Retrospective: Lake Naomi, Pocono Pines and The Logan Steele Era 1963- 1986

While my parents caught wind of Lake Naomi in 1963, Logan Boone Steele of Summit, New Jersey, had a vision and became one of the first developers of the modern era in the Pocono Pines area of the Pocono Mountains. For a mere $400,000, Steele’s Lake Naomi Development Corporation and some private investors acquired 2760 acres of land from Irene Miller Gross, Thomas T. Miller, and Elso F. Miller of the Miller family, who had owned and lived and developed the area for almost a century.

Retrospective:
We like to call these research pieces more as retrospectives. As we delve deeper into our research and gather new insights from our readers, we frequently update the piece with additional engaging content. Feel free to add comments in our comment section or drop us a note including stories and photos you’d like to share and we’ll update the post as needed.

Early Logan Steele

Before Lake Naomi, Logan Steele had already cut his teeth developing lake communities in New Jersey. Many are unaware that Logan Steele’s company built four estates before acquiring 2760 acres in Pocono Pines from Irene Miller Gross in August 1963. All based in Sussex and Morris Counties, New Jersey, the Summit, New Jersey developer built out the Lake Panorama and Scenic Lakes in Sussex County, Skytop Drive and Tewksbury Estates in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey.

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The name “Naomi” in the Pocono region traces back to Thomas Thompson Miller, who, in the late 19th century, purchased his first 500 acres in the area to protect them from the rampant clear-cut lumbering of the time. Seeking to preserve the peace and natural beauty of the towering pine forests for his family and future generations, he named the area Naomi Pines, drawing inspiration from the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. In that story, Ruth’s loyalty brings comfort and peace to Naomi — a sentiment Thomas felt mirrored the tranquility the pine forests brought to him and his sons, Frank and Rufus.

That connection to the name “Naomi” became even more personal when Thomas’s son, Franklin Comfort Miller, welcomed a daughter, Irene Emma Naomi Miller, on July 21, 1891, four years before building a dam that would form Naomi Lake in 1895. The lake’s name carried forward both the family tradition and the Biblical symbolism. In the years that followed, Franklin’s brother Rufus helped bring the first post office to the community, renaming the area Pocono Pines to emphasize its place in the broader Poconos region. Thus, Naomi Pines became Lake Naomi at Pocono Pines, with its name rooted in a blend of family heritage, Biblical meaning, and the Millers’ vision for a peaceful retreat.

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1963 – The Modern Era of Lake Naomi

In the early 1960s, a new chapter began in the storied history of Pocono Pines when visionary developer Logan Steele acquired a large tract of land from Irene Miller Gross, a direct descendant of the pioneering Miller family. The Millers, who had settled the area in the 1800s, were instrumental in shaping the region’s early identity—establishing businesses, developing land, and lending their name and legacy to what would become a cherished corner of the Pocono Mountains. With the passing of generations, Irene Miller Gross became the steward of that legacy, holding one of the last major parcels of family land overlooking the serene waters of Lake Naomi.

Logan Steele, recognizing both the natural beauty and untapped potential of the area, envisioned more than just land development; he saw the opportunity to create a unique mountain-lake community that celebrated nature, recreation, and family living. Through his purchase from the Gross family, Steele laid the foundation for what would evolve into one of the most sought-after private communities in the Poconos. Blending thoughtful planning with an appreciation for the land’s heritage, his efforts would not only preserve the natural charm of the region but also redefine its future, turning a once-quiet village into a vibrant destination.

In 1963, $400,000 held significantly more purchasing power than it does today. It was estimated that they would subdivide the expansive parcel into approximately 300 residential building lots. According to Robert Steele, father of the corporation’s president and a noted developer in his own right, the location was chosen for its scenic appeal and its growing accessibility, citing the construction of the Keystone Shortway (Interstate Route 80) and proximity to the Northeastern Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

When Logan Steele bought 2,760 acres of land in 1963 for $400,000, the price per acre came out to just $144.93. By today’s standards, that’s incredibly cheap, like picking up a piece of the Poconos at a clearance sale. Adjusted for inflation, that $400,000 would be worth about $4.2 million in 2025, thanks to a cumulative inflation rate of roughly 950%. So in modern dollars, Steele was effectively paying about $1,522 per acre, still a bargain when you consider what land in the area costs now.

