Schuylkill Haven blends charm, nature and neighborhood spirit
Amidst the hilly terrain of the Blue Mountains, Schuylkill Haven is a borough in Southeastern Pennsylvania offering a blend of historical charm and modern convenience. Residents can easily access plenty of recreational facilities, shops and community events throughout the year. “It’s very community oriented; it just has a good neighborhood feel,” says Nada Laguna, a Realtor with EveryHome Realtors, and a St. Clair local with over 20 years of experience selling homes.
Traditional home styles starting in the $100,000s
Homebuyers can find pre-1900s National style rowhouses, as well as more modern properties like Cape Cods and ranch-style homes. Houses are tightly arranged on gridded streets with a little bit of backyard greenery. Some properties have driveways and garages, but most people rely on street parking of surface lots for personal vehicles. Homes tend to stay on the market for just a week and typically sell for $100,000 to $350,000. There are also townhomes, some built as recently as 2024, that usually go for $100,000 to $250,000.
Served by the Schuylkill Haven Area School District
Students may start at Schuylkill Haven Elementary, which teaches kindergarten through fourth grade with a B from Niche, before going to Schuylkill Haven Middle, which teaches fifth through seventh grade and gets a B-minus. Schuylkill Haven High also earns a B-minus. Penn State Schuylkill also allows locals to complete associate and baccalaureate degrees without having to go far from home.
Commuting via Route 61
Commuters can take State Route 61 north 5 miles to get to Pottsville, which holds the county seat and municipal offices. It connects to Interstate 78, which takes residents 45 miles east to Allentown. The route also runs 30 miles south to Reading. Geisinger St. Luke's Hospital is located 5 miles east. The closest airport, Lehigh Valley International, is 45 miles away.
Shops and restaurants on Route 61
Boyer's Food Market is on West Main Street for essentials. Cressona Mall is also less than a mile north of the borough along Route 61 with stores like Giant and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. There are a few locally owned restaurants in town like Manheim Diner, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in its retro Starlite-inspired building. Renninger's Farmer's Market, open Saturdays and Sundays year-round with over 100 vendors, is also just 2 miles away. “It’s definitely busier in the summertime, because people are coming down with their fresh produce,” says Laguna.
Borough events throughout the year
One of the area’s most popular festivals, Schuylkill Haven Borough Day, is held on the last Saturday each September. The event, which has taken place for nearly 40 years, features local vendor tents, family activities and train excursions. “It’s a huge draw for the county as a whole,” says Laguna. “Our office is in the area, so we set a tent up during the event too.” Stretched over a week in July and August, the Schuylkill County Fair offers amusement rides, tractor pulls and live entertainment. The Schuylkill River Sojourn is an annual week-long, 112-mile guided kayak trip down the county’s namesake river to Philadelphia. And in August, Island Park Festival is a full day of live music alongside family activities and food vendors.
Sports facilities, nearby game lands and country club
In the center of town, Schuylkill Haven Island Park has soccer and baseball fields, a large picnic pavilion, a walking trail and a boat launch for the Schuylkill River. Bubeck Park offers a playground and basketball court, as well as Stoyer’s Dam, a popular fishing spot. “They have resident swans in there that are so beautiful,” adds Laguna. State Game Lands Number 286 is east of the borough for hunting and horseback riding. The Schuylkill Country Club is also 3 miles away with a private, 18-hole golf course.
Written By
Logan Soter-Reardon
