About Fox Gap Summer Retreat
In the early 1940’s my husband’s parents purchased acres of land in the countryside of Bangor, Pennsylvania. They chose this location because of its rolling hills, impressive views, surrounding evergreen woods and crystal clear streams which reminded them of where they were from in Sweden. As a Sea Captain stationed at the Brooklyn Naval Yard in New York, and as a Department Head at the Brooklyn Technical High School, both my father-in-law and mother-in-law longed to escape the city life during their work week for the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of Pennsylvania. Their property in Bangor consisted of both sides of a country road named Fox Gap Road. One side of the road was a working Farm and the opposite side of the road was undeveloped land but destined to become a vacation spot for family guests because it offered an abundance of natural beauty including woodlands, fresh water, and wildlife.In the 1950’s summer rental units were built on the undeveloped side of Fox Gap Road consisting of a long ranch building divided into four separate apartments and two individual cottages. Also built was a private four acre spring fed lake with two islands and a spillway that allows for the constant change of lake water as it overflows and cascades downward into one of the several streams located on the property.
The first guests that rented for the summer were family members only but as years went by new guests consisted of families from parts of New York City, Philadelphia, Long Island, New Jersey and Florida. Some of these guests have been returning for decades and now their adult children with their family members, are renting.
In 1980 my husband and I were married. Together we enjoyed taking on the legacy of running both the Farm and summer rental properties. However, demands of our professional careers in the healthcare industry required that we needed a change in lifestyle. So, when our son was born we bought a suburban home in Allamuchy, New Jersey and continue to live there today. Our NJ home is located only thirty minutes away from our PA property which accords us an easy and short driving distance.
For years we watched in envy how our summer guests were enjoying themselves at the lake all season long and thought that it was our time for us to do the same. In 2006 my husband and I decided to sell the Farm side of Fox Gap Road and built a Lakehouse on the side where we have our summer rentals. Our house was built where two original cottages stood. The Lakehouse is within walking distance from the original long ranch building that has four separate rental apartments. This ranch building, along with the surrounding property,constitutes our Fox Gap Summer Retreat.
My husband retired from the Pharmaceutical industry and I remain working in the Medical Device industry. Our son lives with his family in Philadelphia. We enjoy visiting our Lakehouse all year long, but our favorite time is during the summer months when our guests are with us staying at their family's "summer home" - Fox Gap Summer Retreat.
Whitney Törning
An Exclusive Pocono Lakehouse Property in Bangor, PA