Smoke Rise, Kinnelon

SMOKE RISE: A LOOK AT ONE OF THE OLDEST GATED COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S.

Smoke Rise is one of America’s finest private lake club communities and hosts over 900 homes on 2,500 acres. Smoke Rise has 24-hour security, a variety of sub-clubs, and special events grounded in a tradition of community spirit and community service.

“Whether you’re looking for the ideal location to raise a family or a community for your golden years, Smoke Rise is more than a place to live; it’s a way of life,” the community states on its website, smokerise-nj.com. “Each unique home, no two are alike, is in its own breathtaking surrounding in a landscape forged by mother nature’s glaciers.”

Smoke Rise was created out of the estate of Francis Kinney, a 19th-century industrialist who founded Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The Kinney estate dates back to 1884, when Francis Kinney, a pioneer in the tobacco industry, built a huge “summer cottage” here. His son, Morris Kinney, for whom the borough of Kinnelon was named 41 years later, lived most of his life on the estate. Smoke Rise features a Village Green which hosts a baseball and soccer field, playground, basketball court, tennis courts, 10 in all, and a paddle tennis court. Across from the green are two riding rings and down the road are the stables. For those who enjoy winter activities, there is skating on Hoot Owl Pond and ice fishing on Lake Kinnelon which is hosted by the Smoke Rise Fishing Club. There are also several ski mountains only 20-45 minutes away, which make quick after school or weekend daytrips to the slopes possible.

Lake Kinnelon features a large beach, lifeguard shack, snack shack, barbecue grills, volleyball nets, playground, horseshoe pits, basketball and bocce ball courts. There are boat docks as well as storage racks for sunfish sail boats, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. There is an annual fireworks display on the Fourth of July for all residents and their invited guests as well as many other community social events including a few that feature DJs or live bands, making the beach a social hub day or night during the summer months.

The Smoke Rise Village Inn has offered fine cuisine and exceptional service for 65 years. Its historic stone building, once a farming structure, dates back to 1892. Following years as a thriving dairy business, the building was developed into a restaurant in 1947 — created to serve as the social hub of its small community. It has since evolved into one of the area’s premier culinary and catering destinations.

For more information about Smoke Rise, call 973-838- 7449 or visit smokerise-nj.com.