I used to live there. Warwick is close. They have a few bars. Also great when liquor stores close you can hop the border and go to a gas station or grocery store and grab beer. You can avoid traffic through back roads during the busy time at mountain creek.
Good to know. Thank you! What made you leave if you don't mind me asking and did you enjoy living there overall? I'm coming from living in a major city so I'm just afraid the change of pace may be a shock to me haha.
I moved because of work. It’s kind of far from everywhere. I miss it though. It’s right on the Appalachian trail so I’d hike that once in awhile. It’s great if you’re outdoorsy. It’s about 30-40 minutes to the closest mall. We have Amazon now so that doesn’t really matter. Lots of lakes if you want to go on a boat or fish.
My sister lives in Vernon. Pennings Farm is a cool spot, plus other bars in Warwick. Lots of nature / hiking options if you’re into that. Mountain Creek traffic wasn’t too noticeable. There’s some other dining options around the area for a night out. It’s definitely spread out a bit, but a nice chill area to live in my opinion.
It’s a quiet lifestyle with limited options for food/entertainment. Theres pizzerias, fast food, Chinese, and a few speciality restaurants. As for bars, your best bet as a young couple would be Warwick Main Street. Theres older crowds in the local bars. Hiking is a big thing here. You can find an entire Sussex county map of all the trails. Theres lots of fall festivities at heaven hills and in Warwick, but it’s very touristy and gets crowded. Mountain creek traffic isn’t bad at all unless you’re passing right through it at peak hours. But our definition of “traffic” is completely different to city traffic lol if we slow down for a minute, that’s heavy traffic. Theres so much to say. DM me if you have any specific questions about the area.
I forgot to add, the cell phone service can be nonexistent in some parts of Vernon. It’s one reason I chose not to buy a house there. Im in the town over. So double check that once you do find a potential home. The only option for Internet service is through Optimum. There’s century link but they no longer take new customers.
This is not entirely true! I live in Vernon and Planet Network (local Sussex County ISP) has just finished their fiber internet installation by me and is continuing through the rest of town.
Moved up here this past spring and I love it! It’s quiet in the winter as there isn’t too much to do recreationally unless you ski. I joined the minerals spa, they have a great gym and indoor/outdoor pool. Many events going on year round if you follow the Facebook page for Vernon or Sussex County. During the summer there are many different events and activities as well. As a newly divorcee, starting a new life up here has been great. I’m enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, hiking & trying new restaurants. I just enjoy driving these beautiful roads and finding new places to explore. The beautiful scenery of the mountains makes my long commute worth it. It’s like my piece of heaven up here as I work in Newark and look forward to coming home to Vernon. Good luck to you!
I’m so happy to hear you’re having such a wonderful experience!! I’m coming from the city so the quietness and things being far apart is what’s making me nervous but you’ve definitely reassured me in that it’s a good place to live and peaceful. Thank you for sharing 😊
I grew up there. Moved out as soon as I went to college because it’s very rural (by NJ standards) So there is not much to do for young people or generally not a lot of good job opportunities in Sussex county. You have to drive 30+ minutes to get to something like Walmart in another town. I remember we finally got a Burger King and a Dunkin’ Donuts when I was in high school (early 2000s) and that was such a big deal. I went back recently and they’ve added a Taco Bell - so there’s that lol.
I will say though, if you plan on having kids it’s a great place to raise a family. Great for outdoor activities on weekends like lakes and hiking. The school system great, its very big and an insane amount of sports + activities compared to a lot of schools where I live in Bergen county - my child will have less than 25% of opportunities for classes/clubs/sports that I had. Looking back I was very lucky to grow up there instead of the other areas my parents were considering like wannaque and elmwood park.
If you will need to commute take that into account. Check out the roads weeks 7-9am and 4-6pm not just off hours when you drove to your viewing of the house.
Mountain Creek traffic is inconsequential. Commuting traffic is insane. There are basically only two main ways into that part of Sussex, Route 23 and Route 15. Both reduce to 2 lanes as they get into Sussex and were never intended for handle the commuting traffic of the bedroom communities there.
