South Manheim offers quiet countryside and Poconos-style gated living
South Manheim is a rural township that takes farmland, country roads and forested hunting grounds to the mountainous southern edge of Schuylkill County. While the beauty and bucolic calm of the Blue Ridge Mountains roll across most of the region, South Manheim is unique for hosting part of a planned, amenity-rich community that’s more often found deeper in the Pocono Mountains. “We ended up in Lake Wynonah because my husband and I enjoy kayaking and fishing. When you say ‘gated community,’ it sounds pompous. But really, that’s mostly to keep people from putting boats into the private lakes all day,” says Meg Wagner, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty who lives in South Manheim. “Outside the community, I can take a motorcycle ride and see views of cornfields, hills and valleys that are pretty spectacular. Whoever’s looking for peace, they’ll find it out here.”
Single-family homes on acreages and in Lake Wynonah
The rolling hills of southern Schuylkill County fill South Manheim with a blend of family farms, forests and single-family homes that range from manufactured to ranch-style to New Traditional. “The township as a whole is what I’d call residentially rural,” Wagner says. “There are a lot of homes, but there’s not congested development like you see in some places. Even the neighborhoods you do see near farms are pretty spacious.” Prices for homes on small acreages range from around $110,000 to $370,000.Entry gates mark Lake Wynonah, a private community that's been growing on the border of South Manheim and Wayne townships since the 1970s. The development markets “Life on Vacation”, a promise that attracts both year-round residents and seasonal homebuyers to purchase homes on woodsy lots surrounding two picturesque, recreation-ready lakes. Most houses in Lake Wynonah can sell for around $200,000 to $490,000, but waterfront homes go for around $640,000 to $1.1 million. New residents will pay an initial capital contribution fee plus annual homeowners’ association dues equal to around $120 per month.
Private and public recreation areas around South Manheim
Lake Wynonah’s residents spend their time in the outdoor swimming pool, hitting the pickleball courts and fishing or boating on the community’s lakes. “Every morning, there are people jet skiing or water skiing; I think it’s a couple of specific people,” Wagner says. Outside Lake Wynonah, the Auburn Desilting Basin was initially designed to protect the Schuylkill River from coal silt pollution. Since the midcentury, it’s become a tranquil spot for boating and freshwater fishing. Across the basin, cyclists can hop onto the Schuylkill River Trail. State Game Lands 110 makes up the township’s southern border, a more than 10,000-acre area for visitors to hunt big and small game, fish the Schuylkill River or hike up onto the ridgeline to follow the Appalachian Trail.
Township businesses and shopping around Schuylkill Haven
Residents might order locally raised beef from South Manheim businesses like Honey Brook Farm or browse the butcher counter at Summer Hill Meats. Sunny Cupboard is a short drive from Lake Wynonah’s western entrance, a large roadside market known for its fresh subs, baked goods and thriving greenhouse plants. More locally owned businesses, like the nostalgic, chrome-coated Manheim Diner, are about 5 miles away in Schuylkill Haven. Redner’s Warehouse Markets, Bill’s Produce and GIANT are just outside the borough for groceries.
Attending Schuylkill Haven Area School District
South Manheim is served by the Schuylkill Haven Area School District. Schuylkill Haven Area Elementary Center earns a B from Niche. Schuylkill Haven Middle School and Schuylkill Haven Area High School each score a B-minus. High schoolers can earn credit at Pennsylvania State University Schuylkill Campus through the district’s dual enrollment program.
Events in Lake Wynonah and Schuylkill community hubs
Lake Wynonah’s neighbors get together for holiday weekend activities like the Fourth of July party and boat parade throughout the year, alongside countless other smaller social events. The Schuylkill County Fairgrounds are just west of South Manheim, its namesake county fair a weeklong celebration full of truck pulls, agricultural displays, fair food and live music that returns each summer. A few small churches offer religious services around the township; St. Paul’s Summer Hill United Church of Christ holds a “bring your motorcycle to church” Sunday once a month.
Commuting around and outside of Schuylkill County
Pottsville, the Schuylkill County seat, is about 9 miles from South Manheim. Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital is only around 8 miles away. Taking Interstate 78, Allentown is about a 40-mile drive, and Harrisburg is roughly 50 miles in the opposite direction. Lehigh Valley International Airport is around 45 miles from home.
Flood risk along Bear Creek
Waterways like Bear Creek may flood nearby roads and homes after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can look at maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
