Nor-View Farm Appreciation Post

Before the mega-mall. Before the rush-hour traffic. Before the skyline of high-rises. King of Prussia was farmland—and tucked away on a quiet stretch of Whitehall Road is one of the last remaining pieces of that history: Nor-View Farm.

Originally a private dairy farm, Nor-View was later purchased by Upper Merion Township with a simple but powerful mission—preserve open space and give locals a place to reconnect with nature. For decades, that’s exactly what it’s done. From community festivals to family walks, Nor-View has been a backdrop for slow afternoons and hometown memories. While the farm no longer bottles its own water or runs a garden center, it still stands as a quiet counterpoint to the busy pace of everyday life.

And there’s no better time to visit than summer.

Swing by in the morning (except Saturday** – more on that later) or around lunchtime and you might just have the whole place to yourself. J — just you, the sunshine and a few sleepy horses and sheep stretching out in the heat. But come back later, after 4 or 5 PM, and the energy vibe shifts completely. With camp done and work clocks punched, families begin to trickle in. Soon, a crowd has formed right outside one of the town’s most iconic dessert stops: Petrucci’s Ice Cream. Yes, the flavors are top-tier (we’re talking dozens of soft serve and hand-dipped varieties), but it’s the vibe that makes it unforgettable. There’s the funky wallpaper, the wall-to-wall photos lining the ordering window and unmistakable mint-green and bubblegum-pink hues that hold the spirit of childhood summers. 

**If you do stop by on a Saturday, lucky you—you’re in for a whole-day experience. From 9 AM to 1 PM, the Nor-View parking lot transforms into the weekly home of the Upper Merion Farmers Market, buzzing with local vendors and summer energy. Think organic produce (brought to you by farmers from around the state!), homemade pastries, fresh-cut flowers and a slew of artisan goods. With the addition dramatic entrance of an unconventional food truck or two, a surprise food event/competition or a full-on themed block-party, the market always has something unexpected up its sleeve. It’s more than a place to grab groceries (though we do recommend it) — here the community gathers, lingers and keeps coming back for more.

Now, scoops in hand, take a stroll past the goat pen, say hello to the horses (but please don’t feed them), dodge the occasional rogue rooster or duck and find a seat at the playground or on a shady bench under a giant tree by the entrance. As the sun starts to set over the grassy hills, you’ll hear laughter and voices coming from every direction of the farm. It continues into a never-ending night, even after the clock hits 10:30PM (farm closing time) — proof that even in a town known for its constant growth, some things are still and can always be wonderfully familiar.

Author’s note: I have been going to Nor-View Farm since I could walk. I made my first friends at the playground, and now meet old friends by the ice cream counters. Whenever I am back from college, I have to stop here at least once (a week). It truly reminds me, every time, that I am home.