Windber has small-town charm and coal mining roots
Windber is a small borough about 11 miles south of downtown Johnstown. The community was established in the 1890s as a coal mining town by the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, which had a handful of sites in the area. Now, Windber operates as a rural community, with historic homes and a downtown area. Forests and farmland surround the borough, adding outdoor recreation. “It’s more of a small-town community,” says Roxann Newcomer, a Windber Area Museum board member who lives in Windber. “People come here looking for something that’s not too rural, but away from the high-pressure urban areas nearby.”
A selection of older, single-family homes
Most homes in Windber are lined along gridded streets and have grassy front lawns. Two-story Victorian homes built from the 1900s to 1940s are common. Most have simple exteriors, pointed roofs and front porches, while others are farmhouse-inspired. A handful of these older homes are Queen Annes, with sloped roofs, pillars, a tower-like structure and decorative windows. Prices range from $45,000 to $190,000, depending on property size, age and condition. Colonial-inspired American Foursquares with front porches and a box-like shape have a similar cost. “There’s not a lot of new houses – we mostly have houses that have been here since the beginning. They’ve been renovated, and they’re not real expensive,” Newcomer says.
Split-level homes and ranchers from the 1950s to the 2000s are additional housing types, found in the borough’s outskirts. These properties sit on larger lots and go for $150,000 to $350,000.
B-rated public schools in Windber
The borough is served by the Windber Area School District. Windber Elementary School earns a B-minus grade from Niche. From there, students can attend Windber Area Middle and Windber Area High School – both score a B and share a campus. The high school offers over 60 electives, plus dual enrollment opportunities through the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.
The University of Pittsburgh Johnstown is about 5 miles north for higher education. It is the first and largest regional campus of the university, enrolling around 2,200 students.
Staying active in parks and nearby natural areas
Windber Recreation Park is one of the borough’s main outdoor areas, outfitted with a playground, roller hockey rink, softball field and courts for tennis and basketball. The area also has a dog park and a public swimming pool with water slides. Veteran’s Park is a green space downtown with a Memorial Wall honoring soldiers from multiple wars. Tennis and basketball courts are adjacent to the area. Just outside the Windber Borough Municipal Building is the Windber Gazebo, which often hosts events and gets decorated for the holidays. About 6 miles northeast of the borough is Windber Country Club, with its private, 18-hole golf course.
For natural recreation, Gallitzin State Forest is around 9 miles southeast of Windber. The thick trees sprawl across four counties for hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting and snowmobiling. About 11 miles southwest is the Quemahoning Reservoir and its Family Recreation Area. As the only public access point along the water, its swim beach and boat launch allow fishing, kayaking and sailing. The area also has a full-service campground with cabins and tent sites.
Retail and dining in Windber and Richland
Windber’s downtown area has a commercial corridor along Graham Avenue. There’s an auto parts store, hardware store, multiple car dealerships and convenience stores. “Shopping isn’t terrible. We don’t have any major department stores, but we do have mom-and-pop stores,” Newcomer says. “We have quite a few family restaurants that have been in town since the 1900s.” Mimo’s Pizza Company is one of many pizzerias in the borough, and The Rambler is an ice cream shop. Randy’s BiLo is the area’s grocery store.
Additional commerce is found about 3 miles north. University Park is a business center with Giant Eagle Supermarket. Chain restaurants and fast-food eateries in the area include Dairy Queen and Eat’n Park. Farther east along Eisenhower Boulevard is Richland Town Center, which has a Walmart Supercenter. There are also well-known retailers like Best Buy, T.J. Maxx and Famous Footwear.
Community events and museums for coal mining
Coal mining plays a huge part in Windber’s history, and the community likes celebrating its roots. The Miners’ Memorial Day Festival is a four-day event in June paying tribute to workers who died in the mines. It starts with a parade and continues with car shows, live music, a petting zoo and fireworks. Those who want to delve more into the borough’s mining history can visit the Windber Area Museum, located at the David Shaffer Homestead.
Traveling around Windber by bus and car
Downtown Windber’s gridded streets are walkable, but the rest of the borough needs a vehicle to get around. Pennsylvania Route 56 is the area’s main throughfare, traveling north and south and connecting to Johnstown. It eventually merges onto U.S. Route 219, about 4 miles north of Windber. The Cambria County Transit Authority’s bus services have stops along Graham Avenue. Additionally, the John Mutha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport is roughly 8 miles away.
