West Brunswick is a peaceful township with easy access to busier areas
Just outside of Orwigsburg is West Brunswick, a Pennsylvania township that offers a country feel and proximity to nearby cities and boroughs. In its center is Deer Park, a small lakefront community that’s best known for being the home of Muhammad Ali’s Training Camp, which is now preserved as a museum. “West Brunswick is quiet and pretty rural, with easy access to the Lehigh Valley, where there are a lot of shops and restaurants,” says Brad Mullen, a West Brunswick resident who’s an owner and broker of Mullen Realty Associates. State Route 61 is the main road through the area, leading to Orwigsburg, Pottsville and Hamburg within 20 minutes.
Split-levels and colonials with a country feel
West Brunswick’s split-level, ranch-style and colonial-inspired new traditional houses sit on at least a quarter-acre. Many homes are far from neighbors along two-lane country roads, while others are closer together in neighborhoods with private streets ending in cul-de-sacs. Prices typically range from around $220,000 to $620,000. “We’re insulated from the ups and downs you find in metropolitan areas,” Mullen says. “It's not a place that people rush into and out of. It’s a more stable place to live.” Townhouse communities can be found near Orwigsburg, with prices that typically range from $170,000 to $260,000, plus monthly homeowners association fees between $260 and $320 that cover snow removal, trash and water. Properties near the Little Schuylkill River and the area’s creeks might be in a floodplain and require flood insurance.
Lake activities, parks and a boxing legend’s training camp
In the township’s center, Deer Lake has a recreational area where kids can play sports or climb on the playground. The lake here is open for kayaking and fishing in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Muhammad Ali’s Training Camp, also called Fighter’s Heaven, is a museum dedicated to the famous boxer that preserves his training complex. Nearby, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a refuge for birds of prey that has educational programs, hiking trails and events like the Music on the Mountain classical concert and the Autumn Lecture Series. In Orwigsburg, Albright’s Woods is a popular park where kids can play in baseball and soccer leagues.
Restaurants on Route 61, stores and events in Orwigsburg
Most of West Brunswick’s restaurants are on Route 61. Deer Lake Pub & Restaurant serves classic pub fare in a casual atmosphere, and Carmelo’s Roman Delight is known for Italian comfort food. Locally grown produce is available at Stein’s Farm Market and Harding’s Farm Market, which has pick-your-own blueberries. Orwigsburg has more dining options, as well as stores like Heiser’s Ace Hardware and Boyer’s Food Market. The borough has regular community events, including Heritage Day each September, which brings vendors, historical reenactors and live music to Orwigsburg’s Center Square downtown. National retailers like Lowe’s Home Improvement and Walmart are nearby in Hamburg.
A car-dependent area along Route 61
Route 61 is the community’s main thoroughfare, leading roughly 3 miles to Orwigsburg and 11 miles to Pottsville. Hamburg is about 6 miles away, where drivers can get on Interstate 78 to the Lehigh Valley. Houses of worship here include Zion’s Red Church and Grace Bible Church of Hawk Mountain. Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital, just south of Orwigsburg on Route 61, and Lehigh Valley International Airport are a 39-mile trip.
A career-guided curriculum at Blue Mountain High
Kids can start school at Blue Mountain Elementary East, which earns a B from Niche, and then go to Blue Mountain Middle, which earns a B-minus. At the B-rated Blue Mountain High, students select a career academy to guide their course schedules. Career academy topics include business, art and communication, and health and science.
Written By
Annie Franklin