Today, land near Lake Naomi is priced far higher. A recent Zillow listing showed a 10.7-acre parcel near the lake going for $4 million, and even much smaller lots (around one-third of an acre) are selling for $120,000–$125,000 each. Based on that pricing, the same 2,760 acres would cost nearly $956 million today. In other words, the land Logan Steele once bought for a few hundred thousand dollars would now require nearly a billion. That’s the power of location, timing, and a little bit of vision.

1964

1964 is when the Lake Naomi Development advertising blitz commenced. All of these clippings are from actual newspaper advertisements from the time. Most of the ads you can click to enlarge.

1965

As you can see in the advertisements in the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1965, competition for vacation homes in the Poconos now had options. While Logan Steele had a head start, he continued to engineer the Lake Naomi region of Pocono Pines. However, that also meant that investment dollars started to pour in as developers realized there was a significant appetite for vacation homes in the Pocono Mountains.

1966 – New Highs and Big Demand

Membership Has its Privileges

For 2025, membership in the Lake Naomi Club is an annual option offered to all property owners in Lake Naomi and Timber Trails. Membership covers a single-family unit (two adults and their dependent children). Couple and single memberships are also available. The privilege to use any of the recreational facilities and/or social activities in the Lake Naomi/Timber Trails Community is limited to those individuals who are Lake Naomi Club members. The only exception to this is the lake and beach in Timber Trails, which is available to all Timber Trails property owners in good standing. We’re still researching what it costs to join over the decades. If you know, post in the comments.

Joining the Lake Naomi Club in the Pocono Mountains does take a financial commitment. New members are required to pay a one-time fee of $13,000, which includes a $5,000 application charge and a $8,000 capital contribution. Annual membership dues vary by household type: $5,620 for families, $4,930 for couples, and $3,755 for individuals, all of which include a $400 capital improvement fee. Optional upgrades for unlimited access to tennis, pickleball, and golf are available, as well as fees for rental properties and guest usage. These dues grant access to the club’s extensive amenities, including private beaches, lakes, a clubhouse, and year-round programming.

For short-term visitors or renters, temporary memberships are available by the week, with peak summer rates starting at $540 and off-season weeks beginning at $355. These temporary memberships cover an adult and up to six children, with additional fees for each extra adult. Property owners are also subject to separate homeowners’ association dues within communities like Pocono Pines or Timber Trails.

The Lake Naomi Club and the Sailing Association

Soon after the Lake Naomi Club’s creation in 1963, the Lake Naomi Sailing Association (LNSA) was established to promote sailing as a central recreational activity. From the outset, the association emphasized family involvement, offering a range of programs for all ages. The association hosted regular weekend races and regattas, initially featuring small fleets of Dusters, then Sunfish, and later expanding to other classes, highlighting both competitive and fun, community-focused sailing.

I’m trying to remember how the summer racing circuit on Lake Naomi worked. I do remember that there would be a season-ending reception at the Lake Naomi Club, sometime around or after the Labor Day weekend, where the Association would hand out what my father would call “the hardware.” The Betz family did pretty well, as my brother Brian Betz and I still held onto a few, but our names do live on with the perpetual trophies at the Club.

• The Owaissa Trophy: Juniors would compete in a weekly series on Thursdays, with points awarded. You could only win this once. You got to keep the perpetual Owassia Trophy for one year and then have the keepsake to remember, along with your name on the original.
• The Commodores Trophy: Labor Day Sunfish regatta. There was a perpetual trophy you got to keep for one year and then have the keepsake to remember, along with your name on the original.
• Season Champion: Given to the top three performers in each class for the Summer Series.

The sailing association was where my father and the rest of us supported his opening of the Pocono Boathouse shortly after he purchased two lots on Canoe Brook Road and built two cottages (that’s another story I have to get to :), but not here. However, it certainly ties in with what you see on Lake Naomi today.

