Hopewell Junction

This small and well-maintained hamlet in East Fishkill is drawing many families looking for a quality lifestyle at more affordable prices than down county towns. I know of a couple of a few families, with a member working in the Yorktown area, who have chosen to make Hopewell Junction their home – they say that they appreciate how far their money goes in terms of property in Hopewell Junction. There is the opportunity to enjoy the accessibility to thriving commercial development in places like Poughkeepsie and Wappinger Falls while still getting the benefit of the semi-rural quiet that is typical of Hudson Valley towns.

Hopewell Junction is small in itself but being part of East Fishkill means that the schools and the recreation programs are of the caliber that cater to a larger community. This allows for the kind of variety and range that may not be possible for a hamlet of around 500 people! The children here go to schools in of four public school districts – Arlington, Carmel, Pawling and Wappinger Falls. All have reasonably good reputations and there is also the added benefit of knowing that there good institutions of higher education in the area such as Marist and Vassar.

Hopewell Junction promotes itself as a tourist destination for those looking to explore the Hudson Valley and the town emphasizes its location in a nationally designated historic area. Combine this with the golf course and wineries in the area, you can see that the B&Bs here can be quiet in demand. The area is also popular as a wedding location. The fact that the town is built to cater to visitors and tourists means that it has quiet a few dining and shopping options within a short driving distance. As all this indicates, Hopewell Junction is not just a sleepy little town, even though it is emphatically embraces its small town persona!

Hopewell Junction, a hamlet in the town of East Fishkill, has a population of 2,600. Its location in lower Dutchess County makes commuting to Manhattan doable, if lengthy. The area’s recent growth sprouted from an increased demand for reasonably priced housing after many homebuyers were priced out of Westchester, leading to more interest in areas like Hopewell Junction.

Its inclusion within the town of East Fishkill gives residents access to many recreation programs and facilities, including the main Recreation Park and Red Wing Park, which has a beach. Hopewell Junction is also a great place for golf, home to multiple courses. The Beekman Golf Club is a 27-hole public course, and there is also a Trump National course. The East Fishkill Golf Center is a multi-sport facility, which also has a driving range and batting cages.

Two school districts, Arlington and Wappingers, serve the majority of the district’s public school districts. The Arlington Central School District, with 10,100 students, has students from several towns. The district has eight elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. Overall, most of the student population performs well on state exams, and 90% of its graduates go on to college. The Wappingers district, with an enrollment of 12,000, is one of New York’s largest. Like Arlington, Wappingers educates students from several towns in the southwestern part of the county. In 2011-2012, the district was newly identified by the state as being in need of improvement in English Language Arts at all grade levels.

There are a handful of shops and restaurants in the hamlet. Poughkeepsie, fifteen minutes away, is home to the Galleria Mall and many other national retailers, as is neighboring Fishkill.

Vacant land is available in Hopewell Junction, and the inventory includes many recently-built homes. In addition, there are older, less expansive single family homes and condominiums.

You might not know it passing through, but Hopewell Junction is a small gem amongst the many towns and cities in New York’s Dutchess County. Ranked as Money Magazine’s “31st most desirable place to live” in the US in the year 2005, Hopewell Junction is one of the several hamlets of East Fishkill and used to be a railroad junction for the Newburgh, Dutchess and Connecticut Railroad.

Perhaps you’ve gotten a little tired of city life and want to take a nice drive out to the country to spend a weekend. Well, you’ve found a special haven right in New York’s backyard! Part of the glorious Hudson Valley, Hopewell Junction has many comfortable choices for this kind of getaway: such as the breathtaking Bykenhull House B&B (on, not surprisingly, Bykenhull Road), where you can stay in Victorian-style bedrooms, and stroll the Perennial gardens; perhaps meditate by the fountain or just enjoy the natural splendor with your loved one (it’s between $125-215 a night, but it’s well worth the price and a stay you won’t soon forget). There’s also many Inns in Fishkill proper: the Royal Inn, the Residence Inn, the Hampton Inn and, even better if you’ve planned a business venture, the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center as well.

