Addison Township’s outdoorsy landscape provides a rural lifestyle
Located within Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, along the Maryland state border, Addison Township is an expansive area with a landscape of thick forests, creeks and rolling farmland. “It’s definitely a quiet country setting, with a lot of hiking, biking and white-water rafting,” says Wendy Kelly, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, who has over 25 years of experience. “This is an area that’s probably got less than 2,000 people, and no development in the area.” The Youghiogheny River Lake creates the township’s western border and has abundant opportunities for recreation. Additionally, the Addison borough is located in the southwestern section of the township, where residents can find a post office and a limited selection of commerce.
Staying active with Allegheny Mountain trails, lakes and parks
Addison Township’s rural landscape is brimming with outdoor recreation. The Great Allegheny Passage spans over 150 miles for hiking, biking and backpacking and travels through the township’s eastern area, following Casselman River. There are multiple points of interest along the trail – one of these is Pinkerton Tunnel, which is flanked by bridges and located at the northern tip of the township. Additionally, the township has state game lands for hunting. To the west is Youghiogheny River Lake, called “Yough Lake” by locals. Its Somerfield North Recreation Area has a public boat launch and fishing dock along the water. There’s also a playground, picnic tables and a reservable pavilion. The Yough Lake Marina is full service and has 340 boat slips.
Within the Addison borough is Addison National Road Community Park, which is outfitted with a playground and walking loop. The park is known for its multiple wood carvings of forest animals, including bears in a canoe and eagles in a tree, among others. Every June, the park hosts the Addison Chainsaw Carving Festival & Parade, which has carving demonstrations and an auction at the end for pieces created.
Secluded single-family homes on large lots
Most homes in Addison Township sit on large lots of land and are surrounded by thick trees. Some are found along country roads in a more residential area, others are secluded with acreage and a handful are waterfront to Yough Lake. “It’s typically older properties. All single-family,” Kelly says. Ranch-style homes and raised ranches with a porch are common, built between the 1950s and 2000s. There are also a handful of minimal traditional single-story homes with simple exteriors. Prices range from $125,000 to $315,000. Cabins in the area have a similar cost. Some are more traditional, with wood exteriors, while others have unique features like an A-frame or barn-style roof. Traditional two-story homes, farmhouses and Colonial Revivals all exist in the area, but are rarely on the market.
The CAP Index Crime Score for Addison Township is 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Getting educated in Turkeyfoot Valley Area public schools
Addison Township is served by the Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District, which enrolls around 270 students. Turkeyfoot Valley Area Elementary School scores a C-minus grade from Niche. From there, students can attend the C-rated Turkeyfoot Valley Area High School for grades seven through 12 – both schools share a campus. The high school offers multiple student clubs, including STEAM and Journalism.
Commerce in the Addison borough and Confluence
Most of Addison Township’s commercial opportunities are found in the Addison borough. Front Porch Bar & Grill is located along Main Street. The eatery has classic bar food, beer on tap and live music. Anchor In is another American restaurant down the street. Blue Goose Market is the area’s grocery store.
Confluence is adjacent to the township and has a Dollar General and additional restaurant options. Mitch’s Fuel & Food is more casual, serving pizza and sandwiches, while River’s Edge Café is a bed-and-breakfast with more upscale dining. When it comes to retail, Somerset is about 24 miles northeast with national brands like Aldi, Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply Company. Its downtown area also has a hardware store, thrift store and clothing boutiques. Chain eateries in Somerset include McDonald’s and Dairy Queen.
Driving through Addison Township
Addison Township’s expansive rural landscape requires a vehicle to get around. U.S. Route 40 travels east and west, cutting through the Addison borough. Pennsylvania Route 523 is another main road that intersects U.S. 40, going north and south. Drivers can use PA 523 to reach Confluence, which is about 9 miles north of the borough.
UPMC Somerset is the closest general hospital, around 30 miles northwest. Morgantown Municipal Airport is roughly 48 miles away in West Virginia, providing daily flights to the Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
