Tucked in the private, gated Penn Estates community, Highland Lake Retreat is a stunning five-bedroom lake house with panoramic water views and direct access to the lake. Morning coffee on the deck, afternoon kayaking, and nights around a crackling fire pit. Four of the five bedrooms look out over the water, and there's room for twelve to spread out, year-round.
Grab a kayak or paddleboard and glide out from your own shoreline, cast a line off the dock, or simply sink into the year-round hot tub and watch the water. A lakeside hammock and Adirondack chairs are waiting for the quiet moments.
Two fire pits (gas on the deck, wood-burning by the lake) carry the evenings into the night.
An open-concept main level flows from a stone fireplace and lake-view living room through a fully equipped kitchen to a dining table for ten. Downstairs, a game room with a pool table, foosball, and arcade machines keeps everyone entertained.
Community perks add a beach, pools, tennis, and pickleball, open seasonally.
A serene lakefront setting that still puts the best of the Poconos within a short drive.
The property was excellent for our family of 12. We loved the lake: fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding. Peaceful and relaxing. Highly recommend.Pamela · Family of twelve
"Perfect place for making great memories with family, friends and loved ones. Great amenities and everything you need is provided. Very private and safe. Great hosts, very responsive and caring."
"The private and peaceful lake access is truly splendid. There was plenty of space for us all to comfortably hang out. AJ was extremely responsive and sent someone the very next day for a minor issue."
"Plenty to do, including nearby hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, campfires and fishing. AJ was very friendly and communicative and ensured a smooth check-in. Highly recommend for a fun group stay!"
"The perfect spot for our girls weekend. The house is cozy and had everything we needed for dining in. It's so beautiful being right on the lake, and we enjoyed a campfire in the backyard too."
"A wonderful, restful weekend in a beautiful lake house. We loved paddleboarding on the lake, soaking in the hot tub, and sitting by the fire."
Straight answers to what guests ask us most.
Highland Lake Retreat is a lakefront vacation home in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in the Poconos. It sits inside Penn Estates, a private gated community, and the backyard runs right down to the lake. We share the exact address after you book.
Up to 12 guests, in five bedrooms with three full bathrooms. There are two king rooms, two queen rooms, and a bunk room with a double and two twin beds. Four of the five bedrooms look out over the water.
Kayaks and paddle boards are waiting at the shoreline, so you can push off from your own backyard. Plenty of guests fish off the dock too (Pennsylvania requires a fishing license for anyone 16 or older). In the evening, most groups end up in the private hot tub or around the wood-burning fire pit by the water.
Penn Estates registers every guest and every vehicle before anyone comes through the gate. Right after you book, we send the registration form along with step-by-step arrival instructions. Guests who finish the form before the trip have the easiest arrival. Check-in is at 4:00 PM with a keyless door code, and checkout is at 10:00 AM.
We leave amenity access cards for Penn Estates in the house. They get you into the community beach, the outdoor pools, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, and walking trails. The beach and pools are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting.
Yes. The hot tub runs year-round, the stone fireplace keeps the living room warm, and Camelback Mountain is about 25 to 30 minutes away for skiing and snow tubing. The mountain roads are steep and winding, so we strongly recommend an all-wheel-drive vehicle in winter.
The Crossings Premium Outlets are about 15 minutes away and the Delaware Water Gap about 20. Great Wolf Lodge is roughly 20 to 25 minutes, and Camelback Mountain and Mount Airy Casino Resort are both about 25 to 30. Groceries are under 10 minutes. From New York City, plan on about 90 minutes to two hours in the car.
Yes. We keep a travel crib, a high chair, and kids' dishes in the house, and the bunk room tends to be the kids' favorite. Children need an adult with them in the hot tub, at the lake, and on the community grounds.
Highland Lake Retreat doesn't allow pets. Service animals are always welcome.
No parties or events. Quiet hours start at 10:00 PM, out of respect for our Penn Estates neighbors.
There's free parking for up to six vehicles plus an EV charger. Wi-Fi is free throughout the house, and there's a laptop-friendly workspace if you need to get some work done.
Booking on this site gets you our best rate, and you deal with us directly from the first message. We're AJ and Stephanie, a firefighter and nurse family, and we host every stay ourselves.
Book direct for the best rate and a real family on the other end. We'll take care of the rest.
Lakefront Hot Tub I Game Room I Fire Pit I Kayaks