11/01/2026
5 Surprising Facts About Hancock, NY You Probably Don’t Know
1. The best fly fishing in the eastern USA
Hancock is known among anglers as “the best fly fishing in the eastern USA.” Fly fishermen and fly fisherwomen travel to Hancock in spring, summer and fall to explore the rivers and streams for brook and brown trout, perch, bass, bullhead, and eel. The good news is you don’t need to be an expert to flyfish in Hancock. There are many guides and outfitters to ensure that beginners and experts alike have a productive and memorable day on the water.
2. Baseball fans celebrate “Honest Eddie” Murphy’s baseball legacy
Local native Eddie “Honest Eddie” Murphy played in three World Series games during his MLB career, Murphy was a member of two World Series champions with the Athletics (1913, 1917) and appeared in the 1919 World Series with the White Sox. That year, eight of his teammates were accused of throwing the series in the Black Sox Scandal. Murphy refused to participate in the fix, and his integrity earned him the “Honest Eddie” moniker. Look for Honesy Eddie Murphy statue in the Hancock town square.
3. It’s where the Delaware River begins
The East and West Branches of the Delaware River meet at Hancock at the base of Point Mountain. The river flows all the way to the Atlantic Ocean between Cape May, New Jersey, and Cape Henlopen, Delaware.
4. It’s the Bluestone capital of the world
You know all of those lovely flagstone patios? Yeah. That’s Hancock. The place is solid rock. Try to dig a hole and you’ll see. But the good news is that what’s in the earth is the best in the land! (we built a blue stone patio for the Farmhouse and are putting in Bluestone counter tops in our new kitchen in the barn cottage)
5. Hancock has the “most scenic” highways in the country
New York State Route 17 was named the most scenic highway in the U.S. in the 1960s. Route 97 — which starts in Hancock — is designated “the most scenic highway in the East.” Both are a treat for fall foliage tours, with wide expanses of trees following the turns of the Delaware River. FAISAL