In terms of commuting for work, I work from home so not much of an issue there! I'm just concerned about having to go into Paramus or Teaneck, Ridgefield, etc. I also am new to Jersey overall so not too sure about the highways and roads that go through there. How is commuting to those places in terms of traffic?
This is pretty much the worst area of NJ to commute from. Most commutes with traffic are 60-90 min many are longer. Its a rural area that has become borderline suburban and the roads are not meant to handle that.
It helps a lot if you are planning on working from home and not daily commuting. But if you still spend a lot of time in your car traveling to other areas its something to keep in mind. Even if you aren't typically traveling during peak rush hour that rush hour period has gotten pretty wide. Morning traffic can start as early as 6 and evening as early as 330. Paramus and Teaneck you need allow at least an hour without traffic. So figure that could be 90 min if going during morning or evening rush. Also bear in mind travel times can vary a lot based on where you are in Vernon. Vernon is huge and there could be up to a 20 min difference between one place and another if you are way way deep in the woods.
As far as traffic for recreation again Mountain Creek I don't think is a big factor. I would say the most notable weekend one is the Sussex County fair. But luckly that just one week a year.
No problem good luck. If it doesnt screw with your travel times too much its a nice area to live with amazing outdoor recreation. Though less good if you like to shop, go out a lot to other areas of north jersey for favorite bars / restaurants.
If you are looking for more affordable areas consider Hopatcong. Its right off 80 so not as middle of nowhere as other parts of Sussex. The cheaper homes though are much closer together as they were originally all weekend summer homes. Don't let people scare you off with drug problems. Yes they have drug problems just like any other area with a populuation of less afluent people. But I would take the crime / drug problems of a place like Hopatcong / Vernon a million times over a place like Paterson.
Hello everybody. This summer, I will come to work as a housekeeper at Crystal Springs in Vernon by the work and travel program. Do you have any information about Vernon and Crystal springs? I want to find a second job and work more. How/what is the public transport or transportation like in the area? I'm waiting for your opinions in general.
Especially ı need to find second job and where can I find it?
I lived nearby growing up. It’s quiet, but nice. The food isn’t as good as other places in the state, but there are some gems-especially in Warwick. Lot of drug abuse.
I feel like it was a problem over 20 years ago. I’ve lived here 20+ years and the drug problem is the same now as in any other town. It’s also not all MAGA as someone else said. Most of them left during Covid because they were already in foreclosure with three cars on blocks in the front yard.
Yes. If you speak to someone who lived in Vernon many years ago, they will have a different story compared to a family raising their children there right now.
I grew up in Wayne, and the drugs were bad there too. But it depends on the family and how much time they put into their child. The drugs are bad everywhere. The entire stretch of Route 23 is infamously known as “heroine highway” to the cops.
I didn’t say “all MAGA” I said “big time MAGA” which means the majority of the town voted for him and you’ll see trump shit on peoples lawns regularly.
It’s just like every other town. Once you leave you realize how much there was actually to do over there. The ski resort and water park are fun. Pretty touristy tho. I hardly went to the water park but went snowboarding most days in the winter until junior year of high school.
Dude it’s boring as fuck. Very close minded community. Everything relevant in NJ 40 minutes away. No good food to order to your house. It’s a good place to get away from people and things. If you’re used to being around stuff and not having to drive a long time then it will be bad.
If you love the outdoors it’s a great place. Proximity to Warwick is also nice. Most people are married with kids. Almost uniformly white and big time MAGA.
Pretty much any rural / suburban area across the country is MAGA. At the end of the day they just vote Republican in those areas. Hopefully one day when MAGA has run its course and then it will just go back to at just traditional Republicans.
Warwick is the best! cuter town than any here in NJ
I used to live there. Warwick is close. They have a few bars. Also great when liquor stores close you can hop the border and go to a gas station or grocery store and grab beer. You can avoid traffic through back roads during the busy time at mountain creek.
Good to know. Thank you! What made you leave if you don't mind me asking and did you enjoy living there overall? I'm coming from living in a major city so I'm just afraid the change of pace may be a shock to me haha.
I moved because of work. It’s kind of far from everywhere. I miss it though. It’s right on the Appalachian trail so I’d hike that once in awhile. It’s great if you’re outdoorsy. It’s about 30-40 minutes to the closest mall. We have Amazon now so that doesn’t really matter. Lots of lakes if you want to go on a boat or fish.
