Bethlehem offers convenience to highways and shopping
Just off University Parkway between Atlanta and Athens, Bethlehem promises convenience. That’s how local Realtor Josh Parker of The Home Store frames it. “It’s a good jumping off point to get to Athens or Atlanta,” he says. “And it’s convenient for shopping.” Parker has sold homes across the region for nearly a decade. Bethlehem offers access to dozens of restaurants and stores, and its housing is relatively removed from the commercial activity and highway noise. The community is near a large state park popular with residents across Barrow County. “What I like most about it is how close it is to Fort Yargo State Park,” Parker says. The park encourages an outdoorsy lifestyle just a few miles from the heart of Bethlehem.
A suburban community with established and new housing
Bethlehem mainly comprises single-family homes in subdivisions. Subdivisions like Arden Meadows and The Preserve feature New Traditional and split-level homes built toward the end of the 1990s and early 2000s. The Riverwalk subdivision features contemporary colonials built in the early 2020s. The community also features a mix of ranch-style homes typically outside subdivisions. Several homes sit on quarter-acre lots, but Parker says many properties are bigger. “You’re going to have a larger lot size closer to a half-acre or greater,” he says. The median sale price for a home is around $375,000, which is lower than the national average. Subdivisions are connected by outstretched, sun-bleached roads lined with mature trees and power lines. Bethlehem has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Various shopping and dining options off of University Parkway
Most of Bethlehem’s stores and restaurants are accessible just off University Parkway. Barrow Crossing is a large shopping destination with big-box stores and national retailers, from Publix and Target to Belk and T.J. Maxx. The shopping center also features several fast-food spots and locally owned restaurants; Jersey Mike’s, Subway and McDonald’s are a couple of quick dining options, and El Real Mexican Grill offers a large dining room with traditional Mexican fare. Neighboring El Real is Seaside Oyster Bar, known for its large seafood tower with lobster, snow crab, oysters and tuna tartare. The Gateway at University Parkway offers additional restaurants and features an AMC movie theater.
A mix of local private and public education options
The Barrow County School System scores an overall B-plus on Niche and serves over 15,200 students. Bethlehem Elementary and Haymon-Morris Middle School both receive Bs on Niche. Apalachee High School offers over two dozen student clubs and extracurricular activities, from the LawCats competitive mock trial team to math and dance clubs. Niche gives the high school a B-plus. Private options include the faith-based Bethlehem Christian Academy, which scores a B-plus on Niche and serves pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. The Academy hosts camps and student trips to the Golden Isles.
Day trips to Fort Yargo State Park
At the heart of the community is the R. Harold Harrison Community Playground. It’s next to a sizable, public green space where locals bring the kids to play ball or run around. Across from the playground is a paved walking path and a pavilion with a few picnic tables. Fort Yargo State Park is about 5 miles north of Bethlehem and is a community recreation hub. The massive state park covers just over 1,800 acres and is anchored by a 260-acre freshwater lake. Visitors enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, swimming and geocaching. The lake has a small beach area and two boat ramps, and over 20 miles of hiking trails encourage mountain biking and casual hikes. Locals also enjoy a miniature golf course at an additional cost. The park also offers yurts, cottages and campsites for overnight stays. Victor Lord Park, just north of the state park and 4 miles from Bethlehem, features baseball fields, tennis courts and a playground.
Heading into Athens
Bethlehem is a car-dependent community, and U.S. Route 29, also called University Parkway, is its primary thoroughfare. The highway runs east toward Athens, about 25 miles away. State Highway 11 is the community’s main north-south thoroughfare, connecting locals with Winder about 5 miles away. The Northeast Georgia Medical Center at Barrow is one of the nearest medical facilities, about 6 miles away. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is about 55 miles away, and downtown Atlanta is a 50-mile trip.
Written By
Brennen Martin
