Keen

🌲 Keen, located in Canaan Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, is a quiet rural hamlet with deep historical roots and a scenic setting in the northern Pocono Mountains. Though small and largely residential today, its legacy is tied to one of the county’s earliest settlers and a lake that still bears the family name.

🕰️ Historical Significance

• Named after Captain Matthias Keen, a Revolutionary War veteran who settled in the area around 1815
• Keen built a grist mill and later a sawmill powered by what became known as Keen’s Pond, raising the water level by damming its outlet
• He also installed a carding machine, making Keen a pioneer in local textile processing and civic development

🗺️ Location & Landscape

• Situated near Waymart, Steene, and Fermoy, in the heart of Canaan Township
• Elevation: approximately 1,320 feet at Keen’s Pond
• Surrounded by forested hills, quiet roads, and small lakes like Curtis Pond and Reining Pond

🏞️ Modern-Day Highlights

• Home to Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort, a family-run destination offering glamping, RV sites, and lakeside cottages
• The resort spans 90 acres around a spring-fed mountain lake and has been welcoming guests since 1954
• Hosts seasonal events like fishing weekends, pumpkin painting, and carriage rides, making it a beloved spot for family getaways