Washington Township offers rural vibes in Morris County
Sitting on the western edge of Morris County, Washington Township offers properties with more private lots, highly rated schools and a ton of outdoor attractions. “Probably the biggest draw is that it has more of a rural feel than the rest of Morris County,” says Ted Miller II, a Realtor-Associate with Coldwell Banker Realty and a lifelong Morris County resident that’s been selling homes in the area since 1991. “People don’t realize that if you go out a little bit farther west, you get into farm country.” Formed in 1798 after Roxbury was divided into six new towns, some consider Washington Township America’s earliest summer resort. In 1815, Schooley’s Mountain was regionally known for its crisp mountain air and clean mineral springs. People came to the mountain to bathe in and drink from the springs, which many thought cured a range of medical issues. Today, Schooley’s Mountain has developed into a massive four-season recreation area.
Mix of traditional and contemporary homes
Homebuyers can find a wide range of housing style, including a selection of Colonials from as early as the 1700s and Cape Cods from the early 1900s. Most houses were constructed between 1950 and 2000, featuring colonial- ranch-style designs, as well as split-level construction. There is also an assortment of contemporary homes built in the last 25 years. Properties sit along winding roads with lot sizes ranging from a half-acre to 5 acres, though there are also a few subdivisions with houses built closer together. Smaller homes typically sell for $350,000 to $650,000 and the town’s larger houses usually go for $1 million to $2 million.
IB Program at West Morris Mendham High
Students may start at Benedict A. Cucinella School, which gets a B-plus from Niche, before going to Old Turnpike School, which receives an A. West Morris Mendham High earns an A-plus and is an International Baccalaureate World School offering challenging, high-quality educational programs.
Hiking trails, sports facilities and a community garden
Near the center of town, Schooley's Mountain Park is an 823-acre green space offering over 7 miles of hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, a fenced dog park and a large playground. The Patriots’ Path also runs through town, offering more than 70 miles of hiking and biking trails that link to four neighboring counties. Palmer Park has baseball and softball diamonds, batting cages, soccer fields and a playground. Residents can also put their green thumbs to work at the town’s community garden, which offers over 70 plots every year.
Commuting via Routes 46 and 206
U.S. Route 46 and U.S. Route 206 border Washington Township Morris, both of which connect to Interstate 80 for trips to New York City. Interstate 78 is also 17 miles south, running 38 miles east directly into Manhattan via the Holland Tunnel. The Hackettstown Medical Center is located 7 miles north. The closest airport, Newark Liberty International, is 45 miles east.
Restaurants along Route 24, fresh produce from Ort Farms
Along Route 24, there are a slew of locally owned dining options like Chesapeake Tavern for seafood and Pulled Fork BBQ, which smokes their meat on-site daily. “Long Valley Brewpub is what we go to,” adds Miller. “It’s a really nice place to sit outside and eat when there’s good weather.” Just down the road, Ort Farms sells fresh produce and hosts community events. “We especially like to go around Halloween, but all year long they have things going on,” says Miller. Locals can also head 5 miles east to Chester for ShopRite, and 7 miles north to Hackettstown for big-box retailers like Target.
Annual events at Ort Farms
Ort Farms hosts events throughout the year, including their weekly Food Truck Fridays and Summer Saturdays. There are also Easter Egg hunts in April and Boo Bash in October. And one of the town’s most popular events, Long Valley Day, takes place in May with pony rides and other farm animals, local vendors, live music and a cornhole tournament. Neighboring Chester also hosts events at Chubb Park, including the annual Oktoberfest celebration and the Fireman’s Carnival in June.
Written By
Logan Soter-Reardon
