Rural Arcade is set in the tri-county area
Arcade is at the convergence of three counties, providing access to Olean, 34 miles away, and Buffalo, 42 miles away. “We’re in an area where three counties come together. It's called the tri-county area,” says Brenda Bacon, associate broker with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. Bacon lives in the area and has worked here for 40 years. “So, you may get commuters that want to be spitting distance from Buffalo and Olean. A lot of people are discovering it for that reason.” Arcade is in Wyoming County and bordered by Cattaraugus and Erie counties. The town is composed of farmland and encompasses a village of the same name with a bustling Main Street. “You have your rural landscape and average lot sizes, people can find homes where they might want to have their hobby farms,” says Bacon. “Then, in the village of Arcade, it has a quaint Main Street, and we have some nice older, 1900s village homes. We don’t have a lot of new construction here, so a lot of people are seeing the benefits of the older village homes and restoring them.”
Older homes with country or village settings
Rolling farmland surrounds homes that are set down long driveways. Most of these residences use wells and septic systems. In the village, houses are built closer together and sit on sidewalk-lined streets. “The village homes are nice, older homes. Outside of the village, they have their acreage and hobby farms,” says Bacon. The village of Arcade has some of the lowest electric rates in the country because electricity is a municipal utility in the village, instead of privately owned. National, split-level and ranch-style houses are common. They range from $140,000 to $375,000.
Youth team sports include soccer, baseball and softball
“There's a lot of good local sports events for the kids, you get your T-ball and soccer,” says Bacon. An Arcade Youth Soccer group plays near Pioneer Middle, and Pioneer Youth Baseball & Softball plays in Arcade Village Park. The park has several baseball and softball fields for Little League games and hard-top basketball courts. In the winter, there’s an ice skating rink and, in the summer, there’s a splash pad near the playground. Outside the village is Mockingbird Park Campground, a camp site for recreational vehicles near the Cattaraugus Creek. Farther down the road is the nine-hole public Spruce Ridge Golf Course. Spruce Ridge has a clubhouse and golf leagues.
Commuting to Buffalo and Olean
State Route 16 leads 42 miles to Buffalo and 34 miles to Olean. Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is 14 miles away, and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 43 miles away. Houses of worship such as The New St. Mary’s RC Parish, Arcade United Church of Christ and The First Baptist Church of Arcade are along state Route 39.
Shopping and dining at farm stands and along Main Street
“If you drive through Arcade, you'll see roadside stands with fresh produce,” says Bacon. Arcade Center Farm is along North Street and has a restaurant known for its pancakes and a farm stand selling seasonal produce. Blueberry Haven is a pick-your-own farm along Genesee Road. On Thursdays from June to September, the Tractor Supply Co. parking lot along Arcade’s Main Street is bustling with vendors selling baked goods and fresh produce at the Arcade Farmer’s Market. Farther down the road is the Arcade Market Place, which has served the community for over 100 years and is known for its donuts. Across the street, Coop’s Red Caboose has American comfort food and ice cream. The restaurant also has a mini golf course and other games, like giant checkers and corn hole, to entertain guests. Tops Friendly Markets is along Main Street for groceries.
Themed railroad excursions on the Arcade & Attica Railroad
“What a lot of people know about Arcade is that we have an old, historic steam engine railroad. There are a lot of weekend events with that; it brings a lot of tourists into the area,” says Bacon. The Arcade & Attica Railroad lines were opened in 1880 and continue to run, taking passengers along scenic fall foliage trips, wine rides and themed excursions like murder mystery dinners and train robberies. During the holidays, the railroad offers Santa’s Wonderland Express. The express has meet-and-greet events with Santa, the elves and even a reindeer as the train journeys to the “North Pole.”
Pioneer Central Schools earns a B
Pioneer Central Schools, which gets a B from Niche, serves the area. Arcade Elementary, Pioneer Middle and Pioneer High all get B grades. The high school partners with the Northland Workforce Training Center, where students may receive degrees in welding, automotive technology and electrical construction.
Flooding and mitigation for Clear Creek, Cattaraugus Creek
Clear Creek and Cattaraugus Creek flooded the town throughout the 1900s. The last major flood was in 1998, and afterward, the town and village crafted a mitigation plan. The plan included zoning laws, public awareness and maintaining drainage systems.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
