Small-town Buena life between South Jersey farms and pine barrens
Buena is a borough in the westernmost corner of Atlantic County, set between the farm-pocketed outskirts of Vineland and the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. “Buena has a pretty peaceful country atmosphere. More rural, but you’re still near all the amenities,” says Susanna Philippoussis, a broker associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Vineland who’s served South Jersey for 21 years. “It’s not a very big community. So, it’s a tight community; people are very close-knit. Most stay in Buena and don’t move out.” U.S. Route 40 carries commuters and vacationers toward Philadelphia and the South Shore’s beach towns. This far into the countryside, however, daily life in Buena revolves around the slower-paced pastimes of the Garden State: chatting with neighbors at the local diner, cheering for Little League teams on opening day and listening for birdsong from trails in the pine barrens.
Historic homes in Buena’s villages, acreage near rural farmland
Little villages named Buena, Minotola and Landisville developed along railroad tracks around the turn of the 20th century, decades before the borough of Buena was incorporated. Many National and American Foursquare homes still line small-town blocks in these areas, set near post offices of the same name. From the midcentury, more suburban streets were laid out around these old-fashioned cores, full of classic ranch-style and Minimal Traditional homes. Outside these more densely populated centers, buyers can travel down country roads to find everything from 1900s farmhouses to luxury New Traditional construction on land ranging from an acre to over 20 acres. These properties often offer more privacy between neighbors thanks to surrounding forests or expansive, active farmland. Houses on less than an acre can sell for around $160,000 to $440,000. Homes on acreage can go for about $280,000 to $580,000.
Attending the Buena Regional School District
The Buena Regional School District sreves the area and earns a C from Niche. John C. Milanesi School teaches prekindergarten through second grade and earns a B-minus. Third through fifth graders attend C-rated Dr. J.P. Cleary Elementary School. Buena Regional Middle School scores a C. Buena Regional High School gets a C-plus and partners with AtlantiCare to offer free therapy through the school’s Teen Center.
Recreation at Melini Park, in the pinelands and down the shore
Bruno Melini Park is the borough’s classic community park, offering playground equipment, athletic courts and baseball diamonds for Buena Little League games. Cyclists take the nearby Buena Bike Path to Blackwater Pond Park, a quiet place to walk through the woods. Larger rugged recreation areas are just outside Buena within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. Hikers walk under pine boughs and beside blueberry bushes in the Piney Hollow Preservation Area, a 200-plus-acre area centered around a former cranberry bog-turned-lake. Unexpected Wildlife Refuge is nearby, an even larger space to look out for the beavers and bullfrogs that call South Jersey’s pine barrens and swamps home. South Shore beach towns like Atlantic City and Ocean City are about 45 minutes from home.
Buena’s small businesses and wineries, shopping in Vineland
Buena’s locally owned businesses pop up in old railroad villages, cluster near Route 40 and hide away along country roads. Black Diamond Restaurant is the borough’s spot for homestyle diner fare and ambiance. RC car enthusiasts browse and race at Zak’s Hobbies & Raceway. Connoisseurs enjoy the local vintages and vineyard views at Bellview Winery, especially during their many seasonal festivals. Philippoussis recommends stopping into Gardella’s Ravioli Co. and Italian Deli: “I love Gardella’s. They have really good food: homemade ravioli, sandwiches, all Italian stuff.” Miguel’s Market sells specialty Spanish groceries within the borough. ShopRite and Tractor Supply are within several miles of home for larger shopping trips. Hammonton and Vineland each offer walkable downtown and big box strip mall shopping, around 10 miles from Buena.
Taking the Black Horse Pike and NJ Transit from Philly to the South Sh
Route 40 starts commuters on the roughly 30-mile drive to Atlantic City and the 40-mile drive to Philadelphia. Inspira Medical Center, the nearest major hospital and a significant Cumberland County employer, is about 10 miles away. Although many residents rely on cars for their long-distance commutes, some board the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line train in Hammonton, roughly 10 miles away. Cross County Connection buses offer limited service between Buena Vista Township and Hammonton. NJ Transit buses also take passengers to many Atlantic County boroughs, cities, townships and employment hubs. Philadelphia International Airport is about 40 miles from home.
Buena’s Little League, holiday parades and houses of worship
Buena Little League softball and baseball players parade from Cleary Elementary to Bruno Melini Park to kick off opening day festivities each spring. The borough’s parks and recreation department and volunteer firefighters host many other family-friendly community events throughout the year, from December's Christmas parade to the annual Easter egg hunt. Several churches hold religious services throughout Buena; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church of St. Michael holds masses in Spanish and English. The peak of the towering St. Padre Pio Shrine is a community landmark and outdoor worship space along the Black Horse Pike.
![Julia Szymanski]()
Written By
Julia Szymanski
