Greenwood Lake

Greenwood Lake of Orange County, NY started functioning like a village around 1856, five years after Theron Felter started operating a big hotel in the area to cater tourists to the lake, but it was officially incorporated as a village in 1924. “No maybe's about it”, Greenwood Lake is a special place---and clearly, director/writer Rob Reiner agrees; he shot his 2012 movie “The Magic of Belle Isle”, starring Morgan Freeman, here.

In addition to the lake, the town's religious communities Initiative is very evident in the many generous Drives and events they are involved with. In addition to the large religious community of different variety there are several key places of worship in town: Church of the Good Shepard, Congregation B'nai Torah, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church.

Greenwood Lake has awesome events that draw people from all over the county and beyond. For instance all events are tailored to the 4 Seasons. In the Spring, there is the Easter Egg Hunt, the Community Gardens, the Recycling Drives, and the fun of joining Little League for the young ones! In the Summer (remember this town is centered around its lake), there are occasional boat parades, Movie Nights on the Waterfront, the Celebrate America 4th of July Parade, Regatta, and Concerts in Thomas P. Morahan Park. Fall events inlcude the magical Blues Festival in September, as well as Seaplane Flyin'! In the Winter there are Carriage Rides, Menorah lighting and Tree Lighting in December. Greenwood Lake's public library, the Greenwood Public Library of 79 Waterstone Road, offers programs such as the Adult Game Club, Adult Independent Film Night, Book Lovers' Club, Moms & Tots Playgroup, and even a gallery (Budding Artist); as well as Magic: The Gathering Wednesday Nights (tornaments for fans of the awesome cult-classic card game that's been around, it seems, like forever; Express Yourself; and Get Crafty: a Do-It-Yourself-Craft Night.

Greenwood Lake also has a wonderful park, Thomas P. Morahan Park of Windemere Avenue, which hosts concerts and even more events as well all year round for everyone, residents and visitors alike, to enjoy.

Amenities in town include the County Grocery, Kwik Mart, CVS, A Fine Line Hair Design, Arnell's Antiques & Restoration, Friendly Beer & Soda, and the Village Wine Company. Restaurants include the Subway, Planet Pizza, H'Hare's Pub (excellent nightlife), and Murphy's Tavern & Restaurant (also excellent nightlife).

Greenwood's population in 2010 was 3,154 and is still climbing in 2012. The estimated median value is $217,000, which has gone down in price over the years. However, the cost of living index(as of this year, 2012) is 137.2, which is high compared to the national average (100). Unfortunately Greenwood Lake doesn't offer senior or affordable housing, but on occasion you might be able to find a 2 family apartment for as low as $850. On the other hand, a single family ranch in Greenwood Lake (and beautiful at that---almost looks like a rustic cabin---can be as low as $1,100). A residential bungalow can be as low as $99,000, which is not bad as far as houses go in NY state. All of this can be very affordable for working middle-class families.

Families with kids have access to Greenwood Lake Schools, which receives a rating of 7 out of 10. Slightly above average schools include Greenwood Lake Elementary School (public, K-3) and Greenwood Lake Middle School (public, 4-8).

Residents of Greenwood Lake are an hour and 15 minutes away from NYC (by car). The town provides excellent transportation via NJ Transit and Greenwood Lake to Port Authority, NYC. The crime rate here is very low, making it the perfect place to live and raise a family. Excellent medical care can be found 15 minutes away in Warick, NY at the St. Anthony Community Hospital, and Greenwood Lake itself has its own Volunteer Ambulence Corp., which provides excellent service to all residents in town.

In general, you can understand why a movie with the name “The Magic of Belle Isle” was filmed here. After joining in the fun of waterfront activities or watching the fireworks on the Fourth of July, it's no secret why people love Greenwood Lake and choose to spend the rest of their lives here: it's safe, has a wonderful community, and is a very “special place”, indeed! Come soon and experience the magic of Greenwood Lake's sparkling waters for yourself!