Hemlock Farms
History
The earliest European inhabitants in the lush valley were Levi Lord and his friends and family who settled the town of Lords Valley. As the population grew, most of the residents made their livings logging and operating saw mills.
In the 1920s, William Brewster and his family bought the property that would later become Hemlock Farms. He built several structures, roads and a golf course on the property, which his family called “Camp Hemlock,” before selling the 4,500 acres to a developer in 1963. The developer, Western Heritage Properties Limited, plotted out nearly 4,000 lots for one-family homes and began advertising the community in nearby metro areas. By the 1970s, the community had more than 1,000 homes and ownership and maintenance responsibilities were transferred from the developers to the Hemlock Farms Community Association – a non-profit corporation that every property owner in Hemlock becomes a part of.
Surrounded by 84,000 acres of state and federal forest lands, today Hemlock Farms has more than 3,000 homes, three houses of worship, its own Volunteer Fire Department and EMS Service, 24/7 Public Safety patrol, and many amenities including an indoor pool, outdoor pools, beach areas, tennis courts, playgrounds and ice skating rink.
School Districts
Hemlock Farms sends children to school in three public school districts.
Most of the community resides in the Wallenpaupack Area School District, which was ranked 9th in Pittsburgh Business Times’ Overachieving School Districts list in the state in 2013. The district states that “to provide an educational environment that promotes excellence” is one of its main missions.
Families in the Dingman Township portion of Hemlock are a part of the Delaware Valley School District. With an emphasis on academics, Delaware Valley is ranked 60th out of 498 Pennsylvania public school districts in 2013 according to a study done by Pittsburgh Business Times. According to the district’s mission statement the district achieves such academic success by ensuring that “students of all ages are challenged to maximize intellectual, emotional, social and physical potential.”
Closer to Route 402 and Pecks Pond, some homes lie within Porter Township which makes them part of the East Stroudsburg Area School District. The district describes its mission as to foster “within all students a commitment to excellence, service and life-long learning which prepares them to be creative, productive and responsible citizens with a global perspective."
Counties
Pike County was the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania between 1990 and 2000. Known for its beautiful natural landscape, small heritage-rich towns and more than 125,000 acres of land available for use by the public for hiking, hunting, fishing and camping, Pike County continues to grow. Milford, the county seat, is known as the birthplace of the American Forest Preservation Movement. The availability of wildlife, clean water and fresh air combined with easy accessibility to major urban areas in New York and New Jersey make Pike County a great place to live or visit.
Outdoor Recreation
With its 4,500 acres of land, Hemlock Farms offers many outdoor activities. There are two hiking trails within the community. One can enjoy swimming in either the pools or lakes. Tennis, basketball and baseball can be played on community courts and fields. Boating and fishing is available on one of the three lakes located inside of the community. Additionally, access to a championship 18 hole golf course inside of the Lords Valley Country Club is available.
Townships
- Blooming Grove Township
- Dingman Township
- Porter Borough
Indoor Recreation
Many of the amenities Hemlock Farms has to offer are indoor activities. The community boasts an indoor swimming pool, hot tubs and a clubhouse that houses a fitness center and game room.
Big-town entertainment is readily available a short drive away in Scranton, Pennsylvania. See a performance by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, take a tour of the Lackawanna Coal Mines, visit the Houdini Museum or enjoy the shops at one the local malls.
Events and Attractions
- Hemlock Farms offers regular community events such as the Summer Kick-Off in the beginning of July, complete with fireworks on Elm Beach. Other events include Hemlock Farms Day, the Cultural Arts Festival and a Bass Fishing Derby for kids.
- Costas Family Fun Park is an activity park where families can enjoy water slides, miniature golf, go-carts, laser tag, bumper boats, a golf driving range, batting cages, arcade, kids’ playhouse and ice cream.
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