Ringwood Apartment Renter's Guide
Ringwood Apartment Renter's Guide
Overview
Ringwood, New Jersey: The Town of Two Mansions. Ringwood features not one but two huge beautiful mansions that were converted into state parks, Ringwood Manor and Skylands Manor each with their own history‰Û_and their own ghosts! More on these later!
Ringwood, NJ is a borough tucked into the north east corner of Passaic County right up against where the more wooded area of New Jersey borders the Tuxedo and Suffern areas of New York State
Ringwood, New Jersey: The Town of Two Mansions. Ringwood features not one but two huge beautiful mansions that were converted into state parks, Ringwood Manor and Skylands Manor each with their own history‰Û_and their own ghosts! More on these later!
Ringwood, NJ is a borough tucked into the north east corner of Passaic County right up against where the more wooded area of New Jersey borders the Tuxedo and Suffern areas of New York State. Ringwood is a visually stunning place to live with winding roads, rolling hills and the beautiful Ramapo Mountains all a contributing to its natural beauty. According to the 2010 Census it has a population of roughly 12,300 people but you'd never know it because Ringwood is very spread out. Anyone traveling Skyline Drive at night can tell you that if you want to be alone Ringwood is where you can find peace and quiet.
Moving to Ringwood
One of the things you will need when considering a move to Ringwood is most definitely a car. Ringwood is not the type of town where you can just pop down to the corner store. What you get in peace and quiet and natural beauty you pay with in transportation. The majority of residents here have a personal car that they use to commute to their jobs and to run errands.
Another thing to consider is the seasonal changes that occur in Ringwood, particularly during the winter. In other parts of the state, roads can be cleared relatively easily, but due to the fact that Ringwood is nestled amid the Ramapo Mountains you're definitely going to want to be prepared for the winter months with shovels, plows if you have them, and snow tires for your vehicle as traveling on these roads during the winter can get a little tricky.
Since much of Ringwood is covered in woods be prepared to have occasional brushes with the wildlife. Expect to see deer, foxes, and even occasionally bears. It's helpful to study up on dealing with these critters safely if you're coming from an area that isn't so woodsy.
The majority of the residents here own their own properties. It may be a bit of a challenge to find an apartment in this area because most of the residences here are single family homes.
Neighborhoods in Ringwood
Ringwood is divided into two main neighborhoods. The center of town is more to the north and is considered the Borough Center. Directly south of it is the neighborhood of Stonetown, where the residences and businesses are more spread out and the area is a little more remote.
Borough Center: This is the northernmost neighborhood of Ringwood. It is comprised of mostly larger single family homes that are owned rather than rented so to find an apartment rental in this section of town will be a bit of a challenge. There are some homes that may be rented out so if you're looking in this area you might want to consider finding a home to rent instead of looking for an apartment.
Stonetown: This is the southern section of Ringwood and you there is a trend towards house rent as opposed to finding other rental property options. Stonetown like Borough Center simply has more houses being available for rent rather than apartments but vacancies here are a bit higher than in the Borough Center so finding a residence will be a bit easier.
Living in Ringwood
Why You Will Love It
Ringwood is great for those who want to be tucked away far enough from the hyper-busy sections of New Jersey, but still be close enough to get to shopping areas and the bigger towns with no inconvenience. No more than a 10-15 minute drive will put you on Route 17 and back into the hustle and bustle with many shops, restaurants and options for entertainment very close by. When you've had enough you can pop back up the highway and nestle back into your quiet home with and star gaze if you like.
Historical Sites
Ringwood is home to two beautiful mansions which have been opened as state parks. Ringwood Manor is the older of the two with ties to the revolutionary war and 1930s industrialists that used to utilize its opulent furniture and striking grounds as a summer retreat. Eventually the building, the manor's contents and grounds were donated to the New Jersey State as a museum and state park. There are regular tours and talks there but the big draw is the night time ghost walk around the grounds that happens in the fall.
Skylands Manor is another beautiful mansion built in the 1920s. It is a member of the New Jersey Botanical Gardens and with good reason, the grounds are absolutely stunning. If you're looking for photography opportunities or a romantic walk close to home, Skylands should be your first stop. The gardens hit their peak around Mid-August to the beginning of September, but any season is a great one to explore this local gem and enjoy its beauty. Recently, after some renovations, the inside of Skylands has been reopened and now you can stay overnight or take indoor museum tours as well.
Activities and Places of Interest
Hiking, kayaking, fishing, and general outdoor pursuits are all within easy reach in Ringwood. Ramapo reserve is nearby and there are many stop offs for hiking trails even some for the fabled Appalachian Trail if you're feeling extra adventurous. If you feel like exploring even further a quick fifteen to twenty minute drive up Route 287 will put you in Harriman State Park, the second largest state park in New York State. It spreads over Rockland and Orange Counties with regular activities like Native American Powwows, fishing tournaments, lakes for swimming in the summer and ice-fishing in the winter as well as more hiking trails, camping cabins and a whole host of other outdoor activities there for you to try. On the way back be sure to stop at Auntie El's a small farmer's market that's become a bit of a local legend. When you stop in, you'll be greeted by friendly faces and have the chance to pick up some home baked goodies, fresh chocolate milk and seasonal organic produce.
If you have a taste for the medieval and the magical the famous New York State Renaissance Faire is only a short drive from Ringwood in Sterling Forest New York. It usually runs from the end of July to mid-September and features hundreds of artisans, shows and sights and sounds that are as unique as they are fun! So definitely make it a point to visit it at least one year!