Wanaque Reserve

Wanaque Reserve is a gated Del Webb 55+ active adult community set on 436 beautiful acres in the Northern New Jersey Highlands, just 35 miles north of Manhattan in Passaic County. Developed by Pulte's Del Webb brand between 2004 and 2014, the community consists of 755 luxury condominium homes housed in ten mid-rise elevator buildings, each five stories tall and containing 74 units. Every building offers homeowner-only keyed access, 24-hour gated security, intercom guest announcement, and three elevators, giving Wanaque Reserve a secure, low-maintenance, lock-and-leave lifestyle that's rare among New Jersey 55+ communities. Homes come in three two-bedroom, two-bath floor plans — the Colfax (1,768 sq ft), Ryerson (1,910 sq ft), and Westbrook (up to 2,767 sq ft) — with a small number of rare three-bedroom penthouse units on the top floors. Each condo includes a private covered balcony, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, den or office with French doors, in-unit laundry, and at least one deeded indoor garage parking space plus additional exterior parking. Energy-efficient construction includes high-quality insulation and Low-E glass on all windows and patio doors. The newest buildings were completed around 2012–2014, and resale inventory tends to move briskly, with median listing prices in the mid-to-high $400s. The social heart of the community is The Lodge, a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse with a full-time activities director, state-of-the-art fitness center, heated indoor pool, resort-style outdoor pool with sun deck, hot tub, saunas, massage rooms, ballroom, movie/performance theater, billiards room, card room, arts and crafts studio, computer center, library, and Kim's Cafe on site. Outside, residents enjoy tennis and pickleball courts, bocce ball, shuffleboard, and miles of walking and hiking trails winding through wooded grounds bordered by the Wanaque River and backed by Ramapo Mountain State Park. More than 45 active clubs and interest groups keep the calendar full — travel club (with past trips to Chicago, Las Vegas, and the Caribbean), bridge, canasta, poker, book club, writers club, political action, knitting, crocheting, art association, American-Italian culture club, singles club, bowling, and many more — complemented by regular movie nights, poolside happy hours, live shows, seminars, and holiday events. The community is managed by a condo association in partnership with FirstService Residential. The monthly association fee is substantial (reflective of high-rise condo living in a high-cost NJ market) and covers lawn care, landscaping, snow removal, trash removal, gatehouse security, common grounds and amenities, management, and — per recent MLS listings — water/sewer, cable TV, and internet. Location is a major draw: close access to I-287 and Route 23 puts residents within easy reach of Willowbrook Mall, Ridgewood, and Newark, with Manhattan about 35 miles south and Newark Liberty International Airport roughly 30 miles away. Excellent healthcare is nearby, including St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Wayne, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, and Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. For active adults who want a walkable, elevator-served, low-maintenance condo lifestyle in a scenic, wooded setting with serious amenities and a full social calendar — while staying within day-trip distance of NYC — Wanaque Reserve is one of the most distinctive 55+ options in Northern New Jersey.