A unique Jewish camp and retreat also resides in Hopewell Junction: that’s Circle Lodge on 335 Sylvan Lake Road, right by the beautiful and stunning Sylvan Lake itself. The camp and retreat is for everyone, not just the Jewish, and you can learn a lot here about their culture as you swim in the lake or in the outdoor pool (it’s heated), play, horseback ride and star in a program at the camp’s theater. They also have internet access and a computer lab, so you’re never too far from civilization: but this place is really about getting out in the country while enjoying a friendly community experience. It’s a great place to be, especially come summertime!

Aside from Sylvan Lake you’ve also got Walton Lake, and both lakes allow for both residents and visitors alike to swim, fish and boat to everyone’s heart’s content. Red Wing Park, magically spring-fed by an underground source, offers 17 acres of gorgeous land for playing sports and picnicking, where you can swim and have lunch (but wait awhile before eating) at the lake’s concession stand. The Appalachian Trail, a long marked hiking trail that runs from Maine in New England to Southern Georgia, also runs through Hopewell Junction and is open to the public (but make sure you find a lean-to shelter before dusk and be well supplied to stay overnight, if hiking for more than one day).

Hopewell Junction is unique because it is served by many wonderful local school districts: Wappingers Central, Arlington, and Carmel Central. High school graduates can choose from internationally famous state-of-the-art colleges like Merist and Vassar, as well as exceptional community colleges like Hudson Valley and Dutchess.

If you’re hungry, you’ll never be without a great restaurant in Hopewell Junction: from fancy romantic restaurants like Tiramisu Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, to local favorites like KFC and Subway. You’ve also got many shopping options from Hopewell’s various plazas. The Grand Union Plaza now has an A&P instead of Grand Union (a long-term chain which has sadly gone out of business). You’ll never forget your stop at Le Croissant for wonderful French desserts, and you’ll be glad to be near CVS Pharmacy for all your self-care needs. As someone who grew up young in Dutchess County, I have fond memories as a child of visiting Video Source, which is stil there (but more DVDs than VHS). People who love to play golf will revel in Hopewell’s many golf courses (Beekman Country Club has the most holes---27 of them!). Hopewell Junction has Hopewell Medical for quality medical care, and there are lots of other choices in local areas. You can use nearby Beacon’s Train Station for transportation. Hopewell Junction residents have access to the wonderful East Fishkill Library.

Overall, Hopewell Junction---while small and surrounded by the beautiful woods and hills of gorgeous Hudson Valley, is great for middle-class families who like rural-to-suburban living with a country setting. Watch out for duck crossing on Rt. 376! This is a charming country town with a small community feel, and you’ll feel right at home in Hopewell Junction. Come again soon!

A small wooded hamlet of East Fishkill, Hopewell Junction is home to about 2700 people. On one hand, it is a classic small town: it is wooded, serene, with lovely old homes hidden away on back roads, and it has a grocery store, a few shops, delis, a couple of pizzerias, and several restaurants. On the other hand, it is a town being pulled into the modern age: there is a Subway and Dunkin’ Donuts, both chain stores which would be banned in many determinedly old-fashioned towns, and you can spot quite a few brand new, ostentatiously large houses which have sprung up in highly visible areas.

This is not a New York City commuter town, unless you’re into long commutes. The nearest train station is a Metro North in Beacon, about 20 minutes away, and Beacon to Grand Central takes about an hour and 20 minutes. If that is not a problem, and you like a woodsy, mostly out of the way town with a few amenities and not a long drive to more of them, this may be the place for you.

About 66% of the population are married couples, with 43% having children under the age of 18 living with them. Only 23% of the population are non-families, so this is probably not the best place to be young and single.

There are three very nice B and B’s in Hopewell, with Le Chambord at the top of the list, followed by Bykenhulle House and the Inn at Arbor Ridge. Le Chambord has an excellent restaurant, and there is also fine dining at Tiramisu, Muscoot North, and the Blue Fountain.

