Wilsonville: The Town Beneath Lake Wallenpaupack

Most people visiting Lake Wallenpaupack see a beautiful lake perfect for boating, fishing, and relaxing. But beneath the water near the dam lies the remains of an entire town.

The town called Wilsonville.

A Small Community Before the Lake

Before the lake was created, Wilsonville sat along Wallenpaupack Creek in a quiet valley in the Pocono Mountains.

The town was named after James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who once owned large amounts of land in the area.

In the 1800s, Wilsonville was a small rural community with:

• Homes and farms

• Dirt roads

• Mills and logging operations

• A few local businesses

Life centered around the creek that flowed through the valley.

The Dam That Flooded the Valley

In the 1920s, Pennsylvania Power & Light planned a hydroelectric project that would eventually create Lake Wallenpaupack.

Between 1924 and 1926, thousands of workers built the dam.

To make room for the lake:

• Over 100 properties were purchased

• Homes and buildings were removed

• Roads were relocated

• A cemetery was moved to higher ground

When the dam closed, the valley slowly filled with water — and Wilsonville disappeared.

What Still Lies Under the Water

Even today, parts of the old town remain beneath the lake.

Underwater remnants include:

• Stone house foundations

• Old roadways

• Tree stumps from the original forest

These underwater structures now create habitat for fish, which is one reason fishing near the dam can be productive.

A Hidden Piece of Lake History

Lake Wallenpaupack officially opened for recreation on July 31, 1926 and quickly became one of Pennsylvania’s most popular lakes.

Today, thousands of visitors boat across the water every summer — often unaware that a historic town rests quietly beneath the surface.

Wilsonville may be gone, but its story is still part of the lake’s history.

Did You Know?

Some longtime locals say that when the lake was first filled, the water was so clear you could see parts of Wilsonville’s old foundations from boats near the dam.