Slippery Rock is known for its college and scenic Pennsylvania nature
Slippery Rock is a college town synonymous with its namesake university, a public school with over 8,000 students who call its campus home. “The school is the main focus of the town,” says Leesa Klemz, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty, who has about 7 years of experience. “It’s a big selling point for investors who want to rent to students or people who want to live close to campus.” In addition to academia, the town is known for the scenic natural areas and trails that surround it.
Slippery Rock University and Slippery Rock High School’s art program
Local children may begin their K-12 journeys at Slippery Rock Area Elementary School, which earns an A-minus grade from Niche. They may then move forward to Slippery Rock Area Middle School, which scores a B-plus, before enrolling at B-rated Slippery Rock High School. Artistically inclined high schoolers can take a variety of classes, from crafts and jewelry, ceramics, stained glass and sculpture to portfolio production. The school also offers more than 20 Advanced Placement and honors courses, as well as dual enrollment credit through the University of Pittsburgh and Slippery Rock University.
Slippery Rock University is just east of the center of town, home to more than 150 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs. Undergraduates can live on campus in a suite-style residential village and join over 200 student organizations.
Slippery Rock staples: North Country Brew Pub and B&J Coney Island
Tucked between the storefronts along Main Street, North Country Brew Pub has taken over a historic building that once belonged to “Uber and Sons Undertakers and Furniture Dealers.” Continuing the building’s quirky legacy, the pub is now filled with eclectic décor and all sorts of carved wooden tchotchkes. Its witty menu includes crispy pub eats, like fried pickles and deep-fried Wisconsin cheese curds, as well as its own North Country Brewing Company beers on draft. B&J Coney Island is divided into a family-friendly sandwich shop on one side and a bar with a hometown feel and about 35 draft beers on the other. Hot dogs, chili dogs and 10 varieties of hand-cut fries can be paired with a cold one. A Giant Eagle is across the street.
Homes built throughout the 1900s in various styles on large lots
Slippery Rock has homes that were built in a variety of styles across the 20th century, and lots may go up to over an acre. Victorian homes and Craftsman cottages dating from the 1900s through the 1930s are largely located in the center of town. These older builds, along with Cape Cods and Minimal Traditional homes from the 1940s and 1950s, range from $200,000 to $260,000. Bi-level and ranch-style homes added from the 1950s through the 1970s go from $250,000 to $320,000, while a handful of unique homes from the early 2000s fetch between $265,000 and $420,000. Those clustered along Slippery Rock Creek boast waterfront views and easy access to the Slippery Rock Golf Club & Events Center.
Homes located along the various creeks in the community may be at an increased risk of flooding.
Pontoons on Slippery Rock Creek and more play at Moraine State Park
Spacious parks and natural areas are scattered around Slippery Rock, providing several options for spending time outside. At Slippery Rock Community Park, playground structures made to look like bulldozers and fire engines are parked on a mulch lot. South of town, ARMCO Park has a sand volleyball court, a playground, a splash pad, a heated outdoor pool and a boat launch that creeps into Slippery Rock Creek. “There’s about 4.5 miles you can boat on,” Klemz says, referring to the section of the creek near its waterfront development. “A lot of the people whose houses I sold owned pontoons or little fishing boats.”
To the south, Moraine State Park consists of Lake Arthur and hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails that carve through more than 17,000 acres of land restored after coal mining and oil drilling. The trails open up to cross-country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobiles after snowfall, when fishing enthusiasts drop lines through ice holes.
ARMCO Park’s Wheels of Steel Car Cruise
The Wheels of Steel Car Cruise marks the start of summer at the beginning of June in Slippery Rock. Attendees can peruse classic, vintage and otherwise unique cars and buy treats from food trucks and local vendors at ARMCO Park.
Interstate connection to Pittsburgh and a 20-mile drive to New Castle
Slippery Rock is just over 50 miles from Pittsburgh and its international airport. Commuters can take Pennsylvania state Route 108 and merge onto Interstate 79, which travels south toward Steel City. Pennsylvania state Route 108 continues west past the interstate to New Castle, roughly 20 miles away. Smaller highways, like Pennsylvania state Route 258 and Pennsylvania state Route 173, travel north to Mercer and Grove City, respectively.
Public transportation is also available. The Happy Bus helps students navigate the university’s campus, making stops in town at Dollar General and Giant Eagle. The New Castle Transit Authority also maintains a route from Iron Mountain through Slippery Rock to New Castle.
