Cresson Township is a scenic rural community in the Alleghenies
Around the turn of the 20th century, Cresson Township’s scenery made it a frequent retreat for some of the magnates in Pennsylvania’s renowned steel industry. Landmarks here include the historic Benjamin F. Jones Cottage, a prominent Queen Anne-style house that was once part of the resort, anchored by the long-demolished Mountain House Hotel. Wrapped around the boroughs of Cresson and Sankerton, the township is home to just under 3,000 people who live among the forested hills of the Allegheny Mountains. While the resort has been gone for many decades, the township still draws those looking for a scenic and rural community far from big-city crowds. “It has low crime, good schools and it’s a great place to raise kids,” says Gloria Harkins, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Town & Country. “I hope we don’t get discovered by New Yorkers or people fleeing New York City.”
Houses include ranch-style homes, Colonial Revivals and Gothic cottage
Tall and mature trees, including many evergreens, surround homes located along roads without sidewalks. Many lots here are just under half an acre, while others exceed 1 acre. “All the houses I have shown there have been nice. They’re nice little houses, and they take care of them,” says Lynn Murphy, a Realtor with Perry Wellington. The township has ranch-style homes, Colonial Revival, bi-level and New Traditional houses. A few cottages with Gothic designs are in the Carnegie Avenue and Third Street area. House size, acreage and condition are cost factors, and most homes sell from $120,000 to $290,000. A few homes over 3,000 square feet, or built in the 21st century, run from $390,000 to $600,000.
Penn Cambria schools serve the township
Students may start elementary school at Penn Cambria Pre-Primary, which covers kindergarten and first grade and gets a B-minus grade from Niche. They may then go to Penn Cambria Intermediate and Penn Cambria Middle, both of which receive a C-plus. Penn Cambria High serves seventh to 12th graders and gets a B-minus. Some elementary-level students will go to Penn Cambria High in the future, as the district plans to build an extension there for second to sixth graders. The high school’s programs include a football team that won a district championship in 2024. The township is home to the private Mount Aloysius College, where programs include English, nursing and information technology.
A park, a golf course and an old railroad site provide recreation
Cresson Township Veteran’s Park has playground equipment spread across its open field, including climbing structures that resemble a rearing horse and a stagecoach. The other amenities include a baseball field and both basketball and pickleball courts. The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is another outdoor destination, providing a peek into the area’s industrial past. In addition to the historic landmarks, there are over a dozen miles of hiking and biking trails, many of which are unpaved paths winding through woods. The public Summit Country Club is a golfing destination with its 18-hole championship-level course.
Cresson has pizza, bar fare and ice cream
The Borough of Cresson offers a convenient place to dine out. Vito’s Restaurant & Pizzeria is popular for its various pies, stromboli and long curly fries. Shovel Head Tavern is a late-night hangout where many go for bar fare and to play pool. Frosty’s Caboose has ice cream and other cold treats. The ice cream shop is run out of a repurposed caboose and has a pavilion for those who want to eat their desserts outside. Many drive about 10 miles west to Walmart in Ebensburg to shop for groceries and other needs.
Events include the Strawberry Festival, live music and plays
In June, Cresson Presbyterian Church hosts the Strawberry Festival, a community event where attendees can mingle over strawberry shortcakes. Located in an old 19th-century barn, the Cresson Lake Playhouse hosts live music, trivia nights and produces plays. “They do some wonderful little plays and musicals,” Harkins says.
Commuters have direct access to U.S. 22
Residents here drive to commute, and a few highways pass through the township. U.S. Highway 22 offers a route toward the Altoona area, about 20 miles east. Altoona has UPMC Altoona, a 390-bed teaching hospital with a Level III trauma center. For air travel, there’s the Johnstown Airport, about 20 miles south.
Winter snowfall is expected
Winter may bring significant snowfall to the township. The National Weather Service shows that this part of the state gets about 40 inches of snow annually, nearly double other areas, like Philadelphia .
