Forested streets fill Pymatuning Central, a rural lake community
Pymatuning Central is home to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s largest lake, the Pymatuning Reservoir. The water and surrounding forest are located nearly 30 miles south of Conneaut, which offers access to Lake Erie. “The trick about Pymatuning is that the state owns all the frontage, so there’s no true lakefront living,” says Realtor Kristin Horner with Re/Max Hometown Realty, who has 9 years of experience. “It’s rural living at its finest, where everything is not far from there. There is year-round living, but a large portion is seasonal living. Pymatuning Central is where you’ll find zero chains, nothing but mom-and-pop.”
Watersports on Pymatuning Reservoir, forested trails and fishing
Espyville Boat Launch in Pymatuning State Park has a playground that overlooks the park’s natural space and a nearly 17,000-acre motorboat-friendly reservoir. The lake is shared between Ohio and Pennsylvania. “There are many protected wildlife areas. Duck hunting and fishing are huge out [in Pymatuning Central],” Horner says. “It’s quiet and serene.” When bank fishing, anglers must have a license from the state where they cast their lines; out on the water, a fishing license from either state is accepted. Linesville Beach is on the lake’s northern bank and offers swimming access. The Spillway, a nature viewing area in the park, attracts over 300,000 visitors annually. It is one of the only places where wildlife may be fed in the park.
The park features various forested paths, many of which are one-way and open to cross-country skiing in the winter. Spillway Trail runs for nearly 3 miles near the Pennsylvania-side shoreline, with parts passing through Linesville Fish Hatchery and public hunting land. Ice fishing, snowshoeing and sledding are also popular in Pymatuning State Park.
Homes between the Pymatuning Reservoir and farm fields
Homes sit along forested streets between the state-owned shoreline and private farm fields. “Because it’s so close to the lake, there are a lot of [manufactured] and mobile homes. There aren’t many other types of homes with a foundation. The soil type doesn’t allow it,” Horner says. Manufactured and mobile home prices range from about $20,000 to $320,000. The area’s limited selection of homes with permanent foundations includes cottages, ranch-style homes and Traditional-influenced homes. Their prices go from around $60,000 to $410,000.
The CAP Index Crime Score in Pymatuning Central is 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Restaurants near Pennsylvania Highway 285 and Andover’s grocery store
The Poff’s Place bait shop and locally owned restaurants are near Pennsylvania Highway 285. Country Side Family Restaurant and Lil’ Bit Restaurant both serve southern comfort food. Nearby, Yorkie’s has a walk-up window with signage displaying its various ice cream flavors. PA-285 connects the area to Andover, about 5 miles away, with a Sparkle Market grocery store, Andover Diner and thrift stores.
Two school districts and Advanced Placement Program courses
Pymatuning Central spans two school districts, both of which offer interdistrict transfers. Many residences in the northern region are zoned for the Conneaut School District, which includes Conneaut Lake Elementary School and Conneaut Area Middle School. Niche gives both schools B-minus grades, and Conneaut Area Senior High School receives a C-plus. High schoolers can take Advanced Placement Program courses in various core subjects. Jamestown Area School District’s attendance boundary encompasses much of the community’s southern region. Its schools include the B-minus graded Jamestown Area Elementary, a kindergarten through sixth-grade institution, and Jamestown Area Junior-Senior High School for grades 7 through 12. Niche grades the senior high a C-plus overall.
State Highway connects the area to Ohio and Meadville
Pennsylvania Highway 285 runs through the area and connects the Ohio side of the reservoir to the Pennsylvania side. It also connects the community to nearby cities, such as Meadville, about 20 miles away. Meadville has the Meadville Medical Center, one of the closest hospitals to Pymatuning Central. Cleveland is nearly 85 miles away, and the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is about a 95-mile drive.
