Community Guide
Appleton & Glenwood
Two quiet communities on the Trans-Canada just west of Gander — lakefront living on Gander Lake, river access, affordable homes, and a shared K–L4 school. Fifteen minutes from everything Gander offers, with the peace of small-town Newfoundland.
Trans-Canada Neighbours on Gander Lake
Appleton and Glenwood sit side by side on the Trans-Canada Highway between Gander and Gambo — Appleton about 15 minutes west of Gander, and Glenwood another 8 minutes beyond that. Both communities back onto Gander Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Newfoundland, and share a school, trail access, and a quiet rural lifestyle within easy commuting distance of Gander's full services.
These are working communities with deep roots. Glenwood's history traces back to 1892 as a railway station. Appleton grew around the river and the lake. Both communities were prominently featured in the Come From Away story — welcoming stranded airline passengers after 9/11 in 2001. Together they offer some of the most affordable lakefront and river-access real estate in central Newfoundland.
Appleton
Population 620 — up 8% since 2016, making it one of the growing communities in the region. Located right on the Trans-Canada at the junction of the Gander River and Gander Lake, Appleton combines easy highway access with riverfront and lakefront living.
Derm Flynn Riverfront Peace Park
Appleton's crown jewel — a riverfront park featuring a 9/11 memorial with actual steel from the World Trade Center Twin Towers. A reflection of the community's role in the Come From Away story. Walking trails along the Gander River. A beautiful, meaningful space that visitors come specifically to see.
Recreation & Services
Ice rink on Prior Place for winter skating and hockey. Industrial park with local businesses. Four boat launches providing direct access to Gander Lake. Volunteer fire department. Renie's Convenience / Appleton Convenience (81 Trans-Canada Hwy) — Value Grocer affiliate with groceries, essentials, and a loyal local following. Phone: (709) 574-2050.
Outdoor Access
Gander River runs through the community — one of the premier Atlantic salmon rivers in eastern Canada with 25,000 salmon returning annually. Direct lake access for boating, kayaking, and swimming. ATV and snowmobile trail networks. Hunting in Area 22 and 23. Ice fishing in winter.
Real Estate
Average listing price $241K–$266K. A mix of older established homes and newer builds. River and lake proximity drives value here. Growing population (+8%) suggests sustained demand. All within 15 minutes of Gander's full retail, medical, and educational services.
Glenwood
Population 739. A railway town established in 1892 — one of the oldest communities in the interior of central Newfoundland. Glenwood sits 23km west of Gander on the Trans-Canada and serves as the gateway to the Gander Loop, with Route 320 branching off here toward Dover, Hare Bay, and the southern Kittiwake Coast.
Heritage & Culture
Glenwood Heritage Museum — preserving the community's railway history and connection to central Newfoundland's logging and transportation past. Railway station established 1892, making Glenwood a key stop on the Newfoundland Railway line. Deep roots in the region's industrial and settlement history.
Little Harbour Recreation Area
Community recreation area on Gander Lake with boat launch, beach access, and picnic facilities. One of the primary access points for Gander Lake from the south side. Popular for swimming, boating, and family outings in summer. A quiet, local spot — not overrun with visitors.
Services
Johnny's Convenience & Gas Bar (7 Crowell Ave) — fuel, snacks, essentials. Post office. Volunteer fire department. Route 320 junction for access to the southern Gander Loop communities. Gander's full services — groceries, pharmacy, hospital — are 23km east on the Trans-Canada.
Beaver Brook Antimony Mine
Located approximately 45km south of Glenwood — one of the few antimony mines in North America. Currently idle but represents the region's mining heritage and potential. Antimony is a critical mineral used in batteries, flame retardants, and military applications. The mine's future could bring renewed economic activity to the area.
Lakewood Academy & Shared Services
Appleton and Glenwood share key infrastructure that makes daily life work — a school, trail access, and proximity to Gander for everything else.
Lakewood Academy (K–Level 4)
Located in Glenwood, serving approximately 205 students from both Appleton and Glenwood. Full K–L4 programming. Students in the area access Gander Collegiate for high school — a 15–20 minute bus ride. Having a local school is a real draw for young families.
Healthcare
No clinic in either community — residents use James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre in Gander (15–23 min) for all medical services including emergency, surgical, and specialist care. Pharmacies in Gander (Shoppers Drug Mart, Lawtons).
Cobb's Corridor Trail
Both communities connect to the T'Railway Provincial Park — the old railway bed converted to a multi-use trail running across Newfoundland. Walking, cycling, snowmobiling, and ATV use. The Cobb's Pond corridor from Gander extends through this area.
Commuter-Friendly
Trans-Canada Highway access from both communities. Appleton is 15 minutes to Gander, Glenwood is 20–23 minutes. Both are an easy commute for people working in Gander who want more land, more quiet, and lower housing costs. No traffic. No stoplights.
Come From Away Connection
Both communities played a role in sheltering stranded passengers during 9/11 in 2001. Appleton's Derm Flynn Peace Park honours this history with actual steel from the Twin Towers. The Come From Away story is as much about these communities as it is about Gander itself.
Lakefront Living, Small-Town Pace
Appleton and Glenwood offer something that's increasingly hard to find — affordable homes on or near one of Newfoundland's largest lakes, with a school, convenience stores, and a 15-minute drive to a town with everything you need.
Gander Lake
One of the largest freshwater lakes in Newfoundland — over 50km long. Both communities have direct access. Boating, kayaking, swimming, trout fishing, and ice fishing in winter. Multiple boat launches in Appleton and the Little Harbour area in Glenwood.
Gander River
Premier Atlantic salmon river running through Appleton. 25,000 salmon return annually. Licensed sport fishing with guided outfitting available through Gander River Outfitters. Brook trout in connecting streams. A world-class fishery on your doorstep.
Year-Round Outdoors
Snowmobiling and ice fishing in winter. ATV trails through boreal forest. Hunting in Area 22 and 23 — moose, caribou, black bear, small game. Berry picking in fall. This is an outdoor lifestyle with something every season.
T'Railway Trail Access
The old Newfoundland Railway bed — now a provincial trail — runs through both communities. Walk, cycle, or snowmobile from Glenwood through Appleton and into Gander. 883km of trail stretching coast to coast across the island.
Quiet & Affordable
Larger lots than you'll find in Gander. No municipal tax pressure. Well water in some areas. Room to breathe. Houses with land for gardens, sheds, wood storage, and kids to play. The kind of space that $250K doesn't buy in most of Canada.
Local Convenience
Renie's Convenience in Appleton and Johnny's Convenience & Gas Bar in Glenwood cover day-to-day needs. For full grocery shopping, Co-op and Dominion in Gander are 15–23 minutes away. You're never far from what you need.
Appleton & Glenwood Real Estate
Two communities, two price points. Appleton trends higher due to population growth and river/lake proximity. Glenwood offers some of the most affordable housing in central Newfoundland. Both are within easy commuting distance of Gander.
For Buyers
Looking for lake or river access without Gander prices? Appleton and Glenwood offer larger lots, quieter streets, and a 15-minute commute to full services. Appleton is growing — demand for homes near the river is steady. Glenwood is your entry point for affordable rural living on the Trans-Canada.
For Investors
Appleton's growing population and Come From Away tourism traffic create opportunity for short-term rentals and property appreciation. Glenwood's low entry point and position as the gateway to Route 320 (the Gander Loop) make it a candidate for long-term holds as the region develops.
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Lakefront living, river access, and affordable homes — all within 15 minutes of Gander. We've been selling in this area since 1998 and know every street.
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