Ephrata is a borough in Lancaster County, PA, about 38 miles from Harrisburg and about 57 miles from Philadelphia. Ephrata was founded by a group of folks from Eberbach, Germany, today Ephrata’s sister city. The Ephrata Cloister was a religious community established in 1732 by a group that separated from the Schwarzenau Brethren movement in Germany. The Seiverling Antique Car and Pedal Car Museum has a collection of 140 toy pedal cars and several antique cars. The American Legion Post 429 is Ephrata branch of the American Legion. It supports a range of community services and organizations.
Ephrata Cloister
The Ephrata Cloister, also known as Ephrata Community was a religious community, established in 1732 in today’s Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was established by a group that separated from the Schwarzenau Brethren movement of Alexander Mack of Schwarzenau in Germany. The first separation from the general body of the movement happened in 1728. In 1732, Johann Conrad Beissel arrived with a group of followers at the banks of Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County and established a semi-monastic community, a convent and a monastery and called it "Ephrata". The members of the order had to be celibate, to believe in self-discipline and strict interpretation of the Bible. At its height, the Ephrata community owned 250 acres and had about 80 celibate men and women. The last resident of the Ephrata Cloister died in 2008. The grounds of the community are now owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
632 W Main St, Ephrata, PA 17522, Phone: 717-733-6600
Seiverling Museum, LLC Car and Pedal Car Museum
The Seiverling Museum, LLC Car and Pedal Car Museum, now called Seiverling Museum, LLC Car and Pedal Car Museum has one of the largest collections of toy pedal cars in Eastern Pennsylvania. The museum has 140 toy pedal cars and a small collection of antique cars. The toy pedal car collection consists of children pedal cars from America, England, Canada, France, Italy, and Russia. There are pedal cars, fire trucks, tractors, planes, a pedal boat and even a pedal bull dozer. The museum was established in 1991 by Richard and Ethel Seiverling. Each pedal car had a teddy bear driver created by Ethel. The museum is still owned by the Seiverling family and is open by appointment only.
66 Lancaster Ave , Ephrata, PA 17522-1708
St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co.
Established in 2011 in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, St. Boniface Craft Brewing Co. produces year-round, seasonal and limited edition beers brewed and served on site to the delight of local beer drinkers who are fond of more interesting beers. Their first beer Hegemony was sold in a couple of hours. Their tap room, attached to the production facility, is a popular gathering place, with recycled wood, high ceilings, house beers on tap and local wines. The tap room offers a small menu of pizzas and sandwiches and rotating food trucks on weekends. The brewpub is particularly lively on the nights with live music. St. Boniface beers are available on tap in many pubs and bars in and around Lancaster County. Their beers are also available in cans.
1701 W Main St, Ephrata, PA 17522, Phone: 717-466-6900
Weathered Vineyards Wine Tasting Room
Weathered Vineyards is a winery located on a family farm among the rolling hills above the Lehigh Valley near Ephrata, Pennsylvania.The winery and vineyard sit atop a hill with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. The hilltop location creates several microclimates, which account for the vineyard’s unique terroir. The Weathered Vineyards Ephrata Wine Tasting Room & Bar offers 11 varieties of wine ranging from sweet to dry. The tasting room is located in the rustic chic Smithton Inn B&B, perfect for those who would like to extend their visit to the winery. Smithton Inn combines historic charm with all modern conveniences
900-A W Main St, Ephrata, PA 17522, Phone: 717-271-7274
American Legion Post 429
The American Legion was established in the 50s as a mutual-help, patriotic and community-service organization. Since then, it has become the world’s largest service organization, with more than five million members - three million Legionnaires and two million members of the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion that supports Legionnaires. The organization’s objectives were always to be a watchdog and an advocate of veterans’ benefits and programs. The Legion’s Ephrata Post429 has 700 members that continue to serve their community. They support the Legion Ball Team, Ephrata soccer, Boy Scouts of America, the Coatesville Veterans Hospital, Meals on Wheels, various scholarships, and the local Veterans home on Church Street, among others.
300 Cocalico St. Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Phone: 717-733-2576
The Green Dragon Market
If you happen to find yourself in or near Ephrata on a Friday, The Green Dragon Market is a must-visit attraction. The Green Dragon is one of the largest farmer’s markets in the area, hosting more than 400 individual vendors. Shoppers come from near and far to buy the freshest local produce direct from the farmers, as well as a wide range of home-made foods and crafts. The sprawling market covers over 60 acres (including plenty of parking) and boasts new vendors each and every week. Here you can find fresh local meat, delicious preserves, cheeses, breads, cakes and cookies as well as clothing, antiques, crafts and freshly-prepared food to eat on site.
The Green Dragon Market, 955 North State St, Ephrata, PA 17522, 717 738 1117
Ephrata Performing Arts Center
Bringing the joy of live performance theatre to Ephrata, the EPAC (Ephrata Performing Arts Center) has been entertaining residents and visitors since 1980. The company produces a year-round program of top-class musicals and dramas, including big-name Broadway favorites like Les Miserable, My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins. Each successive season sees new stars making their stage debut thanks to the center’s ongoing classes and summer youth camps. The entertainment all takes place in the newly-renovated Sharadin Bigler Theatre which once hosted big-name Broadway stars like Robert deNiro, Betty White and many more. You can check their website to see what’s on and to book online tickets.
Ephrata Performing Arts Center, 320 Cocalico St, Ephrata, PA 17522, 717 733 7966
Fox Meadows Creamery
Fox Meadows Creamery is located just a field away from the family-owned Fox farm, where contended cows have been producing superior quality milk for more than 70 years. The farm has been recognized for being at the fore-front of modern and innovative dairy farming practices and it shows in the fantastic flavors of their creamery creations. Their delicious “cow to cone” ice creams are produced in the on-site creamery and visitors can watch the process through a viewing window. The delectable ice creams come in a variety of flavors to suit everyone and can be enjoyed on their own in a cone or as part of a delicious milkshake, float or dessert.
Fox Meadows Creamery, 2475 W. Main Street, Ephrata, PA 17522, 717 721 6455
