Beautiful New Jersey Lakes
Beautiful Lake Mohawk is a community located in Sussex County that boasts one of New Jersey's largest private lakes. Approximately 800 acres, Lake Mohawk was built in 1928 by Arthur Crane and Herbert Closs in an area then known as Brogdens' meadow on the Wallkill river. There are two other small lakes in the community as well, Upper Mohawk Lake and the Alpine Pool, both of which are spring fed. A charming alpine style architecture is used throughout the community. The buildings in the quaint town center resemble small castles with turrets and natural wood and stone facades . This distinctive architecture in the town center and of many homes in the area was a major aspect of the listing of Lake Mohawk on the National registry of Historic Places. The town center has restaurants, shops, services, the Lake Mohawk Country Club and professional offices along with a spectacular tiered boardwalk overlooking the lake. Beaches are located along the edge of the lakes enabling residents to walk to the nearest one for swimming, fishing, sailing or boating. There is a marina for boat necessities and docking along with a world class golf course with club house. In addition to these amenities there is a Pool and Tennis club as well. Panoramic Views abound in this lovely community. Within one hour to the New York Metropolitan area and close to Interstate Highways Lake Mohawk is the perfect year round retreat or week end getaway.
Lake Hopatcong is the largest lake in New Jersey, at about nine miles long with 45 miles of shoreline and covering 2,560 acres. Only 45 miles from New York City, the lake runs between the borders of Sussex and Morris Counties tucked in the mountains in the northern part of New Jersey. Lake Hopatcong provides year-round recreational opportunities. Since the 1880's, the lake has been a popular tourist destination, providing summer breezes and cool water for nearby city dwellers. Today, the shores of the lake still speak to that era, with many residences, restaurants, marinas, pubs and shops peppered along its shoreline.
Fishing is popular all year long, and Lake Hopatcong is considered one of the best freshwater fishing locales on the East Coast. The lake has the largest variety of fish species of any waterway in New Jersey, besides the Delaware River. Lake Hopatcong has both largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, pickerel, catfish, crappie, bullhead, carp, and yellow and white perch. Eels have also been caught. Brown, rainbow and brook trout are stocked each year, but they do not usually live through the summers because the lake does not provide the cold, deep, oxygenated pockets they need to survive the heat. Hybrid striped bass, walleye, and muskellunge have all been stocked successfully and are now thriving. Fishing enthusiasts should be aware of the unique underwater geography of Lake Hopatcong. Hundreds of barges crossed the lake in the days of the Morris Canal, and dropped ballast at regular spots. Today, these spots are popular hangouts for hybrid striped bass, as the lake's bottom suddenly rises from 40 to 20 feet under the water.Lake Hopatcong is also excellent for any kind of boating, from canoes exploring quiet coves to large motor boats, sailboats, sailboards, and jet skis criss-crossing its waters. Boats are available for rent at many private marinas around the lake. Lake Hopatcong is the only lake in New Jersey (besides Greenwood Lake on the New York border) with bars and restaurants accessible directly by boat.
Lake Owassa, is a beautiful privately-owned association lake, and is located in Sussex County in the Culvers Gap Area of the Skyland Region. The lake is 275-acres with its deepest point being 24 feet. First known as "Long Pond" in an original verified deed dated 1693, the lake name was changed to Lake Owassa in 1903 after Reverend Lloyd of the Branchville Presbyterian Church wrote a poem about the history of the area. In the poem was a Native American girl "Owassa" and references to a nearby lake called Lake Owassa. In 1947 a group of property owners formed the Lake Owassa Community Association, virtually making the lake private.
The natural lake was formed in a glacial depression with the top two feet or so being created by an active beaver dam that has been on the lake for over 125 years. Removing the dam would result in a reduction of the lake's depth by about three feet. Sussex County, which is known as one of the most pristine areas of New Jersey, is also famous for its four season leisure activities such as skiing, hunting, fishing, cross country skiing, ice fishing, hiking, and biking. Other attractions in the mountains of northwestern New Jersey include golf, snowboarding, water parks, world-class spas, and sports facilities.
There are no public access points to the lake and the use of the lake is limited exclusively to its members. With a number of available vacation rentals and real estate on the lake, it is an ideal lake to consider for a week stay or a retirement home. Many of the homes around the lake are pre-World War II lake cottages with dockside screen houses that can be rented seasonally. Located in the center of Sussex County, Frankford Township, Lake Owassa is below the Kittatinny Mountains along with Culver Lake, which features the historic Culver Lake Inn.
