An 1830 stone home with a log section, two private docks, and 1.16 acres on a 150-acre lake near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, listed at $525,000.
Some houses are just places to live. This one has nearly two centuries of history behind it.
The stone house sits at 1003 Barlow Drive in Lake Heritage, a lake community about ten minutes from historic downtown Gettysburg. It was built in 1830 and later expanded with an addition. It has six bedrooms, about 3,787 square feet, and frontage on a private lake with two docks.
The asking price is $525,000.
Below, we go through what the listing describes room by room. We also cover what the recent updates mean, what a buyer should look at closely, and how the price compares to what you get.
Property Overview
- Address: 1003 Barlow Dr, Gettysburg, PA 17325
- Price: $525,000
- Bedrooms: 6
- Bathrooms: 2.5 per the listing description (the listing header shows 3)
- Living area: 3,787 sq ft
- Year built: 1830, with an addition
- Lot size: 1.16 acres
- Construction: stone with exposed log walls
- Waterfront: lakefront, with two docks
- Community: Lake Heritage, built around a 150-acre lake
- Estimated monthly payment shown on the listing: about $3,752
A Home Built in 1830
Very few houses for sale in the United States date from the 1830s. Fewer still are stone houses in good enough condition to live in comfortably.
This one was built a generation before the Civil War. When the armies met at Gettysburg in 1863, the house was already more than thirty years old.
Stone homes from this period were built to last. Their thick walls hold heat in winter and stay cool in summer. They also give the rooms a solid, quiet feel that newer houses rarely have.
The addition gives the house the room a modern household needs. The original stone section keeps the character.
The Exterior
From outside, the house looks like a classic Pennsylvania stone farmhouse.
The listing mentions a front porch and a side patio. Both give you room to sit outside, and both make it easy to host guests.
With 1.16 acres, there is also room for gardens, lawn games, a fire pit, or open space between you and the neighbors.
Two Private Docks
Many lakefront homes have one dock. This one has two.
That matters if you own more than one boat, or if you want one dock for boats and one for swimming and fishing.
It also helps if family and friends visit often in summer. A second dock means less waiting and more room on the water.
Life on a 150-Acre Lake
The lake is the main reason to live in this community.
According to the listing, residents use the 150-acre lake for water skiing, fishing, and swimming. A lake that allows skiing is large enough for real boating, not just paddling.
If you live here, the lake is part of your daily life. Morning coffee on the dock, an evening paddle, and weekend fishing can all happen without driving anywhere.
Lake Heritage Community Amenities
The amenities go beyond the lake. The listing lists:
- An Olympic-size swimming pool
- A community center
- Tennis courts
- Beach volleyball
- Basketball courts
- Playgrounds
- Pavilions
For families with children, that is a lot to do within walking or biking distance of home.
Amenities like these are paid for through association dues. Ask early what the annual fees are and what they cover.
Living Room and Family Room
The listing describes plenty of space inside for guests and entertaining.
The living and family room has a fireplace with a stone front. In a house built of stone and log, a fireplace like this fits the rest of the home.
The listing also notes that this room’s chimney was repaired in 2025. It still needs a liner. We cover that further below.
The Original Cooking Fireplace
This may be the most remarkable feature in the house.
The listing describes a huge original cooking fireplace. Before modern stoves, fireplaces like this were the family’s kitchen: food was cooked over the fire, bread was baked, and water was heated there.
Many old homes had these fireplaces closed off or removed decades ago. Having one survive is unusual.
Even if you never cook in it, it becomes the room’s centerpiece. It also gives visitors something to talk about.
Exposed Log Walls
The listing mentions exposed log walls inside the house.
Hand-hewn logs give a room warmth and texture. They also show directly how the house was built.
Owners of homes like this often say the log rooms are their favorite part of the house. They feel cozy without feeling cramped.
Deep Window Sills
The window sills are deep, which tells you how thick the walls are.
The sills have practical uses. They can hold houseplants, herbs, books, or small decorations. A wide sill in a sunny spot can also become a small reading seat.
Flooring
The house has wood floors in boards of varying widths.
Mixed-width boards are a mark of older houses, when each board was cut from whatever tree was available. The floors look natural and less uniform than modern flooring.
Old wood floors can usually be refinished, sometimes more than once, if they ever need it.
The Kitchen
The kitchen has been updated for modern use.
The listing describes it as roomy. It has porcelain countertops with a wood look, stainless steel appliances, and a pantry.
The porcelain countertops resist heat and stains, while their wood look suits the age of the house. A pantry is especially useful in a lake home, where weekends often mean cooking for a crowd.
The dishwasher is new, according to the listing.
The Sunroom
The sunroom has a pellet stove.
That means the room can be used all year. In winter, the pellet stove heats the space while you look out at the snow. In summer, the room fills with light.
Pellet stoves are efficient, burn cleanly, and are easier to feed than a wood stove.
Lighting
The first floor has recessed lighting throughout.
That matters more than it sounds. Old houses with small windows and thick walls can be dark. Recessed lights brighten the rooms without hanging fixtures that clash with the period style.
Bedrooms
Six bedrooms gives you a lot of flexibility.
A large family can give every child their own room. A smaller household can turn spare bedrooms into a home office, guest rooms, a hobby room, or a gym.
For a lake house where guests come every summer, six bedrooms means everyone has a place to sleep.
Bathrooms
The listing description says 2.5 baths. The header shows 3.
Confirm the exact count before you make an offer. It affects both daily living and resale value.
