Lake Heritage offers waterfront living outside Gettysburg
Water sports and a family-friendly atmosphere anchor everyday life in Lake Heritage. The private community a few miles east of Gettysburg was developed around its artificial lake of the same name in the 1960s. Its waterfront properties have been sought after ever since. “There are a lot of people who live there that love that it’s a gated community,” says Carolyn Boyle , a Realtor with Re/Max Quality Service, Inc. and a lifelong resident of South Central Pennsylvania. She says proximity to the historic sites and activities in Gettysburg is another draw. “The history—it’s something you can go do anytime. There are ghost tours downtown. Historical authors will have book signings,” Boyle says. The Lake Heritage Property Owners Association self-governs the community, organizing community events and a list of social clubs.
A variety of single-family homes with lake views
Lake Heritage’s single-family homes rest along two-lane roads that wrap around the community’s namesake lake. Architecture is diverse, with split-levels and ranch-style homes neighboring custom neotraditional builds and farmhouse-inspired designs. Spacious lots give the community a rural character. Lakefront properties feature private docks and boat slips. Prices range from around $280,000 to $600,000. “If you’re on the lake or you can see the lake, you’ll pay a higher price for that home,” Boyle says.
Homeowners pay monthly dues of around $120 to the Lake Heritage Property Owners Association. The organization maintains community amenities, the lake’s water quality and appearance, as well as the community’s dam and spillway, which help prevent flooding.
Water sports anchor recreation in this lakefront community
Spending time on the water is part of the lifestyle in Lake Heritage, with residents boating, kayaking, swimming and fishing in their free time. The community has several parks that dot the shoreline. Mature trees shade the Shady Grove Recreation Area, which features a wooden boat playground and a covered pavilion. The Lake View Recreation Complex is a bustling summer spot with places to swim and launch kayaks. The large park, split by Heritage Drive, offers a multi-purpose field, dog park and a woodland walking trail on its inland side. The lake serves as the backdrop for tennis matches and pickup basketball at Fisherman Pier Recreation Area, also known as the Point, where an outdoor pool sits steps from the water. The Gettysburg area offers more recreation, from exploring the more than 5,700-acre Gettysburg National Military Park to going for a round at the public, 18-hole Meadow Brook Golf Course.
Summers in Lake Heritage culminate with an annual regatta
The lake is at the center of many events in Lake Heritage, including an annual regatta in September. The event is a more than 40-year tradition and offers three days of celebration, community and competition. A big party at the Point kicks off festivities on Friday night. Then on Saturday, residents participate in various land sports, from shuffleboard and volleyball to Badminton and kickball. Sunday is all about the water, with wakeboarding and slalom competitions as well as a water skiing show. Fireworks cap off the event after dark.
Public and private education options in the Gettysburg area
Two school districts serve Lake Heritage. Most homes are zoned for the Gettysburg Area School District, which receives a B-plus overall rating from Niche and has around 2,800 students learning across five schools. A majority of properties are within the boundaries of the B-rated Lincoln Elementary. Gettysburg Area Middle earns an A-minus and Gettysburg Area High gets a B-plus. The C-plus-rated Littlestown Area School District serves the northeast corner of Lake Heritage.
Several private schools are north of Gettysburg, including St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, which Niche does not yet rate. Higher education is close by at the private Gettysburg College and Harrisburg Community College, Gettysburg Campus.
Shops and restaurants are close by at The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg
Boat owners can get their vessels serviced in the community at the Gettysburg Marine Center. Next door, Designers Edge offers haircuts and manicures. Dozens of name-brand stores and a handful of restaurants fill The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg, a regional shopping destination that sits outside Lake Heritage off state Route 97. Grocery chains, including Giant and Aldi, dot U.S. Route 30. Downtown Gettysburg offers boutique shopping, more dining options, nightlife and entertainment, less than 5 miles away. The town is also home to WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital.
Commuters have access to U.S. Route 15 and Rabbit Transit
A private vehicle is needed to get around Lake Heritage and much of South Central Pennsylvania. Ramps for U.S. Route 15 are less than a mile from the community’s gates. The highway heads north to Harrisburg, where commercial flights take off from Harrisburg International Airport, about 50 miles away. Rabbit Transit provides bus service around and between Gettysburg and Hanover , with a bus stop right outside Lake Heritage at The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg.
