One of our region’s most beloved summer attractions — the annual display of mountain laurel blooms carpeting thousands of acres in Hickory Run State Park from late spring until the end of July — has been compromised in 2025 by construction activities associated with the proposed expansion of a local resort known as the Greystone Preserve.

A proposed development of future “second homes” outside Albrightsville is being touted in a monthly regional magazine as follows: “Just Listed: A former fly-fishing club next to Hickory Run State Park is being transformed into 58 huge homesites in a one-of-a-kind luxury resort community.”

The proposed subdivision calls for creating 59 12-acre lots spread across 4,000 acres in Kidder and Penn Forest Townships in Carbon County, to be accessed off Route 534 just east of the Hickory Run State Park boundary. Thousands of acres of undeveloped land, including critical habitat for state and federally listed plant and animal species of concern are at risk.

A community of 60 luxury homes — each occupying twelve acres of land — will require an enormous amount of infrastructure, new paving, utilities, manicured lawns and pesticide spraying. The history of our region shows that resort communities eventually become permanent housing, with all the trappings of large-scale residential development, leading to ever more urbanization of the region.

A huge gouge — possibly for a future access road — has been carved into the landscape along the south side of Route 534. Residents of our area who value what is special about our region should be paying close attention to this project.

Juliet Perrin

Albrightsville