$286,667Average Value$182Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Carrying on 19th-century traditions
Bastress was formed in the 1850s after German farmers immigrated to the mountainous area of North Central Pennsylvania, and the township is still dotted with farms and orchards bearing names like “Steinbacher” and “Eck.” One of the first buildings erected was Immaculate Conception Church, a Catholic parish that has stood since 1860. The building housing the community watering hole, Nippenose Tavern, has served the same purpose since the 1880s. The lifestyle in the rural township has been consistent for more than a century, with residents living on the same plots of land and attending the same church as the generations of their families that came before them.
Getting fresh produce, local Christmas trees
The center of the local social scene is Nippenose Tavern, where people gather for beer, pub food and live music. Next door, The Dairy Shack scoops a dozen flavors of ice cream for humans — and gives out free cups for canine customers. Another popular hangout is Oval Country Store, located 3 miles south of Bastress in neighboring Limestone Township. Some locals kick off their day with coffee and doughnuts at the convenience store, which also carries a small selection of groceries and sells hoagies. A Dollar General down the road from the country store sells everyday necessities. Farms around Bastress and neighboring townships often sell fresh apples, peppers and other produce. When family-owned Steinbacher Orchard isn’t harvesting peaches or cherries, it’s selling Christmas trees. People can pick out a tree as early as Oct. 1, and the orchard will have the tree cut and ready by the holiday season. Members of the area’s sizeable Amish community often sell seasonal produce from roadside stands. The closest grocery store is a Save A Lot in South Williamsport, 6 miles outside Bastress. Some do their shopping in Jersey Shore, a borough about 10 miles from Bastress. The community is known for its selection of boutique stores and restaurants, such as The Sparrow’s Nest Mercantile and The Shore Diner, says resident Christian Cooley. “The only chain restaurants in town are Subway and Arby’s.”
Steinbacher Orchards is where many Bastress residents go for their fresh fruits.
Bastress folks head to the Nippenose Tavern for a cold drink and warm handshake.
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Keeping land within the family
Whether they’re farms surrounded by cornfields and grain silos or simple ranch homes, houses in Bastress tend to come with sizeable chunks of land. The median lot size is just over 2 acres, but properties with 10-plus acres aren’t uncommon. Neighbors live closest together on Pennsylvania Route 654, the township’s primary roadway, but elsewhere a resident may be a half-acre or more from the nearest house. When parcels change hands in Bastress, it’s typically relatives selling a chunk of land to their grandkids, nieces or nephews so they can build their own home nearby. Prices typically vary from the high $100,000s to about $400,000. The township receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 1. That’s the lowest level of crime possible on CAP Index’s 1-to-10 scale, and it’s lower than the national average of 4.
Bastress is thought of a being a rural area with compounds sitting on family farms.
Some very large properties are inhabited by relatively small ranch homes in Bastress.
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Multigeneration congregation at Immaculate Conception Church
Immaculate Conception Church has stood on a ridge in Bastress overlooking the valley to the south for more than 150 years. Many of the parishioners who gather at the stone church live in the area and have been members their entire lives, as was the case with their parents and grandparents. The church’s annual Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend picnics have been staples for decades, with as many as 1,300 turkey and ham dinners served at one picnic.
Immaculate Conception Church on Jacks Hollow Rd serves many of Bastress's faithful.
Live music and special brunches on Sundays
Nippenose Tavern typically hosts live music on Sundays, while team trivia nights are every other Wednesday. Up the road from Nippenose Tavern, Nomad Distilling Co. opens for Sunday brunches at its old distillery, which is now an events space. Those who can get reservations are treated to a rotating menu of dishes made with Pennsylvania-raised ingredients.
The Nippenose Tavern on Rt 654 is central in both location and lives of Newberry people.
On weekends, people in Bastress can head to The Dairy Shack for tasty, cold treats.
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Little League at Nippenose Valley Park
People looking for a public park head 2 miles south of Bastress to Nippenose Valley Park. In addition to a playground, basketball court and trio of tennis courts, the park has three fields where Nippenose Valley Little League holds youth baseball and softball games.
Nippenose Valley Park features fields & courts for many different types of outdoor activity.
Nippenose Valley Park's playground is as fun for parents as it is for kids.
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Career pathways at Jersey Shore Area High School
The closest public schools kids can attend are in Jersey Shore, 10 miles outside Bastress. They include Jersey Shore Area Elementary School and Jersey Shore Area Middle School, both graded B-minus by Niche. When ninth graders start at C-plus-rated Jersey Shore Area Senior High School, they choose a learning pathway to tailor their education to one of five topics: arts/communications, business/finance/information technology, engineering/industrial technology, human services or health/science technologies.
Highways connect to Williamsport, airport
Bastress is a car-dependent area where people typically commute 20-plus minutes each way to work. Pennsylvania Route 654 leads to Williamsport; Located about 7 miles north of Bastress, the city is the region’s largest jobs hub and home to UPMC Hospital. The highway and Jacks Hollow Road route drivers to Williamsport Regional Airport, 12 miles east of Bastress in Montoursville. Flights from the airport go directly to Washington Dulles International Airport.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
Photography Contributed By
Joe Pulcinella
Video By
Luke Mancari
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Deborah Williams,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Bastress, PA sell after 77 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Bastress, PA over the last 12 months is $565,000, up 76% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Enjoy peaceful living in this charming bi-level home nestled on a scenic one-acre lot in the Valley. Featuring 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 full baths, the home offers beautiful views and plenty of room to grow. The partially finished lower level includes a cozy wood stove and is ready to be customized—doubling your potential living space and adding endless possibilities.
Erica MowreyIron Valley Real Estate North Central PA
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