Green Pond, a private stockholder community of 450 homeowners surrounding Green Pond lake is the ideal setting for year-round living or a convenient weekend retreat. Nestled in the Morris County foothills, this 2.5 mile long natural, spring-fed, glacial lake offers its residents a year-round vacation lifestyle that includes swimming, motor boating, sailing, tennis and an active Yacht Club and Community Club. The hundreds of acres of woodland, mountains and recreational facilities that comprise the community of Green Pond, makes one forget that they are only minutes away from Routes 23, 80 & 287 and just one hour from Manhattan. Green Pond is an ideal year-round address or a convenient weekend retreat.
Cranberry Lake, once called Cranberry Bog and then Cranberry Reservoir, was originally formed in 1830 to serve as a reservoir for the Morris Canal. In the 1920’s, the Cranberry Lake Development Company built vacation homes at Cranberry Lake. Seasonal visitors came by automobile on the old Highway 31 (now 206) and on the Erie Lackawanna Railroad whose station sat on the lake’s eastern shore. The first station at Cranberry Lake was built in 1898 and at its peak, the Railroad was delivering a thousand visitors a weekend. In 1902 the Lackawanna developed a peninsula on Cranberry Lake into a parkland resort where city folk could come on Sundays for a one-day excursion into the countryside. A 30-acre picnicking ground was located in what is now Frenches Grove, offering an amusement park, rowboat rentals, fishing, sailing and regattas.
In 1924 property owners established the Cranberry Lake Community Club and completed the erection of a clubhouse . In addition to hosting summer activities, the clubhouse would house a Post Office for many years. The club also began to maintain lake access trails designated by the Development Company for use of property owners without lakefront property. In about 1929 a foottbridge was erected just next to the clubhouse and bathing beach property . This new bridge was a suspension bridge that would continue to connect Frenches Grove residents to the 206 shoreline through the present day.
In the three-quarters of a century that followed, little changed in the Club. The organizational structure remains virtually identical to that established in 1924 and the clubhouse continues to be the hub of summer activity. Acquisition of lake-frontage at Cabin Springs and Roses Beach has enabled the club to expand the boat parking and swimming facilities available to members. Today, Cranberry Lake has seen its seasonal population largely replaced by a year round community. In response to these new needs of the community, the Cranberry Lake Community Club continues an evolution into a year round organization with events offered in every season.
Culver Lake is an exclusive, privately owned body of water located in Sussex County New Jersey. The immaculate 555-acre lake has an average depth of 50 feet, along with seven soft miles of shoreline. Owned and operated by the Normanoch Association, use of the lake is restricted to members and guests only. This association is responsible for managing water quality, controlling Culver Lake Dam, dealing in government affairs, and maintaining on-site recreational facilities. Due to its exclusivity, the Culver Lake area offers desirable real estate and upscale vacation rentals. Convenient services and facilities include full-time life guards and patrolmen, clubhouse, lunch bar, restaurant, boat ramps and a weekly newspaper.
A multitude of activities are available at Culver Lake, including swimming, wind surfing, water skiing, and fishing. Largemouth bass, stripers, and hybrids are the most commonly stocked species of fish. Boating is also popular, and it is not uncommon to see sailboats, sunfish, catamarans, and sloops breezing along these pristine waters on a clear day (jet skis are not permitted). During the winter, the lake freezes over, and snowmobiling, ice boating and ice skating become the most popular local pastimes. New Jersey, also known as the Garden State, is downright stunning during the autumn months, when leaves change from green to vibrant shades of orange, red and yellow before drifting to the ground; there is no better way to spend a crisp fall afternoon than at a nearby apple picking orchard or pumpkin patch. An enormous 10-acre corn maze can be maneuvered on the grounds of a nearby farm, and the Sussex County Agriculture Development Board also offers hay rides, horseback riding, and farm tours.
There are many other Lakes in Northern Sussex County including Sunrise Lake, Kittatinny Lake, Kemah Lake, Swartswood Lake, Lake Lenape, Lake Grinnel, Seneca Lake, Forest Lake, Highland Lakes, Paulins Kill Lake, Tamarack Lake, Summit Lake, and Lake Stockholm just to name a few.
Please call us if you are searching for Lakefront Properties in Northern New Jersey, Century 21 Geba Realty are your Lakefront Specialists ! We look forward to finding you your Lakefront Dream Home! 973 726-0333
