Two small villages in the rural community of Brecknock Township
In 1752, Brecknock Township was split between Lancaster County and Berks County, transforming the township into two side-by-side townships with the same name. The Lancaster side has two small villages, Bowmansville and Fivepointville, both featuring subdivisions, a park each, and a few places to shop and dine, all surrounded by the abundant farmland of Amish Country. “You’re going to see horse and buggies as modes of transportation and farmers farming their fields with mules instead of tractors," says Wendy Stauffer, a Realtor with Kingsway Realty who has been selling homes in the region for more than 30 years. "It’s that slow pace of life that draws people here.”
Various home styles between Fivepointville and Bowmansville
Finding a home in Brecknock Township isn’t always easy. “It’s pretty competitive because it’s more rural and people tend to stay in their homes longer,” Stauffer says. Subdivisions in Fivepointville feature single-family homes built in the 1990s, including ranch-style, bi-levels and New Traditionals on lots of a quarter to one acre. Prices here range from $375,000 to $435,000. Bowmansville, meanwhile, has a more diverse housing market, with a mix of old and new homes. Homebuyers can find farmhouses and Victorians from the mid-1800s to early 1900s, ranging from $275,000 to $400,000. Classic ranch-style, bi-level and New Traditional houses from the 1990s to the 2020s range from $290,000 to $460,000, while larger upscale builds sell for $500,000 to $830,000. Other options include manufactured homes from $90,000 to $165,000 and townhouses from $240,000 to $320,000.
Local shops and restaurants in both villages
Bowmansville has a handful of locally owned shops and restaurants on Reading Road. The Olive Branch Family Diner serves homestyle American food, and Tony’s Pizza serves American-Italian. On Saturdays, locals can shop for antique treasures at Bowmansville Vintage. Across the street, Delicia International Food sells a variety of European produce. Other businesses in this area include auto shops, a gas station and Kerper’s Gun Shop. In Fivepointville, Weaver’s Store is a regional department store chain, selling clothing, hardware, sporting goods and other essentials. The cafe at Weaver’s Store is known for its mini doughnuts, while also serving sandwiches and ice cream. More national retailers like Walmart and Aldi are about 10 miles away in Ephrata.
Brubaker Park and Bowmansville Park offer outdoor recreation
Brubaker Park in Fivepointville offers 90 acres of outdoor adventures. There are plenty of activities for athletes, including basketball, baseball, roller hockey and pickleball. It also features an archery range and a disc golf course open to the public. The park’s nature trails run along Muddy Creek and Black Creek, which are stocked with rainbow trout. Three pavilions can be rented out, including one by the playground. Bowmansville Park, a smaller space on about 4 acres, offers rentable picnic pavilions as well, plus basketball, tennis and sand volleyball courts, a baseball field and a playground.
Block scheduling system at Garden Spot Middle and High Schools
Students may attend Brecknock Elementary School, which receives a B-minus grade from Niche. Garden Spot Middle School receives a C-plus, and Garden Spot High School receives a B. The elementary school is in Bowmansville, though the other schools are in New Holland, about 8 miles away. The middle and high schools operate on a five-block schedule, where students have fewer classes but more time per class compared to a traditional schedule. The high school also offers a broadcasting program that allows students to put on news segments through its KGSH TV station.
Drag races and other events at Maple Grave Raceway
Maple Grove Raceway is nearby, with drag races every month. The straight quarter-mile track opens to the public several times a year for Test N Tune, which allows any vehicle to race. The racetrack also hosts concerts, festivals and other events.
Commuters travel to Reading, Lancaster and nearby boroughs
Many locals commute about 15 miles to Reading or 25 miles to Lancaster. There are also several boroughs nearby, such as New Holland and Ephrata. Both are about 10 miles away and have hospitals through WellSpan Health. Interstate 76 goes through the township, running about 60 miles to Philadelphia and around 50 miles to Harrisburg. Both cities have international airports.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
