Lackawaxen
The tiny town of Lackawaxen (pop. 5,021), along the Delaware River 20 winding, scenic miles northwest of Port Jervis via Hwy-97, holds two fascinating attractions: the preserved home of writer Zane Grey, and a unique suspension bridge completed in 1848 by Brooklyn Bridge designer John Roebling.
Zane Grey Museum
It comes as something of a surprise to find out that Zane Grey, author of the classic Western novel Riders of the Purple Sage, was in fact a fly-fishing, baseball-loving Pennsylvania dentist, but he was. His home was preserved by his family as the Zane Grey Museum (135 Scenic Dr., 570/685-4871, 10am-5pm Wed.-Sun. summer, free). Now maintained by the National Park Service, the museum offers an unusually intimate look into his life and works. Zane Grey and his wife (and childhood sweetheart) Dolly are buried side-by-side in the small Lackawaxen graveyard.
Roebling Bridge
The Roebling Bridge is about 100 yards downstream from Zane Grey’s home and has been preserved by the National Park Service—though it’s now used by cars instead of canal boats. For the full experience, stay the night in the circa-1870 canal office, now housing the Roebling Inn on the Delaware (570/685-7900, $124 and up).
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