Stewart Township

In Stewart Township 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, "falling water" means more than one thing. But whether you're referring to cascading waterfalls breaking a hiker's quiet reverie, careening rapids powering rafts through the Youghiogheny River or Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural opus, aptly named Fallingwater, you won't have to look further than this rural retreat along Fayette County's eastern border to find all three.

What you won't find is crowded neighborhoods. Stewart Township contains 614 residents, while the Borough of Ohiopyle, a separate but shared community, houses 12 to 37 full-time residents at any time. A Stewart Township official and resident explains the reason for these small numbers, "Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, state game land and Ohiopyle State Park control 62% of the total land in the township, so the land is preserved."

The result is small clusters of homes down winding country roads and small farms marked by bright barns, tall silos and tidy farmhouses. You might find an early 1900s cottage with modern additions, three bedrooms, 2,000 square feet and 2 acres for $250,000, or a contemporary log cabin on 3 acres with three bedrooms across 1,200 square feet for $290,000. Homes in Ohiopyle are often vacation rentals and range from 1900s farmhouses to manufactured ranch homes with two or three bedrooms and up to 1,500 square feet, selling between the mid-$200,000s up to $400,000. Land is also available from $3,000 to $20,000 per acre.

The township is home to the Ohiopyle State Park, the Great Allegheny Passage bicycle trail, Frank Lloyd Wrights's acclaimed Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, the Natural Water Slides, large campgrounds and countless hiking trails, waterfalls and scenic overlooks. The Youghiogheny River also flows through the center of Ohiopyle and the state park and offers exceptional whitewater rafting. These splendors don't go unnoticed. According to the township official, "We see between 1.5 million and 2 million tourists annually." But as a resident, these resources are in your backyard, whether biking, hiking, jogging or cross-country skiing the Great Allegheny Passage trails; sledding and snowmobiling at Sugarloaf Snowmobile and Mountain Bike Area; or hunting and trout fishing. With free admission, the state park is also yours to explore.

Ohiopyle Borough covers only one-half square mile but accommodates tourists with amenities like the Falls Market General Store and Restaurant, where you can grab lunch or dinner before closing time at 7 p.m. At Ohiopyle Coffee Company, you can relax at picnic tables, and between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you can swing by Ohiopyle Trading Post for ice cream and milkshakes. Although basic staples are available at Falls Market, you'll need to go 15 to 20 miles northwest to Connellsville for a Walmart and Martin's grocery store. Or you can go 15 to 20 miles southwest to Uniontown to find Walmart, Target, Shop n' Save and Home Depot, as well as hospitals.

The township's official notes that local employment is limited and many residents head toward Pittsburgh for work. She also says, "Schools can be a challenge, and students ride buses 45 minutes to an hour to Uniontown public schools." However, this district offers Uniontown Area Cyber Academy, which provides live virtual education for K-12. If attending school in person, students can attend elementary schools like Marclay School, which earns a B-minus from Niche and Laurel Highlands Middle School, which earns a C-plus. They'll finish at Uniontown Area High School, where they can join the UHS Talk school newspaper or the UHS Broadcast News team. The high school earns a B from Niche and ranks No. 1 in Fayette County based on academic building-level scores.

Of course, that's not to say there's no community here. You can find friends at yoga, bingo and special events at the Ohiopyle-Stewart Community Center, plan playdates at the woodland-themed playground at Stewart on the Green Playground and Park or join your neighbors each October at the annual Buckwheat Festival benefitting the Ohiopyle-Stewart Volunteer Fire Department. This 75-year-old tradition features buckwheat pancake meals, apple cider, local foods and crafts and music. So, if you're looking for an active outdoor lifestyle, a small-town hub and the peaceful privacy of rural living, Stewart Township might be just what you're looking for.

Written By

Anna Strock

Photography Contributed By

Stacey Callaway

Video By

Anthony Pesa