1968 – Finally, a New Highway to Lake Naomi

FYI, the final link in Route 80 for PA wasn’t finished until 1973, allowing unbroken I‑80 passage from the Delaware Water Gap west through the Pocono region, so now you had a major federal highway close to Lake Naomi. Before becoming Interstate 380 (I-380), the highway connecting Interstate 80 (I-80) to Route 940 near Pocono Summit, PA, was initially known as Pennsylvania Route 940 Bypass (PA 940 Byp) and later designated as Interstate 81S (I-81S) in the 1960s. I‑380 connected to Route 940 at Exit 3 (Pocono Summit), a key junction for local traffic to Tobyhanna, Pocono Pines, and Mount Pocono.

The 1970s: The Shift to Year-Round Living on Lake Naomi

In the early 1970s, Lake Naomi was still, in many ways, a throwback to the golden age of the Pocono Mountains—a seasonal haven for vacationers escaping the heat and chaos of city life. Summer was king, and Memorial Day to Labor Day marked the vibrant stretch when the lake hummed with life. Families from New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia packed up station wagons and headed for their lakeside cabins, most of which were rustic, uninsulated, and shuttered tight come September.

But something began to shift as the decade unfolded. The economic optimism of the postwar years was wearing thin, and with it came a cultural pivot—people were reevaluating how and where they lived. As the nation faced rising inflation, gas crises, and shifting social norms, more Americans began looking for stability and a stronger connection to nature and community. For some, Lake Naomi wasn’t just a getaway anymore—it began to feel like home.

The area’s infrastructure slowly adapted to this new reality. Year-round roads were plowed with more regularity in winter. Heating systems were retrofitted into cabins that once relied on fireplaces and portable kerosene stoves. Septic systems, once an afterthought for a few summer months, were upgraded to meet the demands of permanent residence. The Lake Naomi Club, long associated with summer recreation, began offering more programming across the seasons. Plans for indoor amenities and winter activities, such as cross-country skiing and ice skating, complement tennis courts and beaches.

Meanwhile, real estate developers took notice. New homes were designed with insulation, central heating, and modern kitchens. Some even dared to build with attached garages, unheard of luxuries for what was once considered summer camp-style living. Roads like Route 940 experienced increasing traffic throughout the year, and local businesses, such as the general store and gas station, extended their hours into the winter months. The arrival of young professionals and early retirees accelerated the trend, bringing a desire for comfortable living alongside the lake’s natural beauty.

By the end of the decade, a quiet revolution had occurred. Lake Naomi was no longer just a summer colony; it had become a full-fledged residential community. Snow blanketed the pines just as regularly as summer sun shimmered on the water. Chimneys puffed smoke in January, and holiday wreaths adorned cabins that once stood empty until spring. The sound of hammers and saws echoed across the forest as porches were winterized and A-frames popped up where bungalows once stood.

The 1970s marked the beginning of a new identity for Lake Naomi, one where the rhythms of lake life were no longer confined to a season, but flowed across all twelve months, embracing a year-round heartbeat that still echoes today.

You Need a Clubhouse

The bones of the original clubhouse date back to 1921, so the original structure is over 100 years old. We’ve located a few photos from the 50s and 60s, but it was in 1971 that Lake Naomi made a significant upgrade. “

Please offer them a stunning view of Lake Naomi and the clubhouse beach, an upscale dining experience, and the Windjammer Bar and Wheelhouse Cocktail Lounge, along with an adjoining ballroom. You’ve got the makings of a great summer experience for both residents and renters with membership status. Down by the beach access, a youth center and snack bar would be located.

Ammenities Galore

From the 1970s to the present, Lake Naomi has undergone a remarkable transformation from a rustic seasonal retreat into one of the most prestigious year-round residential resort communities in the Pocono Mountains. With this shift came a wide range of new and upgraded amenities designed to support both permanent residents and vacation homeowners throughout all four seasons. Here’s a narrative overview of the major amenities added over the decades.

The 1980s brought a significant push to expand outdoor recreation. Additional tennis courts were added, along with new beaches and boat access points. The Timber Trails community began development, expanding the Lake Naomi area and introducing new homes, as well as access to shared lake privileges. Sailing and youth programs grew more robust, and the Lake Naomi Pool area began to take shape in concept, though it would be fully realized later.

