Stony Creek Mills has single-family homes and duplexes
At the eastern foothills of Mount Penn, Stony Creek Mills is a small suburban village part of the city of Reading.
Whether you’re living in one of the neighborhood’s various single-family homes or a duplex, you can relax and enjoy the mountain views from the comfort of your home. The east side of Antietam Creek, which runs through the middle of town, features predominantly single-family homes built in the mid-to-late 1900s. Settle down in a split-level with an attached garage or a Craftsman-style home for around $200,000 to $250,000. You’ll also come across some beautifully renovated colonial-style homes from the 1800s in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. Most single-family homes are located on quarter-acre lots. However, on the west side of the creek, you’ll find more duplexes with less yard space, which sell for around $150,000 to $200,000.
Restaurants include steakhouses and Italian spots
Some homes, along with a few local businesses, are set up along Friedensburg Road right at the base of the mountain. Bixler’s Lodge is a popular local restaurant set up in what was once a barn built in the 1800s. The rustic restaurant has been serving the community since 1934 and is a frequent spot for locals to enjoy drinks and classic American food, like steak and specialty burgers. When you’re in the mood for Italian food, Esposito’s will hit the spot with its various pasta dishes, pizza and cannolis. For groceries and other household items, stop by Redner’s Warehouse Markets. You’ll find more places to shop about three miles south at Reading Mall, which is right by Target, Walmart and several other big box retailers.
The middle and high schools share a building
Kindergarten through first-grade students attend Mt. Penn Primary School, which has a B rating from Niche. Students go on to Mt. Penn Elementary School until sixth grade and feed into Antietam Middle-Senior High School for seventh through twelfth grade. The combined middle and high school features a café in the library where students can socialize and relax.
Locals can fish and enjoy the waterfall at Antietam Lake Park
For more relaxation, you can take the winding mountainside roads to Antietam Lake Park. “It’s a gorgeous park,” says Vav Vavreck, Realtor with United Real Estate. “The city stocks the lake with trout, so it’s a great place to fish, too.” While you’re there, soak in views of the lake’s 60-foot waterfall that leads to the creek that runs through town. More than 600 acres of woods surround the lake, with 12 miles of interconnecting trails. For Reading’s most spectacular views, you can hike about three miles to The Pagoda, an Asian-style tower that offers a panoramic view of Reading and the surrounding areas. And if you’re not into hiking, you can also drive up there. And when you’re done gazing out from 620 feet above the city, it’s just a quick two-mile drive back to the small village of Stony Creek Mills.
![Danny Lambert]()
Photography Contributed By
Danny Lambert
