hopatcong (Newark, Stanhope: houses, to buy, high school)

[glsgrl]

What is this area like?? I'm now looking in this area....any thoughts???

[GiantRutgersfan]

nice place. just watch for flooding

[Greyhnd]

We lived in what is known as the "heights" section (not too far from Stanhope; we had Stanhope mailing address) for quite a few years in our first house. No complaints, but we were not in the more populated area IMO. No flooding by us and we were close enough to 80 & 46. Schools are supposedly not rated near the top, but that may have improved over the years (we didn't have kids in the school system). You will find mix of septic and city sewers, depending on the street. We had our own well, though there were a few community wells on our street. Note there are 2 separate towns around the lake - "Lake Hopatcong" and "Hopatcong".

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by GiantRutgersfan

nice place. just watch for flooding

Where does it flood in Hopatcong? I never ever heard of any flooding. That dont mean there isn't. I just never heard of any flooding in all the years I lived and worked there.

There are few storm sewers to handle rain run off but almost all of Hopatcong is hilly so run off is never a problem.

[desertsun41]

Hopatcong is a nice little town of about 18,000. I believe there to be more history in Hopatcong then any other NJ town. Lake Hopatcong is the center of interest in this bedroom community. Lake Hopcatong (in Lene Lenepe Indian means Lake of many coves) is 2700 acres of prestine beauty and 99.5% developed. How the lake survived all those leaking septics defied all science.

The previous poster who lives or lived in the Heights would be considered the nicest newest section where you will find normal homes. The Hills which I happen to love is mostly all old old summer bungalows that were owned by the rich and famous who lived in NY and came down to cool off and some R&R in the summer. Today these micro tiny bunglows have mostly all been converted into year round homes. Many have had additions to make them livable. Many had no plumbing till the 1980s. Many more still stand abandoned because they could not get a modern day septic system approved. But about 12 years ago a 30 year old dream of the town was realized to put public sewer throughout the entire area.

The area on the west side of the lake near River Styx, the man who named most of the streets, Hudson Maxim is also the man who carved out the very first roads to the Musconetcong River which was then in the late 1800s being readied by the Army Cor to dam up to form the big lake. Soon the White Line Steam Ferrys roamed the lake to bring people to their summer bungalows. Some of the remains of the old times can be seen at the State Park right on Lakeside Blvd. The Hopatcong Museum has all kinds of awesome memorabilia on the history of the town. It is free after park admission !!!! Go on Tuesday and everything is free free free. But be prepared for the rude pig New Yorkers who come down to trash the park cause it is free day.

Much of the towns roads are very crooked and skinny. Some of the lake front homes have driveways that some cars cant climb. Some of the homes on Brooklyn Mtn Road are just as steep. There are many many marinas as well as real nice places to eat. Many right on the lake that you can access by boat but they mostly are in Jefferson. The fishing is fantastic as evidenced by the almost weekly BASS tournaments. You do have a train station and bus depot and you are 5 minutes from 80, 206, 46, 513 and so on.

In the old days Hopatcong was in the book of world records for the most bars per sq mile. No more. It is pretty much a sleepy town now. The lone night club in town gets shut down more then they are open because the town wants to shake that image. They may have given up and closed for good by now.

Go check it out. It is just about the least expensive town in central and north NJ which is great. I would write more about it but I would bore the hell outta everyone.

[ottomobeale]

A few observations:

There seem to be 3 areas. The area with roads coming off Flora, the area along the lake, and the hill part.

The hill part (Stevens trail, Indiana trail etc) is a narrow crooked bewildering maze. Houses vary insanely with nice houses next to abandoned. Some houses are a odd arrangements of additions on additions on additions. Over time Id imagine less abandoned as the ones that can not be fixed are torn down and the lots added to those of neighboring viable housing.

The schools dont rate super high but we are NOT talking Newark here. I talk to many people in the area (I sell fridges at Sears, I ask about the areas as I get to move again this June). NONE disliked the elementaries. A couple disliked the middle, and a couple disliked the high school. Some liked them all.

Housing is cheap by NNJ standards.

[Calico696]

Originally Posted by ottomobeale

The hill part (Stevens trail, Indiana trail etc) is a narrow crooked bewildering maze. Houses vary insanely with nice houses next to abandoned. Some houses are a odd arrangements of additions on additions on additions. Over time Id imagine less abandoned as the ones that can not be fixed are torn down and the lots added to those of neighboring viable housing.

..

That's the one thing I have never liked about Hopatcong, or most lake communities for that matter, million dollar homes next to and across from shacks and dilapidated bungalows.

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by Calico696

That's the one thing I have never liked about Hopatcong, or most lake communities for that matter, million dollar homes next to and across from shacks and dilapidated bungalows.

You are right. But you see that because the person who builds the home wants to. They know what the neighboring houses are and still choose to build. There are no tract builders or spot builders building beauty next to junkers in Hopatcong. Zoning is strict. A dump occupies the same lot as a mansion but when you see this situation it is the home owners choice, not zoning.

The last poster had a good description of the roads in the Hills. That is one thing I love about it. It may not be for everyone though.

It's still a great town to buy a first home when your young.