Neighborly living with natural beauty and commuter access in Cato
Formed in 1802, Cato is a Cayuga County town anchored by the villages of Cato and Meridian. "I tell you what — it is an amazing community," says Cindy Besile, a secretary with Sun Harvest Realty Inc. "Everybody is so helpful. If you need anything, they are there for you." Much of the town is woodland and farmland, but the villages are dotted with small businesses. "We have three [restaurants] that we go to," Besile says. "When one is closed, hopefully the other is open." Residents can easily get to larger communities, like Auburn, 17 miles away, and Syracuse, 26 miles away, for more amenities. "It's just a little community out in the middle of an agricultural area," Besile says. "It's very quiet with beautiful rolling hills."
Single-family homes with historic charm and pretty gardens
Many of Cato's single-family homes are Minimal Traditional from the mid-to-late 20th century, but 19th-century Colonials and farmhouses are also typical. "Most of the homes here are nicely spread apart," Besile says. "And they usually have 2-plus acres — it's nice." Properties with acreage allow for additions like detached garages, barns and private pools; some have waterfront access with private docks, too. "Everybody's got beautiful yards and flowers," Besile says. "It's really pretty and very quiet." Village homes are set closer together along sidewalk-lined streets, often with covered porches, private driveways and Craftsman-inspired details, like board and batten shutters. Prices typically range from about $100,000 to $500,000, depending on a home's size, features and renovation needs.
Exploring Cato's roots with the Civic Heritage Historical Society
The Civic Heritage Historical Society coordinates occasional county events, including Pioneer Day in July. The celebration offers a glimpse into the past with live music and historic demonstrations, like tin lantern making, corn grinding and quill pen signing. The society also maintains the Civic Heritage History Center, a museum dedicated to the history of Cato and the nearby communities of Ira, Victory and Conquest. The center is open seasonally on Sundays, from May to June, September to October or by appointment. Visitors can peruse town documents, preserved photographs and antiques, like a 19th-century cotton gin.
Small-town dining and farm-fresh produce
Most of Cato's businesses are set in the villages, including locally owned stores like Country Boy Hardware and Smith's Second Chances — an antique shop. The Busted Yolk is the morning go-to with coffee and homestyle favorites like fruit-stuffed French toast and buttermilk biscuits smothered in sausage gravy. New York Pizzeria is popular for a quick slice, hot sub or finger foods, while Colonial Inn, Inc. is the spot for a game of pool with a cold one. "Happy Days is the local ice cream store, but they also have a little restaurant," Besile says. "It's seasonal and they get quite a little crowd." For home essentials and grocery basics, there's a Dollar General and Terry's Food Market. "If you just need bread and milk, you might run into Terry's," Besile says. "But there's more grocery shopping in Fulton, and it's not that far away."
Residents also buy from farmstands like Emmi's Farm Market, 9 miles away, which is stocked with flowers and seasonal produce, like strawberries, blueberries and apples. "There's something here called 'muck,'" Besile says. "It's left over from the glacial times. The soil is just black and rich, so they grow all kinds of wonderful vegetables."
Parks, sports and lakes in Cayuga County
Cato is mostly scenic countryside with just a few planned green spaces. Mott Park offers a picnic shelter and a pair of basketball courts. Nearby, there's Parker Pond, where anglers catch northern pike and black crappie. At the Cato Recreation Center, residents swim in the pool, hit the gym and run on the indoor track. There are exercise classes offered, too, like yoga, Pilates and dance. Behind the center, the 1-mile Cato-Meridian Recreation Trail leads past bald eagle nesting sites and a handful of fitness stations. Cross Lake is also part of Cato, a 5-mile lake with camping, fishing and boating.
Swimming and concurrent enrollment at Cato schools
Cato is part of the Cato-Meridian Central School District, rated C-plus overall by Niche. "The school district is really fabulous for being a country school," Besile says. "They have a huge indoor Olympic swimming pool." Kids may start at the B-minus-rated Cato-Meridian Elementary before moving to the C-plus-rated Cato-Meridian Junior/Senior High. Through the Cayuga Advantage Program, juniors and seniors can take concurrent enrollment courses for credit at Cayuga Community College without charge to students.
Commuter access to Auburn and Syracuse
State routes 34 and 370 cross in Cato, providing direct routes to Auburn and Syracuse, respectively. The town center is sidewalk-lined, but residents drive to get around Cayuga County. Auburn Community Hospital is 17 miles away, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport is a 27-mile drive.