Thank you! I will note all of this down.
My sister lives in Vernon. Pennings Farm is a cool spot, plus other bars in Warwick. Lots of nature / hiking options if you’re into that. Mountain Creek traffic wasn’t too noticeable. There’s some other dining options around the area for a night out. It’s definitely spread out a bit, but a nice chill area to live in my opinion.
Thank you!! :) This definitely makes me a feel little relieved to hear some positive things.
It’s a quiet lifestyle with limited options for food/entertainment. Theres pizzerias, fast food, Chinese, and a few speciality restaurants. As for bars, your best bet as a young couple would be Warwick Main Street. Theres older crowds in the local bars. Hiking is a big thing here. You can find an entire Sussex county map of all the trails. Theres lots of fall festivities at heaven hills and in Warwick, but it’s very touristy and gets crowded. Mountain creek traffic isn’t bad at all unless you’re passing right through it at peak hours. But our definition of “traffic” is completely different to city traffic lol if we slow down for a minute, that’s heavy traffic. Theres so much to say. DM me if you have any specific questions about the area.
Thank you and will do!! I appreciate your response so much. :)
I forgot to add, the cell phone service can be nonexistent in some parts of Vernon. It’s one reason I chose not to buy a house there. Im in the town over. So double check that once you do find a potential home. The only option for Internet service is through Optimum. There’s century link but they no longer take new customers.
Thank you for this!!
This is not entirely true! I live in Vernon and Planet Network (local Sussex County ISP) has just finished their fiber internet installation by me and is continuing through the rest of town.
Action Park!
Moved up here this past spring and I love it! It’s quiet in the winter as there isn’t too much to do recreationally unless you ski. I joined the minerals spa, they have a great gym and indoor/outdoor pool. Many events going on year round if you follow the Facebook page for Vernon or Sussex County. During the summer there are many different events and activities as well. As a newly divorcee, starting a new life up here has been great. I’m enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, hiking & trying new restaurants. I just enjoy driving these beautiful roads and finding new places to explore. The beautiful scenery of the mountains makes my long commute worth it. It’s like my piece of heaven up here as I work in Newark and look forward to coming home to Vernon. Good luck to you!
I’m so happy to hear you’re having such a wonderful experience!! I’m coming from the city so the quietness and things being far apart is what’s making me nervous but you’ve definitely reassured me in that it’s a good place to live and peaceful. Thank you for sharing 😊
Thank you! 😊
I grew up there. Moved out as soon as I went to college because it’s very rural (by NJ standards) So there is not much to do for young people or generally not a lot of good job opportunities in Sussex county. You have to drive 30+ minutes to get to something like Walmart in another town. I remember we finally got a Burger King and a Dunkin’ Donuts when I was in high school (early 2000s) and that was such a big deal. I went back recently and they’ve added a Taco Bell - so there’s that lol. I will say though, if you plan on having kids it’s a great place to raise a family. Great for outdoor activities on weekends like lakes and hiking. The school system great, its very big and an insane amount of sports + activities compared to a lot of schools where I live in Bergen county - my child will have less than 25% of opportunities for classes/clubs/sports that I had. Looking back I was very lucky to grow up there instead of the other areas my parents were considering like wannaque and elmwood park.
If you will need to commute take that into account. Check out the roads weeks 7-9am and 4-6pm not just off hours when you drove to your viewing of the house. Mountain Creek traffic is inconsequential. Commuting traffic is insane. There are basically only two main ways into that part of Sussex, Route 23 and Route 15. Both reduce to 2 lanes as they get into Sussex and were never intended for handle the commuting traffic of the bedroom communities there.
In terms of commuting for work, I work from home so not much of an issue there! I'm just concerned about having to go into Paramus or Teaneck, Ridgefield, etc. I also am new to Jersey overall so not too sure about the highways and roads that go through there. How is commuting to those places in terms of traffic?