Recent Updates
Old homes are expensive to maintain, so recent repairs matter. According to the listing, these have been done:
- New asphalt shingles on part of the roof (2025)
- New dishwasher
- New, larger sump pump
- New water heater (2026)
- Chimney repairs in the living and family room (2025)
A new water heater and a new roof section are a good start. They take two common big expenses off the next owner’s list for a while.
The Roof
Note that the listing says a portion of the roof was replaced with new asphalt shingles in 2025.
That suggests the house has more than one roof section, possibly covered with different materials. Find out which sections were replaced, what the other sections are made of, and how old they are.
The Sump Pump
A new, larger sump pump was installed.
That is a good sign of maintenance. It also raises a question: why was a bigger pump needed?
In older homes near water, moisture in the basement is common. Ask how often the pump runs, whether the basement has ever flooded, and whether there is a battery backup.
The Chimney Liner
The listing says plainly that the living and family room chimney was repaired but still needs a liner.
A chimney liner protects the masonry from heat and combustion gases. Many insurers and fire safety experts consider it necessary before a fireplace is used regularly.
Get a quote from a certified chimney professional before closing. Then include that cost in your price negotiations.
The Spillway Replacement Project
The listing asks buyers to review the associated documents about a spillway replacement project.
A spillway is part of the dam system that controls a lake’s water level. Replacing one can be a large community project.
Before you buy, ask:
- What is the project’s total cost?
- How will it be paid for: reserves, a loan, or a special assessment?
- How much will each property owner owe, and when?
- Will the lake be drained or restricted during construction, and for how long?
These answers can change your total cost of owning the home. Read every document carefully.
Location: Ten Minutes from Gettysburg
The house is about ten minutes from historic downtown Gettysburg and its battlefields.
Downtown Gettysburg has restaurants, shops, museums, and history at every turn. Gettysburg National Military Park draws visitors from around the world.
The listing also notes that the house is very close to Route 15. That road connects the area to larger towns in the region and makes commuting and travel easier.
Living Here as an Owner
For a full-time owner, this house combines three things that are rarely found together: real history, lake living, and room for a large household.
Families get space, safe amenities, and outdoor activities. Retirees get a quiet lake setting with a historic town close by. People who work from home can have a dedicated office and a view.
The house will fit best with someone who enjoys an old home’s character and is willing to keep up with its maintenance.
Rental Potential
A six-bedroom lakefront home near one of the most-visited historic sites in the country could appeal to visitors.
Families, wedding groups, and history enthusiasts all come to the Gettysburg area.
Before you plan on renting the house out, check the Lake Heritage community rules and local ordinances. Many lake communities restrict or ban short-term rentals. Find out first.
Possible Improvements
Depending on the inspection and your plans, a buyer might consider:
- Installing the chimney liner
- Updating the remaining sections of the roof
- Improving insulation in the addition
- Waterproofing the basement
- Upgrading the bathrooms
- Updating the docks or adding a boat lift
- Adding landscaping around the patio and the water
- Restoring the original cooking fireplace to working order
Financing Options
Several types of mortgages may be possible for a house like this.
A conventional loan is usually the most flexible choice for buyers with good credit and a down payment. It also tends to have the fewest restrictions on older homes.
FHA loans allow lower down payments. However, FHA appraisers look closely at safety issues, which could include the chimney.
VA loans can be a strong option for eligible veterans and service members, often with no down payment.
USDA loans cover some rural areas around Gettysburg. Check whether this address qualifies on the USDA website.
An FHA 203(k) loan lets you roll the cost of repairs, such as the chimney liner or roof work, into one mortgage.
Talk with more than one lender. Some lenders have more experience than others with historic or waterfront homes.
Insurance
Insurance for a house like this deserves careful attention.
Insurers look at the home’s age, the type of construction, the wood-burning and pellet stoves, and how close the house is to water.
Ask an agent about:
- Whether the property is in a flood zone and whether flood insurance is needed
- Coverage for the docks
- Requirements related to the chimney and the stoves
- Whether replacement-cost coverage is available for stone construction
Get insurance quotes before the inspection period ends.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
- Exactly how many bathrooms are there: 2.5 or 3?
- What are the annual association fees?
- What does the spillway project cost, and who pays for it?
- Which parts of the roof are older, and what are they made of?
- Has the basement ever had water?
- Is the house on a well and septic system, or on public utilities?
- What are the property taxes?
- Are there documents on the house’s history?
- Do the docks have any permits or ownership conditions?
- What are the community rules for rentals and for boats?
Inspection Is Essential
A house built in 1830 must be inspected by people who understand old houses.
Consider hiring:
- A general home inspector with experience in historic homes
- A certified chimney inspector
- A structural engineer for the stone and log walls if the inspector recommends one
- Wood-destroying insect inspection
- Well and septic inspection, if the house has them
- Radon testing, which is common in Pennsylvania
The cost of good inspections is small compared to the price of the house. They give you the information you need to negotiate.
The Price in Context
At $525,000, the price works out to about $139 per square foot.
For that, you get six bedrooms, more than an acre, two docks on a 150-acre lake, and a house that has been standing for almost two centuries.
Building something like this today would be almost impossible. Stone walls like these and hand-hewn logs cannot simply be ordered.
Still, the price must be judged together with the chimney liner, the remaining roof work, association fees, and any cost from the spillway project. Those numbers can change what the house really costs you.
Final Thoughts
This house has more history than most.
Its stone walls were standing before the Battle of Gettysburg. Its original fireplace once fed a family. Today, the same house sits on a lake with two docks, a pool, and tennis courts nearby.
It is not a house for everyone. Old homes need care, attention, and patience.
For the right buyer, though, it offers something new construction cannot: a story you get to keep living in.
You can see the full listing on Zillow here: 1003 Barlow Dr, Gettysburg, PA 17325
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