Towamencin officials sound off on Freddy Hill Farms closing

Township officials have reacted to the pending closure of a local landmark and are asking residents for input into what they’d like to see on the site.

Two of the township’s four supervisors shared their thoughts Wednesday on the pending closure of Freddy Hill Farms and Entertainment Center and on efforts the town has already tried to work with the owners on open space preservation.

“I think this board agrees that we would like to preserve parts of that property, and I also think we could look into ideas to keep that entertainment use, ’cause it would be a real shame to not have mini golf or something family-friendly there,” said Supervisor Kofi Osei.

On March 7, the Seipt family announced online they had “decided to close Freddy Hill Farms and Freddy’s Family Fun Center at the end of the 2025 season” after more than five decades operating on Sumneytown Pike near Troxel Road.

“It is a bittersweet reality that all good things must come to an end. Our family is deeply grateful for your support over the last 53 years and for the opportunity to serve our community and our customers. We have enjoyed sharing this fun place with our family and friends, and we hope that you have fond memories as well. Please join us for your favorite ice cream treats and fun center activities this coming season,” said the family in the statement. In a visit by The Reporter this week, Freddy Hill staff referred to that statement and said they had no further comment.

Freddy Hill originated in the early 1970s when Joanne Seipt and her husband Fred expanded a dairy farm into a store, processing plant, ice cream parlor — which remained open even through the 2020 pandemic — and entertainment complex that includes two miniature golf courses, a driving range, a golf school, batting cages and a petting zoo, along with seasonal events such as hay rides and a corn maze, according to MediaNews Group archives. Joanne passed away at age 78 in 2012 and Fred passed in 2023 at age 88.

Since the closing announcement, social media has lit up with recollections of time spent at the complex, and suggestions about what could happen there, with many calling for the township to find a way to preserve it.

Osei kicked off the discussion Wednesday night by recalling growing up in the township and frequent visits to Freddy Hill, and how much it meant as a hangout.

“I have very distinct memories of riding my bikes with friends through Firehouse Park, and going through the neighborhoods to get to the fun center on Freddy Hill. We played a few rounds of mini golf, hit the batting cages, and had some ice cream, a very quintessential Freddy Hill day,” he said.

“I got milk and ice cream from there this week. This news does really hurt me personally, but it is also inevitable. All of our planning documents, from the 1989 comprehensive plan, to the 2006 open space plan, have this assumption that this property is going to be developed,” Osei said.

Freddy Hill founder Fred Seipt said in an interview roughly a decade ago that he was opposed to any development, but passed away in 2023, Osei said, and a descendent of that family that he grew up with now lives out of state. The supervisor then said he sympathized with family members who had no interest in continuing farming, noting he attended a funeral recently for his own grandfather, who had also been a farmer.

“(The Seipt family) didn’t mention selling in their announcement, but you have to think it’s a strong possibility, and we should plan for it,” Osei said.

The 2006 open space plan does mention cluster zoning, which the supervisor said, “I think we can lean into that,” with changes made to consider parking requirements, one-way road conditions, and other modern development tactics or techniques such as minimizing pavement, not considered when the last plan was written.

“I think there’s a lot we can do to keep this preserved. But we are a township that is kind of broke, and I probably would caution against the idea of us buying the property,” he said.

“The Seipts have a constitutional right to do what they want with that property. Currently, the way it’s zoned, I think between the two Seipt properties and the Walton property, a developer could build 350 homes without approval at all. So if we don’t change something, that’s more than likely the thing that would happen. I do hope we can work with the Seipts, and a developer at the Walton property” adjacent to those parcels, he said.

Supervisors Chairman Chuck Wilson then rebutted rumors that he and staff knew about the closing beforehand.

“We did not know anything about this until we read it in the paper, just like everyone else,” he said.

Township Manager David Kraynik and comprehensive plan consultant Peter Simone did meet with members of the Seipt family “a while back” near the start of a comprehensive plan update that began in 2023, Wilson said, and heard little since.

“They indicated at that time that they had no answers on how they were going to move forward. They were still thinking through that,” Wilson said.

“At that meeting, Mr. Simone presented numerous programs and ideas for conserving the land. That information was left with them. I think the conversation ended with them indicating they would get back to you,” he said, and Kraynik confirmed: “And we did not hear from them.”

Staff will try to arrange another meeting with the family “to see if there’s anything we can do to help them along here, or if there’s any consideration of saving all or part of that parcel as open space,” Wilson said.

    Flyer advertising Towamencin Township’s updated comprehensive plan and seeking input from residents. (Credit: Towamencin Township)
  

As for the comprehensive plan update, several public input meetings have been held since that update was authorized in summer 2023, a draft was posted in January, and the board chairman announced that the public comment period has been extended until March 19. A final public meeting on that plan update is expected sometime in spring, and a QR code has been posted on the township’s Facebook page linking residents to the latest draft and where they can submit feedback.

“I think everybody in the community really hates to see that go, and we should try and do whatever we can to at least preserve a part of it. Keep in mind, there’s not a lot we can do,” said Wilson.

“You have to have a willing property owner, that wants to enter into one of these (preservation) programs. As of now we don’t have that, but Mr. Kraynik will reach out again,” he said.

Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7 p.m. on Mach 26 at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road. For more information visit www.Towamencin.org.

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