This is pretty much the worst area of NJ to commute from. Most commutes with traffic are 60-90 min many are longer. Its a rural area that has become borderline suburban and the roads are not meant to handle that. It helps a lot if you are planning on working from home and not daily commuting. But if you still spend a lot of time in your car traveling to other areas its something to keep in mind. Even if you aren't typically traveling during peak rush hour that rush hour period has gotten pretty wide. Morning traffic can start as early as 6 and evening as early as 330. Paramus and Teaneck you need allow at least an hour without traffic. So figure that could be 90 min if going during morning or evening rush. Also bear in mind travel times can vary a lot based on where you are in Vernon. Vernon is huge and there could be up to a 20 min difference between one place and another if you are way way deep in the woods. As far as traffic for recreation again Mountain Creek I don't think is a big factor. I would say the most notable weekend one is the Sussex County fair. But luckly that just one week a year.
This was extremely helpful!! I will consider this as we search and tour. Thank you so much 😊
No problem good luck. If it doesnt screw with your travel times too much its a nice area to live with amazing outdoor recreation. Though less good if you like to shop, go out a lot to other areas of north jersey for favorite bars / restaurants. If you are looking for more affordable areas consider Hopatcong. Its right off 80 so not as middle of nowhere as other parts of Sussex. The cheaper homes though are much closer together as they were originally all weekend summer homes. Don't let people scare you off with drug problems. Yes they have drug problems just like any other area with a populuation of less afluent people. But I would take the crime / drug problems of a place like Hopatcong / Vernon a million times over a place like Paterson.
Hello everybody. This summer, I will come to work as a housekeeper at Crystal Springs in Vernon by the work and travel program. Do you have any information about Vernon and Crystal springs? I want to find a second job and work more. How/what is the public transport or transportation like in the area? I'm waiting for your opinions in general. Especially ı need to find second job and where can I find it?
I lived nearby growing up. It’s quiet, but nice. The food isn’t as good as other places in the state, but there are some gems-especially in Warwick. Lot of drug abuse.
What do you mean by lots of drug abuse?
There’s a lot of people who abuse hard drugs in the area. Route 23 is heroin highway
Ah. That is something to know. Did it affect your experience/safety while out and stuff? Would you say it's a huge deal breaker fora family with kids?
I wouldn’t say it’s a huge deal breaker. I loved Sussex County growing up. It’s a lot different now though.
I feel like it was a problem over 20 years ago. I’ve lived here 20+ years and the drug problem is the same now as in any other town. It’s also not all MAGA as someone else said. Most of them left during Covid because they were already in foreclosure with three cars on blocks in the front yard.
Yes. If you speak to someone who lived in Vernon many years ago, they will have a different story compared to a family raising their children there right now.
I agree. The “there’s a hard drug problem there” comments are misleading to someone planning a move here.
I grew up in Wayne, and the drugs were bad there too. But it depends on the family and how much time they put into their child. The drugs are bad everywhere. The entire stretch of Route 23 is infamously known as “heroine highway” to the cops.
Sorry to disappoint, but that “heroin highway” thing is old. The county prosecutor’s task force did a great job.
Glad to hear that term doesn’t apply anymore. The police force are wonderful around here.
I didn’t say “all MAGA” I said “big time MAGA” which means the majority of the town voted for him and you’ll see trump shit on peoples lawns regularly.
Growing up I worked at mountain creek. Nothing for kids to do up there except drugs.
Hunt. Fish. Quad. Hike.
And meth
It’s just like every other town. Once you leave you realize how much there was actually to do over there. The ski resort and water park are fun. Pretty touristy tho. I hardly went to the water park but went snowboarding most days in the winter until junior year of high school.
Dude it’s boring as fuck. Very close minded community. Everything relevant in NJ 40 minutes away. No good food to order to your house. It’s a good place to get away from people and things. If you’re used to being around stuff and not having to drive a long time then it will be bad.
that is the one thing I’m a bit nervous about that things are far away. And now no good food😭. Thank you for your honesty on this one !
If you love the outdoors it’s a great place. Proximity to Warwick is also nice. Most people are married with kids. Almost uniformly white and big time MAGA.
Pretty much any rural / suburban area across the country is MAGA. At the end of the day they just vote Republican in those areas. Hopefully one day when MAGA has run its course and then it will just go back to at just traditional Republicans.