Rural Windsor Township is rich in natural scenery
Rolling farmland gives way to the breathtaking Appalachian Mountains in Windsor Township, 77 miles from Philadelphia. Residents are drawn to the bucolic community’s scenic landscape and rural atmosphere. “Windsor Township, and in the surrounding area, there are lots of parks and easy access to Hawk Mountain,” says Aaron Clouser, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. Clouser has been working in the industry for two years. “People come to see the annual hawk migration, and we get thousands of people.” Windsor borders the Appalachian Mountains, with popular trails and locations like Pulpit Rock and the Pinnacle. Unlike most rural communities, Windsor is next door to the small-town bustle of Hamburg borough for shopping, dining and community events.
Outdoor recreation in the Appalachians
Kaercher Creek Park in Edenburg, a community in Windsor, has a lake surrounded by greenery and paved walking trails. There’s also a fishing dock and a boat ramp. Windsor is on the Appalachian Trail, and there’s a shelter with a picnic area for hikers to rest. The trail passes by The Pinnacle and Pulpit Rock, outcroppings with scenic views of the mountains and the landscape below. Nearby, Astronomical Park offers a manicured clearing with paved walking paths and an observatory.
A campground nearby offers cabins, picnic tables and trips to The Blue Rocks, a mysterious milelong stretch of Tuscarora quartzite 4 miles from Windsor. “There are giant boulders,” says Clouser. “You can climb on them.” Further into the Appalachians, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a conservation area dedicated to the world's largest birds. The area is especially popular in autumn, when the raptors are counted as they migrate. This count was begun in 1934 and continues today.
Single-family homes on farmland
Homes here tend to be set on large farmsteads or clustered together in communities and subdivisions. “There's a few farms for sale,” says Clouser. “I like to call them farmettes; they have 10-15 acres. A lot of people just want the house, the Clean and Green tax advantages, and still have that country feel. They lease the land out to farmers, and it keeps the land beautiful.” The Clean and Green program was implemented to protect farmland by assessing the land on its use, not its market value and usually leads to lower property taxes.
Houses are primarily Colonial Revival, split-level and ranch-style. Prices range from $130,000 to $500,000. Communities close to Hamburg, like Edenburg, have public sewer and water, while communities farther out, such as Windsor Castle, rely on wells and septic systems.
Craft beers and comfort food in Hamburg
The 1787 Brewing Company is a brewery serving craft beers on tap and light pub fare in Hamburg, less than a mile from Windsor. The Westy Bar & Grill has a similar atmosphere but has more of a restaurant focus with American comfort food and draft beers. “We also have a store called Cabela’s, everybody comes to Hamburg for that store,” says Clouser. “And the area around the store has been growing exponentially.” Cabela’s is a sporting goods store with gear for hunting, hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities. For groceries, a family-run AEC Market sells farm-fresh produce along Apple Street. There’s also a Weis Markets on State Street. Leesport Farmers Market, 9 miles from Windsor, is open year-round on Wednesdays and has specialty markets throughout the year, such as a Halloween Sunday Flea Market and a Harvest Craft show focusing on local artists.
Hamburg Area schools offer college prep and technical programs
Hamburg Area School District, which receives a B-minus from Niche, serves the area. Children may attend Perry Elementary, which gets a B-minus. Students continue to Hamburg Area Middle, which receives a C, and Hamburg Area High, which gets a B-minus. High school students may attend the Berks Career & Technology Center to prepare for college or complete technical programs in health care, cosmetology, engineering and other fields.
Community festivals and events in Hamburg
In August, the Taste of Hamburg-er Festival has the town of Hamburg firing up its grills with burger stands up and down State Street and South Fourth Street. Throughout the festival, there’s live entertainment and vendors selling crafts and artisanal goods. “The Hamburger Festival has been growing every year,” says Clouser. “They do a marathon where you have to eat a hamburger, then run a mile, and eat another hamburger. You can bring your dog, so that helps with the running.” In October, Hamburg has a King Frost Parade to celebrate the fall season. The crown jewel of the event is a bearded king in white seated atop a winter-themed float. Other colorful floats and live entertainment join in the merriment as they parade down Fourth Street.
Commuters use Interstates to reach nearby cities
“You're also along a major corridor, Interstate 78, New Jersey is to the east, and you're kind of in the middle of Harrisburg and Allentown, if you're looking for a place in the middle,” says Clouser. Interstate 78 leads to Harrisburg, 56 miles from Windsor, and Allentown, 29 miles away. Interstate 476 leads to Philadelphia, 77 miles away.
Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center is 17 miles from Windsor, and Reading Regional Airport is 17 miles away. Salem Church and The Bridge Church are houses of worship along Old U.S. Route 22.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
