This 1926 Lake Clubhouse in NJ Is Now a Cozy Log Home

A century ago, this was where the neighbors gathered. Today, it's where one lucky buyer gets to live. Tucked inside the private Mount Kemble Lake community in Harding Township, New Jersey, this lakeside home was originally built in 1926 as the community's clubhouse. Now it's a two-bedroom, three-bath retreat with 1,949 square feet on a quarter-acre lot, overlooking the water and just a short trip from New York City.

From Clubhouse to Cabin

The main level still has its century-old original logs, along with a soaring stone fireplace and warm hardwood floors. A cathedral-ceilinged passage leads into a sunny great room, where a full wall of windows looks out over the lake and landscaped gardens. The dining area, a dry bar, and a kitchen remodeled in 2013 flow together in one open space. Outside, there's a screened-and-glass porch, a patio with a built-in grill, and new steps leading down to the water, alongside views of the community's only private beach. The entire second floor is a private primary suite, also remodeled in 2013, with its own upper deck for sunrise coffee or moonlit cocktails over the lake.

Wait, What's a Summer Colony?

That was the big question on Reddit, where one commenter asked whether it meant something like the resort in Dirty Dancing. Not quite, other commenters explained. Summer colonies were small neighborhoods of seasonal cottages, often built around a lake, where city families escaped the heat for the season. Many had a shared clubhouse for dinners and gatherings, much like this one. Big Catskills-style resorts were a different animal, and according to commenters, air conditioning eventually made both fade from fashion. Several Redditors said they now live in former summer colonies themselves, and one shared a local historical society's write-up on Mount Kemble Lake's early days. As for the house, commenters loved the roofline and the vintage charm, though a few found the bathrooms underwhelming and wished for a pop of color. One joked that Sears should sell this exact model in its catalog, shipped on a flatbed and assembled with nothing but wing nuts.

The Internet Has Thoughts

Naturally, this listing caught the attention of Reddit's r/zillowgonewild community. See what people are saying about it here.

Whether you're dreaming of lake days, a log-cabin hideaway close to the city, or just want to own a piece of summer colony history, this one is worth a look. View the full listing here.