Maidencreek offers rural living 20 minutes from Reading
As a rural community on the edge of the suburbs, Maidencreek is a quiet neighborhood. It makes up the majority of the Maidencreek Township; a smaller portion of the township, Blandon, is more suburban, but the neighborhood of Maidencreek has just a single, small suburban development surrounded by sprawling farmland. Most of its other homes are rural, with plenty of space for those who want to own land for growing crops or raising livestock. With easy highway access, it’s just 14 miles — about a 20-minute commute — from Reading, but Maidencreek offers a peaceful lifestyle. The handful of small businesses in Maidencreek and Blandon provide community gathering spaces and good food, while Ontelaunee Lake and the forest surrounding it keep nature within easy reach.
Homes in Maidencreek have acreage and wide price ranges
Stretched along winding country roads or down long drives, most of Maidencreek’s homes have land — often over an acre. “It’s a more rural area than Wyomissing and Moselem Springs,” says Jerry Buffa, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Realty who has sold homes in the area for 22 years. Some of these homes simply have space for residents to spread out, while others have tillable land or pastures for horses, goats or other livestock. With such a wide range of acreage and land usage, homes in Maidencreek’s more rural spaces can cost anywhere between the low $200,000s to the high $800,000s, though a truly large working farm can climb well above $1 million. Maidencreek’s small cluster of suburban homes are the exception. These houses typically have well under an acre of land and generally cost between the mid $300,000s and low $500,000s.
Kevin Snyder, a Realtor at Re/Max of Reading who has sold homes in the area for about 19 years, says that Maidencreek’s wide price range means there are options for buyers at nearly every price point, and people are often watching to see what hits the market. “It’s a strong market,” he says. “There’s limited inventory and constant demand, so it’s certainly an area that I’d say if there are homeowners that are on the fence on if it’s a good time to sell, I’d say absolutely it is.”
Fleetwood’s public schools have physical and virtual education options
Maidencreek is served by the Fleetwood Area School District. As a smaller district, it has just four schools: two elementary schools and a single middle and high school. There’s no school choice or magnet schools in this rural district, but it does offer the Fleetwood Virtual Academy. This program allows students to take all or some of their classes virtually; families get input on curriculum, and students can self-pace while still having deadlines to complete their coursework. Maidencreek students who attend classes in-person typically attend Andrew Maier Elementary School, Fleetwood Middle School and Fleetwood High School.
Commuting to Reading and other hotspots from Maidencreek
With its winding country roads and spread out essentials, having a car is an essential part of living in Maidencreek. U.S. Route 222 and state Route 73 run along the neighborhood’s southern border, connecting it to nearby communities. Most people commute to work in Reading, though some work in Wyomissing or Allentown instead. Reading and Wyomissing are both about 20 minutes away along Route 222, while it’s a 45-minute drive to Allentown.
Outdoor recreation is Maidencreek’s biggest source of fun
Cutting through Maidencreek’s heart, Ontelaunee Lake is surrounded by a forest shot through with nature trails. Hiking and birdwatching are popular in the woods, and people often head to the lake to fish from its shores or from Graffiti Bridge, which is known locally for being covered head to toe in overlapping graffiti. As a water supply, the lake doesn’t allow kayaking or swimming. For that, Snyder says residents drive about 20 minutes to Blue Marsh Lake, which offers:
- A swimming beach
- Kayaking
- Jet skiing
- 50 miles of hiking trails stretched across hundreds of acres
Back in Maidencreek, residents pack up water bowls for their pups and head to Maidencreek Township Dog Park to let them burn off energy and make friends. People who enjoy weight training head to Garage Strength Sports Performance, located right in the neighborhood.
Local eateries in Maidencreek and Blandon, short drives to essentials
Along Route 222, Kitt’s Café & Gandalf’s Garden is a cat café that offers pastries, houseplants and adoptable cats less than a mile away from Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts. On the northern side of Maidencreek, Deerfoot Vineyards and Winery is a family-run vineyard that offers wine tastings right in town. Other restaurants, abundant antique shops and essentials are found in nearby areas like Blandon and Moselem Springs. It’s usually about a 10- or 15-minute drive to major grocery stores, but nearby towns offer a variety of options, including Walmart, Giant, Sam’s Club and Aldi.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
