Nestled between the Villages of Hope & Tranquility, our house is a serene, authentic Mid-Century Modern escape with direct lake access on a private 13-acre forest preserve - home to wildlife, foliage and quite possibly a woodland fairy or two. With kayaks, sports equipment & indoor entertainment, the property has everything you need to fill a week or a weekend away. However, should you choose to venture out the surrounding area provides plentiful options for recreation. **NOTE (June 2024) ** Our property has undergone a full renovation. We have all new kitchen, bathrooms, flooring and some new furnishings. I am slowly updating the photos as I finish decorating rooms. Note that some of the photos in this listing show the home in its previous state. The room layouts have not changed, but I have noted in the photo description where things are different. If you have any questions feel free to message me ** Our home is on Hunts Lake, a 95-acre private lake in an area of northwestern New Jersey dubbed “The Skylands.” This stunning region is one of the tri-state area’s best-kept secrets. Farms, rolling hills, nature reserves, State Parks and historical locations dot the landscape and wide, unpopulated spaces provide an opportunity to stretch out, slow down, and take some time to breathe. Despite the remote feel, we are only about a 75-minute drive from the Holland Tunnel which makes our home an easily accessible weekend destination from NYC or Hoboken. For active recreation we are 30 mins from Delaware Water Gap National Park (hiking, kayaking, rafting, Junior Ranger program), 40 mins from Shawnee Ski Resort (skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing), 45 mins from Camelback resort (skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and more) 45 mins from Mountain Creek Ski Resort (skiing, snowboarding), 15 minutes from Jenny Jump State forest (hiking, boating, Astronomy club observatories), 20 minutes from skydiving. If you prefer more relaxing activities check out various all-season farmers markets, historical homes and locations, antiquing, beaches, parks and nature reserves. Plus the family-friendly area includes theatres, bowling, ice skating, groceries, box stores, a minor league baseball team, New Jersey state fairgrounds, towns, and more, all within 15-20 minutes drive. We are convenient to many local wedding venues including Bear Brook Valley (6 min drive), Crossed Keys Estate (10 min drive), Rutherford Hall (15 min drive), Lafayette House (20 min drive). Read more information about the location in “The Neighborhood” section of this listing. THE PROPERTY: Our property is directly lakeside. For lake access we have a quaint wooden dock and small wading area along the shore (note, water shoes are recommended as the lake bottom is muddy and weedy). Both areas are perfect for launching kayaks or our rowboat. There is also a small deck with seating to gaze at the lake, fish, or enjoy a snack. The deck also has a fire pit for toasting marshmallows or sharing spooky tales. In the rear of the house is a sunny bluestone patio with propane BBQ grill and dining table. Patio also has a view of the lake. Next to the house is our private forest area, accessible from paths along our long, gated driveway. It is a state-designated forest preserve and a fantastic place to explore in peace. THE HOUSE: The house was originally built in the 1950s and is a Mid-Century gem. It was recently renovated to update the kitchens and bathrooms, while maintaining the home's clean architectural lines and some original finishes. Details of our home are below. Occupancy: Our home holds up to 4 adults and up to 5 children. We do not host parties of more than 4 adults. Bedrooms: *Master bedroom with King bed, en suite full bathroom and dressing area, SLEEPS 2 (with plenty of floor space for travel crib if you BYO) *Queen bedroom with adjacent shared full bath, SLEEPS 2 *Double room with 2 bunk beds (one twin over twin, one twin over double) shares bathroom with Queen room, SLEEPS up to 5 children Formal Living Room: Gorgeous lake and sunset views, plenty of seating for relaxing, chatting, family time, game playing or my favorite – puzzles! (Fireplace is not functional) Dining Room: Large dining table seats 8 Kitchen: Newly renovated with all new stainless steel applicances. French door fridge, electric cooktop and wall oven. Also has dishwasher, microwave, K-cup coffee maker, and plenty of dishes & cookware. Library/Office: Plenty of books, some of ours, some we inherited from the home, add your own if you would like. Desk space if work beckons. Vintage 1980s stereo with turntable and tape deck. Enclosed Patio: 3-season room is perfect for yoga, reading or play time. Family Room (downstairs): Plenty of cozy seating around the large-screen TV. While we don’t have cable or antenna, the SmartTV is online and ready for you to sign into your own Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, YouTube or other streaming accounts. Built-in wet bar with mini fridge. Bathrooms: -Master bathroom with full bathtub, separate shower -Full bathroom with bathtub/shower shares hallway with Queen and Double rooms -Half bathroom off library -Bathroom with shower off family room downstairs Garage: -Ping Pong table -Storage room with sports equipment -Note we have one car which will be parked in the garage during your stay, not for guest use. FOR FUN Wifi throughout house. We have a wide variety of recreational equipment available for your use: -4 kayaks: 2 one-person boats, 1 two-person, and 1 child-sized, plus lifejackets (4 adult, 3 child) -Small two-person rowboat -Soccer goal and hanging boxing bag -Fishing rods and tackle -Floaties and float tubes for the lake -Bluetooth speaker -Ping Pong table! -Games and puzzles **Note all activities are at your own risk. We cannot be held responsible for any accidents or injury while using our equipment. If you are unfamiliar with how to use, please ask** BOOKING: 5-night minimum in summer. $300 per-stay cleaning fee. 100% of cleaning fee goes to our cleaner. HOUSE RULES / SAFETY: Absolutely no hunting or firearms are permitted on the property at any time (catch and release fishing is ok) This is a family home which is not suited for large groups or parties. Please note our sleeping capacity and keep additional daytime guests to a minimum. Children must be supervised at all times. We are a kid-friendly home indoors but be aware there is no barrier between the yard and the lake. We also have some small but steep slopes which lead straight into the drink. Your well-supervised babies or toddlers are welcome but the home is NOT BABY-PROOFED. There is a small interior stairway with an open railing and no gate. We love our pets and are sure you love yours but unfortunately we cannot accommodate them on our property. Note that we have 2 cats who travel with us to this home when we are there. Our home is cleaned before each guest but I am flagging for anyone with severe allergies. If you would like, feel free to message me in advance and I can let you know how recently we have been there with the cats. Sound travels better than you would think across the water. Please be mindful of our neighbors and keep noise to a minimum, especially during evening and early morning hours. While there are few homes around the lake so you will have plenty of privacy, in nice weather you will likely encounter other anglers, boaters or swimmers on the lake. Please show respect and courtesy towards our neighbors. You will have access to all areas of the house during your stay with the exception of a few closets and cabinets which will remain locked (no skeletons, just our stuff!) We will be available via phone or messaging for the duration of your stay. Here is a quick rundown of the local commerce. A detailed binder with listings is in our home. Fredon: Our home sits in the peaceful hamlet of Fredon, which is where you will find the closest amenities: Deli, Diner, Italian/Pizza restaurant (with delivery), liquor store, ice cream parlor, playground & farmer’s market all within about a 7-minute drive Tranquility: As the name suggests, Tranquility is mostly land, but also holds a delightful sandwich/coffee shop, a post office, a public park and a large farmers market with a play area, petting zoo, and year-round activities. About 10-15 minute drive Hope: A very small crossroads village with a selection of delightful and well-priced antique stores, a couple delis, and nice sidewalks to walk around. 15-20 minute drive Newton: A larger town with a combination of name-brand strip mall stores, and a small main street with businesses, restaurants, a library, and a local theatre. Newton has a large chain grocery store plus a smaller, gourmet-style butcher & grocery with great prepared and ready-to-cook foods. 12-15 minute drive Blairstown: A small, historic town (also the setting of the original Friday the 13th movies). There is a large chain grocery store, a spa, a restaurant/brewery, diner, park, plus a nice, walkable main street with shops, a small theatre, bar, café, and tiny museum. 12-15 minute drive Hackettsown: A larger town with a medium-sized walkable main street with various shops and eateries. Also plentiful restaurants, big box stores, strip malls, grocery store and a large movie theatre. 20-25 minute drive Sparta: A larger, upscale lake town with restaurants, a movie theatre, bowling alley and various shops. 20-25 minute drive While a car is strongly recommended for your journey as there are no stores or restaurants within close walking distance. It is *possible* to spend time here without a car if you bring in everything you need. There is a bus from Port Authority which arrives at a small shopping center in Panther Valley (about 15 mins away). From there it is possible to get a Lyft or a taxi to the house, tho you may need to wait a bit. The nearest New Jersey Transit station is in Dover, NJ (trains are about 70-90 mins from Penn). Again, it's possible (tho slow) to get a Lyft from Dover to the house, for approx $30-$40.