From major highway interchanges to the valley at the base of the Blue Mountain, Union Township is one of Lebanon County’s northernmost outposts. This area is comprised of the suburbs outside of Jonestown and Fort Indiantown Gap, with wide swaths of farmland and rolling hills in between. The Gap, as many locals call it, is the busiest National Guard Training Center in the U.S. and Lebanon County’s biggest employer. Much of the surrounding region supports the instillation or is dedicated to other military sites, including the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Union is a good place to be for someone who doesn’t want to be in the city or deal with traffic, says Tammy Sites, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathway HomeServices Homesale Realty who lives nearby. A lot of people move out that way for work, because there’s a lot of warehouses, Fort Indiantown Gap and the interstates.
Union Township Lebanon is a small farming town in the Lebanon Valley area.
Fort Indiantown Gap in Union Township Lebanon is the local National Guard Training facility.
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Northern Lebanon Schools have recently been restructured
Union’s public schools are 5 to 10 miles east in Fredericksburg, as the township is part of the Northern Lebanon School District. Northern Lebanon Elementary opened its doors in fall 2023, replacing four preexisting elementary schools with one new, state-of-the-art campus. Northern Lebanon Secondary School is just across the street and is known for its agricultural sciences programs, as well as its Future Farmers of America chapter that fundraises through annual plant sales. Both schools are currently unrated by Niche.
Two state parks: one with a mountain, another with a lake
State parks are aplenty in this mountainous region. Near the Gap, you have Memorial Lake State Park, which is popular for fishing and kayaking. It’s great for picnicking on the weekends because it’s a free park, Butler says. The northern end of the township curves through Swatara State Park, a forested hiking area along Swatara Creek. Exposed fossil beds from the Devonian Period flank Bear Hole Trail, with a public dig site where amateur and experienced archaeologists alike can excavate and take home their finds. A hand-hewn cabin and locks from the Union Canal are just some of the other sights the park has to offer, with mountain views just beyond the valley. The Appalachian Trail follows the crest of the Blue Mountain through State Game Lands No. 80, which lies across Interstate 81. Hunting is a big part of the lifestyle out there, Sites says. When deer hunting season ends, the state-owned park becomes a hiking and biking destination.
Union Township Lebanon can hit Memorial Lake State Park for a day on the water.
The Swatara Rail Trail hike starts at the Trout Run Trailhead near Union Township Lebanon.
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At the crossroads of interstates 78 and 81
Three national highways run through Union: Interstate 81, Interstate 78 and U.S. Highway 22. This crossroads makes the township well-connected by car despite its relatively remote location, with lots of trucking traffic passing through. Lebanon is roughly 15 to 20 miles south, while Harrisburg is 25 to 30 miles west and lays claim to the Pennsylvania State Capitol and Harrisburg International Airport. Philadelphia is approximately 100 to 105 miles southeast.
The PA State Capitol is about 30 miles away from Union Township Lebanon.
The Harrisburg International Airport sits about 45 minutes away from Union Township Lebanon.
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Sparse shopping and dining, but near Jonestown amenities
Restaurants and other businesses are scattered across the landscape, and tend to be few and far between. Mooses LZ is a good little bar and grill with a big back deck out near the Gap. LZ meaning landing strip, of course, Butler says. Pizza Town has a location out that way that I like. Otherwise, there’s not a whole lot there. You’ve got some campgrounds, a Love’s Travel Stop and a few fast-food places like Wendy’s, Subway and McDonald’s. Or, you can head to the other side of the base and go to Snitz Creek Brewery. The brewery, which has three locations across Lebanon County, is known for its Tuesday night trivia, pet-friendly garage bar and house-brewed pints. There’s a Dollar General and Jono Ace Hardware in Union for grabbing quick essentials or hardware, and more comprehensive shopping is available in Jonestown. BG’s Value Market of Jonestown is just across Swatara Creek near more restaurants, churches and municipal buildings.
Moose's LZ in Union Township Lebanon offers classic American fare with patio seating.
Pizza Town II in Union Township Lebanon serves pizza by-the-slice as a takeout option.
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Homes in the suburbs of Jonestown or the valley backroads
Most homes in Union tend to be clustered around Jonestown, with the exception of a few rural farmettes and cabins up north near the mountains. Houses tend to be a bit less expensive in the northern half of Lebanon County, says Stephanie Butler, a Lebanon native and Realtor with Suburban Realty. Although older cottages or cabins in the woods can be priced under $200,000, homes with acreage and outbuildings can be priced as high as $845,000. On the other hand, the suburbs of Jonestown are comprised of ranch-style, bi-level and New Traditional homes along winding suburban streets. Lot sizes can range from a quarter acre to one full acre, preserving the area’s rural, spacious feel even amid its tidy subdivisions. Single-family homes from the 1970s through the 2000s typically list from $175,000 to $500,000. Union currently holds a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Many bi-level homes in Union Township Lebanon are shaded by tall trees during hot summers.
New traditional builds in in Union Township Lebanon are often found closer to Jonestown.
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Welcome to 107 Moonshine Road, a very spacious home tucked away in the peaceful woods of Green Point. This charming property features original hardwood floors throughout and offers an impressive five bedrooms, providing plenty of room for family, guests, or a home office. The main level includes a formal dining room, a cozy breakfast room, and a welcoming living room complete with a wood-burning
Where else can you find 11+ acres in a developed area of Northern Lebanon that backs onto the Swatara Creek? Imagine waking up to this view everyday, sipping coffee off your back porch or patio, seeing the wildlife. Hunting and fishing are permitted within the township guidelines. This beautiful piece of property lines the LVRT and their bridge that's crosses the creek. Public water, sewer and
Prime Commercially Zoned 7+/- acres just off the Lickdale/Jonestown Interchange of Interstate 81 in Northern Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Join Love's Truck Stop with McDonalds, Holiday Inn, Fairfield, Exxon, Matel, vf, Swift, Burger King and others at this very active interchange just 2 miles north of the I-81, I-78 interchange. This parcel is available contingent upon final subdivision
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