Ice cream, cows and pastoral views in Walker Township
Dairy farms, grazing cows and towering grain silos fill the Lewistown Valley in Walker Township, a rural part of Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill County that’s become a destination for its ice cream. “It’s a major farming community, but there are a few notable things in Walker Township that are very popular locally,” says Brad Mullen, an owner and broker of Mullen Realty Associates, whose family lives in the township. The dairy farms here are well known for their locally made ice cream, which is sold at two popular restaurants that attract visitors from cities like Pottsville, 11 miles away. Walker Township is defined by its peaceful atmosphere, but nearby, the borough of Tamaqua has a walkable downtown, kid-friendly parks and grocery stores.
Homes in the forests or the fields
Green pastures and cornfields dominate the valley, where gently sloping mountains and grain silos dot the horizon. Hillier areas are usually heavily forested, and the houses here are often hidden from the road by trees. Split-level and bi-level homes on at least an acre are most common, and there are also farmhouses and ranch-style homes on multi-acre properties and farms. “It's hard to buy anything here because it's rare that anything is for sale,” Mullen says. Prices typically range from around $170,000 to $300,000. Mullen warns that the farms here can cause odors throughout the area. “There’s a smell — we call it the fresh country air,” he says. “There are turkey, chicken and egg farms, so they have to go somewhere with all that manure.” Some areas are at risk of flooding; homeowners should check flood maps to assess their risk.
Locally owned dairy farms are destinations for ice cream
Walker Township’s dairy farms have made the area a popular ice cream destination. Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy has operated here since 1924, and its dairy bar opened in 1957. “Heisler’s dairy bar is a really popular destination in the county,” Mullen says. “It has mini golf, an arcade, food and ice cream.” Leiby’s Ice Cream House and Restaurant is also known for its ice cream, which is made by the locally operated Leiby’s Dairy. Leiby’s Farm Market offers locally grown produce and a subscription produce box. Nearby, Tamaqua has more restaurant options and grocery stores like Boyer’s Food Market and Dollar General.
Tamaqua Area Senior High has a popular band program
Kids can start school at Tamaqua Elementary and then go to Tamaqua Area Middle; both earn a C from Niche. At the B-minus-rated Tamaqua Area Senior High, about 160 students join the Raider Band each year, filling the stands at Friday night football games and competing in regional band festivals.
Hunting, fishing and swimming are popular ways to get outside
At State Game Lands Number 222, hunters can explore over 2,300 forested acres in search of deer, bear and grouse. Nearby, Tuscarora State Park is known for its lake, which has opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming. In Tamaqua, the swimming pool at Bungalow Park is a popular place for kids to cool off in the summer. When it snows, Leiby’s Carriage Service provides horse-drawn sleigh rides through their snow-covered pastures. Their horse-drawn carriages can be found at area events like Tamaqua Summerfest each Father’s Day. The festival attracts thousands to downtown Tamaqua for crafts vendors, live music and diesel train rides on the Reading and Northern Railroad.
Narrow country roads serve this car-reliant community
Walker Township’s two-lane country roads wind between farms and forests. U.S. Route 209 in the north is the biggest thoroughfare here. Tamaqua is about 7 miles from the township’s center, and Pottsville is around 11 miles away. Houses of worship here include Zion Church Lewistown Valley and New England Valley Mennonite Church. Several hospitals are roughly 10 miles away, including St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale. Lehigh Valley International Airport is a 47-mile trip.
Written By
Annie Franklin
