin’s Offroad Playground. Big Boulder Ski Area is just west of Tunkhannock Township, one of the Pocono Mountains’ many skiing and tubing destinations.
Forested private communities and waterfront amenities
Throughout Tunkhannock Township, side roads along mountainous thoroughfares hide single-family homes in private communities. A thick tree canopy shades Colonial Revivals, contemporary homes and A-frame cabins in places like Indian Mountain Lakes and Emerald Lakes. As their names suggest, many of these communities offer access to private waterfronts and other shared amenities like clubhouses and athletic courts. Homeowners’ association fees vary. While small, simple homes and cabins can go for around $150,000 and custom lakefront properties can go for more than $700,000, Tunkhannock Township’s median single-family home price is around $300,000. The national median is higher, at around $400,000. Like the rest of the Poconos, buyers are a mix of full-time residents, second homeowners and investors. “Tunkhannock Township is very friendly for short-term renting. The township gives a lot of information on how to do it,” Mavrogiorgos says.
Events at Pocono Raceway and Clymer Library
NASCAR fans arrive at the Pocono Raceway in cars and RVs each summer for The Great American Getaway 400 weekend. Also called “The Tricky Triangle,” the raceway has a unique shape that makes it especially challenging for drivers during this annual NASCAR Cup Series race – and especially exciting for fans. The raceway isn’t abandoned when NASCAR leaves town; throughout the rest of the year, the track is a venue for carnivals, concerts and laser-lit music festivals of many kinds. For more intimate community events, residents meet at Clymer Library’s outdoor summer concerts, group athletic classes and craft club meetings.
Attending Pocono Mountain School District
Tobyhanna Elementary Center earns a B from Niche. Pocono Mountain West Junior High School Earns a C-plus. B-minus-rated Pocono Mountain West High School offers access to career education programs through Monroe Career & Technical Institute alongside Advanced Placement classes and standard academic courses.
Shopping and dining in Tunkhannock and Mount Pocono
Locally owned restaurants and specialty businesses pop up between the hilly forests lining state Route 115. Murphy’s Loft is a rustic-looking restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Woody’s Country House serves American and Southern staples in a similarly understated cabin off the highway. For groceries beyond what’s available at Dollar General or the weekly Pocono Farm Market, residents can head to Ahart’s Market in neighboring Tobyhanna. Chains like Walmart and ShopRite are about 8 miles away in Mount Pocono.
Taking Interstate 80 through the Poconos and to New York
Commuters can take Interstate 80 for about 20 miles to reach Stroudsburg or nearly 100 miles to New York City. St. Luke’s Hospital—Monroe Campus is close to 20 miles away. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is about 30 miles from home. Tunkhannock Township is not served by fixed-route public transportation, so residents need a car to get around.
Tunkhannock Township’s flooding and traffic patterns
Waterways like Tunkhannock Creek may flood properties and roadways after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance. Events at Pocono Raceway can create major traffic jams on roads like state Route 115 and I-80. “If there’s a race going on, people just know you stay off of 80,” Mavrogiorgos says.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
