Hellam’s shoe wizard wonder and preserved York County wilderness
Once in the York County township of Hellam, there was a little old man who invited couples to live in a shoe. His name was Mahlon Haines, and he used weekend getaways in the boot-shaped Haines Shoe House to advertise a footwear empire that earned him the nickname “The Shoe Wizard.” Hellam’s wonderful wizard of work boots did more than create a U.S. Route 30 landmark; through his philanthropy, generations of locals and visiting Scouting America troops have come to enjoy the magic of south-central Pennsylvania’s wilderness at the 300-acre Wizard Ranch Nature Preserve. Today, Hellam isn’t known solely for its eccentric 20th-century benefactor; it’s become a place where residents can enjoy a quiet life in the countryside convenient to thousands of acres of state, county and township-managed wilderness within 20 miles of York and Lancaster. “I’m in the area a lot because Hellam has all the things I like: places to sightsee, hike and fish,” says Logan Hutton, a Realtor with Realty One Group Unlimited who’s specialized in York and Lancaster counties for 9 years. “There are great state parks. The Susquehanna River is right in your backyard.”
Thousands of acres of nature preserves and York County recreation hubs
The Lancaster Conservancy has preserved over 2,000 acres of wilderness in Hellam, stretching across swathes of forests and bluffs along the Susquehanna River. Birders flock to trails at Robert A. Kinsley Nature Preserve and Wizard Ranch Nature Preserve, the latter of which was once a Scout camp donated by Mahlon Haines. The Mason-Dixon Trail passes through Susquehanna Riverlands State Park, a still-developing green space created where Codorus Creek meets the Susquehanna River in 2022. Boaters can find public Susquehanna River launches in the borough of Wrightsville. Mt. Pigsah marks the high point of Samuel S. Lewis State Park, where visitors might play disc golf or fly kites. York County maintains Rocky Ridge Park, a favorite spot for year-round hiking, mountain biking and wintertime strolls through light displays during the Christmas Magic Festival of Lights. Cool Creek Golf Club has an 18-hole course that is open to the public.
Homes in subdivisions, the countryside and along the Susquehanna
Boroughs like Hallam and Wrightsville are full of single-family homes built on prewar blocks and in midcentury subdivisions. These more densely plotted neighborhoods creep into the surrounding township, but Hellam’s spaced-out country roads typically offer more privacy between neighbors. Housing styles range from simple farmhouses, National and ranch-style homes, to custom cabins and New Traditional homes built to optimize views of York County’s pastoral landscapes or the glittering Susquehanna River. Move-in-ready homes on less than an acre sell for around $250,000 to $500,000. Houses built on acreage or along the Susquehanna River can go for about $300,000 to $820,000.
Dual enrollment opportunities through the Eastern York School District
Hellam is served by the Eastern York School District, which earns a B from Niche. Kids might start at Kreutz Creek Elementary School or Wrightsville Elementary School, both of which score a B. Eastern York Middle School gets a B-plus. Students can earn dual enrollment credit at B-rated Eastern York High School through institutions like Elizabethtown College.
Small businesses from Hallam borough to Wrightsville
In Hallam, locals stop for diner fare and ambiance at the Hallamshire Family Restaurant and browse handcrafted wares at Virtue Local Art Market. Wrightsville's John Wright Restaurant serves New American cuisine in a three-seasons dining room and wood-fired pizza on a patio overlooking the Susquehanna. Hutton recommends Jim Mack’s Ice Cream, a nostalgic roadside stand between the two boroughs: “They have a really cool mini golf course. They’ve been in business forever. I went all the time when I was a kid.” Larger chains and big-box stores anchor strip malls less than 10 miles west of Hellam, including Walmart and Giant.
Wild & Uncommon Weekend and the Wizard Safari
The Horn Farm Center’s historic farmhouse and surrounding fields host conservation and hobby classes throughout the year, but it's busiest when the pawpaw orchard is ready for harvesting. During the autumnal Wild & Uncommon Weekend and York County Pawpaw Festival, locals browse vendors, learn about land stewardship and celebrate the region’s native green tropical fruit. Although the Scouts no longer operate a camp at Wizard Ranch, it’s still the venue for a Scouting America Wizard Safari every four years. Thousands of Scouts and their families camp out, learn Old West-themed skills like blacksmithing and volunteer with the Lancaster Conservancy.
Traveling around south-central PA and south to Maryland
Taking Route 30, the city of York and county seat hubs like WellSpan York Hospital are about 10 miles away. Lancaster is roughly 20 miles in the opposite direction. Residents typically rely on cars to get around, but rabbittransit buses also offer limited service along state Route 462 from East York’s Walmart to the borough of Columbia. Longer-distance commuters have a roughly 60-mile trip to Baltimore. Harrisburg International Airport is around 25 miles from home.
Flood risk along Kreutz Creek and the Susquehanna River
Low-lying roads and properties along Kreutz Creek and the Susquehanna River may flood after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can check maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