Children are in the Wappingers Central School District. The schools are good, though a bit crowded. Parent town East Fishkill’s active recreation department provides quite a few diversions for kids (as well as their parents). There are many sports teams from which to choose, including roller hockey, golf and tennis, and volleyball, as well as the more traditional baseball, softball, football, lacrosse, and soccer, and many parks in which to play them. There is a very busy Garden Club, with Arbor Day a major event, and year-round beautification projects always in progress.

There is a gym in East Fishkill, and a hometown baseball team in Wappingers. For nightlife, you’ll need to go to Wappingers, Poughkeepsie, or farther afield.

Hopewell Junction is an affluent and historical hamlet in the town of East Fishkill in Dutchess County, NY filled with well-manicured homes, some of which are rather grand in scope. There is definite wealth here, but in spite of that fact, the area retains a communal sense of well-being and friendliness.

There are some really nice restaurants located in Hopewell Junction including Daddy-O’s, Tokoharu with its fresh and tasty sushi, the elegant Le Chambord Inn, the rustic ItalianTiramisu, the intimate Muscoot North Restaurant, the award-winning Blue Fountain Restaurant, the kid-friendly Gian Bruno’s Restaurant, Joe’s Dairy Bar with its awesome chili fries, Monte Rosa Lodge Restaurant, Nick’s Brick Oven Pizza, Pizza Village, Hopewell Deli, Hopewell Hot Bagels, Golden Jade, Simone’s Pizza & Pasta, Dunkin Donuts, Subway and KFC.

Retail shopping in the junction consists of CVS Pharmacy, Hank the Painter, Flowers by Twilight, Star Printing USA, Williams Lumber and Clove Branch Gift Shoppe. There is a Walmart Supercenter, Ocean State Job Lot and a Sam’s Club in nearby Fishkill about six miles away, give or take. Also, a 6.4 mile drive to nearby Poughkeepsie and you arrive at the very popular South Hills Mall which has 250 retail stores, a bunch of eateries and a multiplex cinema.

For grocery shopping, Hopewell Junction does have an A & P Food store, Frankie’s Superette, Hopewell Farms, Fishkill Farms and a Stewarts shop. Nearby Wappinger Falls (about 5.1 miles away) has a Hannaford Supermarket, a Stop and Shop, Meadowbrook Farm Market, Saraswati Grocery, 7-Eleven and various other convenience stores. There is also a Shoprite in Fishkill (about 5.5 miles away).

Hopewell Junction is home to the popular Red Wing Park, an eighteen acre with an eight acre lake and nice beach, a bath house with restrooms and showers, a basketball court, a volleyball court, badminton, playgrounds, swimming, fishing, picnic areas and a pavilion. Swimming instruction is provided there for children and adults alike as well as lifeguard training. They also have a quality swim team. The amazing Sylvan Lake Beach Park is also located in the junction and yes, has a glistening lake and a nice beach and is a wonderful outing for the whole family on a sunny summer afternoon.

Parent town of East Fishkill has a well developed parks and rec program (as indicated by the swimming instruction mentioned above) in addition to a great new summer camp coming up this year called “Extreme Teens.” East Fishkill is also home to some other great parks such as Limekilm Recreation Park which has a fitness center, showers, restrooms, basketball courts, tennis courts, softball fields, soccer/football/frisbee all purpose field; boccie ball and horseshoe courts, a handball court and a walking trail. The town of East Fishkill also has a cool skate park.

East Fishkill holds a series of lovely free outdoor concerts featuring some great bands throughout the summer at various locations. Every September, for the past seventeen years, the town holds its Community Day with a nice parade along Route 82, live music, food vendors, community information booths and even a fireworks display.

Hopewell Junction students are a part of the Wappingers Central School District which is fairly good.

The closest Metro North train station is in Poughkeepsie which is about eleven miles away.

Hopewell Junction is very safe and the crime rate is practically non-existent.

The mean household income is around $102,421.

The population of Hopewell Junction is small at approximately 376.

Hopewell Junction is unlike some of the areas and hamlets surrounding it in that it is partially built-up. Whereas in a place like Hillside Lake you won't find any shops or few amenities, in Hopewell Junction, there is a supermarket, a few pizzerias and bakeries, fast food places, ice cream and restaurants, gas, churches, schools, and parks. Virtually everything you'd need in your everyday life is there in town, so it's an easy, convenient, safe place to live.