After the 1980s, Lake Naomi evolved from a modest seasonal retreat into one of the most prestigious and well-planned private recreational communities in the Poconos. The transformation over the past four decades reflects a broader shift in vacation home ownership, member-driven investment, and year-round lifestyle amenities.

The most transformative addition came in 2007, with the opening of the Lake Naomi Community Center. This 48,000-square-foot facility became the heart of year-round activity. It included:

1980s and Beyond

Over the years, additional amenities were added to the Lake Naomi community, including:

• An indoor heated swimming pool
• A fitness center
• Indoor tennis, basketball, and pickleball courts
• A large recreation hall for events, clubs, and community gatherings
• Classrooms, kids’ activity spaces, and wellness programs

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a sharp increase in year-round residents, as remote workers relocated from New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. As a result, the market for homes around Lake Naomi surged, and properties once viewed as seasonal cabins are now full-time residences.

Today, Lake Naomi stands as a premier example of a thoughtfully planned residential resort community, offering a seamless blend of natural beauty and modern amenities. At its heart are three pristine lakes—Lake Naomi, Deer Trail Lake, and Judge’s Pond—surrounded by seven private beaches that cater to both relaxation and recreation. The full-service Clubhouse, complete with a restaurant, bar, and social spaces, serves as the community’s gathering point, hosting events, dinners, and seasonal celebrations throughout the year.

Recreation at Lake Naomi is diverse and year-round. Residents enjoy sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing in the warmer months, while summer camps and swim teams foster a strong sense of community for younger members. Adjacent to the main development, Timber Trails offers residents access to a scenic 9-hole golf course nestled in the woods. The community’s expansive fitness and wellness programs, supported by the state-of-the-art Community Center, provide indoor swimming, gym facilities, and classes year-round. With gated access and private security, Lake Naomi offers peace of mind along with lifestyle, making it one of the most desirable residential communities in the Pocono Mountains.

End of Our Betz Lake Naomi Era

While I’m sure various amenities were added to Lake Naomi in the 80s and beyond, my personal and family priorities shifted away from the lake. I graduated from Westfield High School in New Jersey in 1980. I fell in love with the Jersey Shore as our business ventures led to the opening of Regatta Sports, just off Sandy Hook in Sea Bright, New Jersey. I still competed nationally in Sunfish events across the Northeast region and at National Competitions. I would windsurf in what was called the Hi-Ho Windsurfing Strongman challenge, which would involve windsurfing from St. Thomas in the USVI to the BVI Bitter End and back. I would travel the country for years, evangelizing or with the Cranford Boat windsurfing team from California, to Mexico, through Texas, and Florida. I would go on to college, compete in sailboat competitions on Barnegat Bay and Spruce Run Reservoir for a few more years. After becoming New Jersey’s state Sunfish Champion, I took on management of the family’s Cranford Boat. At the same time, Pocono Pines’ Bob Hackenberg continued to run the Pocono Boathouse as a partner, later assuming the responsibilities of the boathouse.

My father sold the Lake Naomi cabins sometime around 1985, and the Pocono Boathouse was taken over by Bob Hackenberg, a longtime Pocono Pines resident and close family friend.

About The Author

I decided to write these stories down because a friend of mine, with whom I grew up, now lives on Lake Naomi and still sends me photos of the Lake Naomi Club trophy case, where my name, along with my father’s and brothers’, lives on (Thanks, Sue). Thank you for allowing me to document this life experience for the record.

Brooks founded Mr. Local History and the Mr. Local History project along with his wife Jill. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and raised in Westfield, Brooks graduated from Westfield High School in 1980 and later from Bryant University. For over two decades, Brooks, along with his brother Brian and younger sister Cee Cee, spent their summers on Lake Naomi with their parents, Frank and Caryolyn Betz, who had lived on Canoe Brook Road since the mid-1960s.

He and his family owned the Pocono Boathouse (Pocono Pines, PA) and the Cranford Canoe Club in the 1960s through the 1990s.

There are likely many gaps in the history that I hope to fill, along with a return visit to Lake Naomi to reminisce and reflect on these stories. This story is part of a series dedicated to the history of Lake Naomi, Pocono Pines, and the memories of my family spending time together. Thanks for reading.

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Mr. Local History Project’s Lake Naomi / Pocono Pines Series

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