Does Hopatcong Still Have a Camp-Out Culture?

Does Hopatcong still have a camp-out culture?

When we compare the west side of the lake to the east side of the lake, we see comparative differences in development. While the east side has more commercial businesses, it also has provided its community with community centers and town libraries.

Hopatcong borough did NOT build its own community center.

The former “Civic” Center was a renovated golf lodge, not a structure that was erected though the efforts of borough taxes and planning. Is this lack of commercial planning and community development a current problem or is it our legacy that we still maintain by choice? 

In the 1905 travel catalog “ Lake Hopatcong Illustrated” T.C. Whitlock states:

“The west side of the lake is known as Hopatcong Borough and is governed by a mayor and council. It has overlook, handsome cottages and many hotels, but no stores. The Hopatcong House is the oldest and largest hotel on this side. There is a telephone exchange, livery and automobile stables. It is about two miles from the landing.”

In its heyday, Lake Hopatcong’s west side was known more for it campsites and moderate hotel rentals. The grandest hotels were on the east side of the Lake. Does Hopatcong still hold on to this camp-out mindset?

Recreation appears to be the primary culture of our town with a lower priority for brick and mortar development that fosters community business, society and cultural wellbeing. The very best attraction of what Hopatcong has to offer is its private lakefront property with a lower price tag. Will this be enough to hold our community together, since we no longer have the nice hotels and never really did get the stores? 

Is it our fate to have a lack of business and community centers in town due to our culture or is it a deficiency in planning for the current and future by our own local leaders both past and present?

The quest to live in a place with lower taxes may have helped spur an environment where we are paying a premium for getting less and the ambiance of “roughing it” compared to our neighbors on the other side of the kake.

Your thoughts?