It's a nice area and I know from second-hand experience that neighborhood spirit is strong here. Despite having signs of development and civilization, it manages to stay fairly close-knit. The homes are generally very nice and well-kept; aside from the strip malls and supermarket in the center of the village, there is plenty of greenery and recreation available. Dogwood Golf Course, open to the public, is nearby, as are a few other local courses.

There are bars and restaurants in town, which means hangouts for young professionals and any others who want to enjoy a nice time locally. Granted, the selection isn't very big, but the well is not dry.

The main intersection(s) in Hopewell get congested during the day and many of the parking spots in the strip mall end up filled, but there certainly modern conveniences here. The hospitals in Poughkeepsie are over 20 minutes away, and that's about how far the shopping malls are, but you can find some clinics in town, including eye and dental practices.

If you're looking for a residential area that isn't too big but isn't desolate, either, then Hopewell Junction is certainly worth a look. It seems to be an easy place to raise a family.

The first thing I noticed when I first visited Hopewell Junction is the beauty of the homes and how well maintained everything is. I've been through this hamlet a few times in every season, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it's one of the more beautiful areas I've visited, especially in the Spring and Fall. The homes are stunning. You'll see a ton of great country-style homes that are very well kept up, and one street after another has a very Norman Rockwell look to it. Definitely good for raising kids.

On that subject, Hopewell Junction is very safe and has some good schools, so if you're planning on starting a family or have recently done so, this is definitely an area to check out. I've heard St. Columbia School is well above average, and I saw a report that said for grade schools the student to teacher ratio is 12 students per teacher. That's really good, and pretty much ensures your kid is going to get a very hands-on education.

There's essentially no crime in Hopewell Junction, and no real drug or gang issues. The community feeling is really nice, and I think you would have a hard time doing better if you have kids and want to raise them right.

For some fun in the sun, the Hopewell Junction Recreation Center is hard to beat, as there are baseball diamonds and soccer fields aplenty for you to get outside and get some exercise.

The biggest downside to Hopewell Junction is the cost of living. While not crazy rich, the average income in Hopewell Junction is higher than most other parts of Dutchess County, and while the homes are nice, you'll pay for that. This makes it hard to find a place in a more limited budget. I'm not saying this is the end of the world, since it's hard to find such a nice place anywhere else, but I really enjoy Hopewell Junction and wish I could afford living there.

Hopewell Junction is a small Hamlet located in the Town of East Fishkill right near the border of Dutchess and Putnam Counties. It used to be a plot of countrified land with a small amount of homes; however, Hopewell Junction now boasts a growing population as well as an evolving community of entrepreneurs, restaurants and other smalls businesses. Though it's located within East Fishkill, over the course of the past 10 or so years it's developed its own sense of identity.

Surrounded by miles and miles of woods, Hopewell Junction is a great place to raise a family due to its safe environment and strong recreational department. On any given weekend you can see baseball, softball, soccer and other sports teams running around its 60-acre recreational facility. The park also contains a walking path, tennis courts, pavilions and sandy volleyball pits. The place comes alive during the summer months and if a sports enthusiast isn't signed up for one of departments many teams (youth through adult), you can head over to the East Fishkill Golf Center which features an indoor dome, batting cages, mini-golf and a driving range.

Local eateries are a memorable feature to living in Hopewell Junction. I attended a wedding reception once at Le Chambord Inn & Restaurant and I was floored by it's delicious-tasting food and old-school rooming style. My family and I travel north at least once a year to visit Muscoot North Restaurant- the bar is home to a bunch of regulars and the food is fantastic. Though it's just food, these eateries really represent the local dynamic of living in this community.

Families have a few options when it comes to sending their children to school when living in Hopewell Junction. Because it's located right at the Dutchess/Putnam Border, children can go to Arlington, Carmel or Pawling schools. Arlington and Carmel offer a college-like atmosphere with large campuses and bigger class sizes, while Pawling creates a more intimate, secluded setting.