$394,062Average Value$385Average Price per Sq Ft33Homes For Sale
The birthplace of the Chautauqua Movement
Chautauqua is a town that encircles the northern half of Chautauqua Lake. The town encompasses wooded state forests, popular campgrounds, small hamlets like Dewittville and villages like Mayville. However, the community is best known as the home of the Chautauqua Institution, a gated seasonal lakeside resort. The institute was born out of the Chautauqua Movement, an adult education and social movement that grew in popularity in the late 19th and early 20th century. Established in 1874, the Chautauqua Institution attracts thousands of visitors every summer who are interested in participating in programs, classes, community events and more.
"The Chautauqua Institution is like a town within a town," says Heather Chase, local real estate salesperson with ERA Real Estate, who has nearly ten years of experience in the industry. "It has its own police department, a separate ZIP code, and everyone who crosses those gates has to pay a weekly fee of around $700 throughout the summer, even if you own a house there." Small-town lakeside living may be one of the largest draws to the area. Still, for those who can afford the fees, the Chautauqua Institution attracts lifelong learners, leaders, inventors and creatives.
Nine weeks of lectures, classes and events
The Chautauqua Institution was founded as a Methodist Sunday School retreat. Today, it offers nine consecutive weeks of thought-provoking seminars, lectures and continued learning that range from science to religion. "Every day, there is a 10 a.m. lecture, and every week has a different theme," Chase says. "One day, they'll bring in an expert to talk about artificial intelligence; the next day, they'll have someone completely against AI. It's all about encouraging a community of thought." Former notable speakers include Alexander Graham Bell, Elie Wiesel and four American presidents. Classes also cater to various interests, such as music, dance, theater, ceramics, bookmaking and yoga.
Weekly events include live performances by symphony orchestras, dance companies, and entertainers in an outdoor amphitheater. Rooted in religion, denominational houses and religious organizations also play a large part in the Chautauqua experience. Fifteen denominations across the Catholic, Protestant, Quaker and Jewish faiths offer lectures, spiritual services and housing throughout the summer.
Chautauqua Institution has fantastic pedestrian infrastructure and a sandy beach at Pier Park.
The Miller Bell Tower within the Chautauqua Institution is 75 feet high.
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Lakefront and rural living
The Chautauqua Institution's lakefront cottages feature American Craftsman-style, Queen Anne and Carpenter Gothic designs. Welcoming front porches and two-story balconies offer sweeping views. Properties often sit close together and include a mix of apartments, condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes. Some homes feature on-ground parking, but most do not and must park in the large parking lot at the front of the institution. Condominiums, co-ops and townhouses can range from the upper $100,000s to the mid $500,000s, depending on location, square footage and interior updates. Small cottages can start in the $500,000s and sell into the $800,000s. Spacious homes overlooking the lake can range from around $1 million to nearly $4 million. About 300 residents live on the grounds year-round, while almost 100,000 visitors come during the summer. Famous visitors have included Franklin D Roosevelt, Thomas Edison and Amelia Earhart. "Successful business owners like the inventor of Purell and the CEO of Goodyear have all owned houses there," says Jerod Zahn, a real estate salesperson with ERA Real Estate, who has lived in the region for over 50 years.
Apart from the institution, smaller communities across town feature a mix of home styles. Contemporary lakefront homes with private docks still range from $1 million to $3 million just outside the institution's gates. Across the lake, waterfront properties in Dewittville can sell in the upper $400,000s. Farther inland, rural country roads give way to colonial-style farmhouses, log cabins and ranch-style homes priced from the mid $100,000s to the mid $400,000s. Condos are also available in the $200,000 to $300,000 range in Wooglin, 1 mile from Dewittville. Chautauqua earns a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
The median lot size for homes in Chautauqua is 22,000 square feet.
Chautauqua offers a mix of more rural homes as well as many lakeside homes.
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Summer days on the lake
At the Chautauqua Institution, sunbathers and swimmers can head to Pier Beach, where a sandy beach and a lifeguarded, roped-off swimming area await. When summer sessions end, access to the beach area is free. Down the street, the Chautauqua Sports Club offers kayaks, paddleboards and pontoon boats for rent. They also provide fishing rods and live bait. However, the area is best known as the home of the Chautauqua Golf Club, where two 18-hole courses welcome experienced players and amateurs alike. Memberships are available for year-round residents, seasonal residents and weekly or daily visitors.
About 2 miles from the institution, Prendergast Point features a public boat ramp, while marinas are peppered along the lake. Three miles from Prendergast, Lakeside Park offers an open green space with sweeping views, sports courts, a playground and a dog park. Up the road, the Chautauqua Rails To Trails path passes through Mayville. This paved trail follows the region's former railroad tracks and spans nearly 25 miles from Brocton to Sherman.
In addition to lakefront recreation, the Town of Chautauqua is home to multiple state forests and RV campgrounds. About 7 miles west of the shores of Chautauqua Lake, Mount Pleasant State Forest spans 1,522 acres. Activities include hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and mountain biking. The area is also popular for hunting and trapping deer, rabbit, bear and turkey. Chautauqua Gorge State Forest is another nearby protected space for similar activities and freshwater fishing along the Chautauqua Creek.
Prendergast Point in Chautauqua has a boat ramp and is great for fishing.
Lakeside Park in Chautauqua features a playground, dog park and sport courts.
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Local shops and restaurants on Lake Road
A handful of restaurants are scattered around town. The Chautauqua Institution is home to a few cafes and restaurants that open for the busy summer season. Outside of its gates, Andriaccio's Restaurant is open year-round. This quaint eatery serves Italian classics like spaghetti and meatballs, homemade lasagna and gourmet pizzas. On the other side of the lake, or about 8 miles away, Village Restaurant is a classic roadside diner in Dewittville. Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., regular crowds gather for brunch favorites like cinnamon roll pancakes and homemade quiche.
Small markets at the Chautauqua Institution cater to last-minute necessities, while nearby shops like Lighthouse Point Grocery Inc. and Dollar General are about 3 miles away. However, most residents head into Mayville for weekly grocery trips at Tops Friendly Markets.
Main Street Salon near Chautauqua has very friendly staff.
There are plenty of shops in Chautauqua and the surrounding villages.
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B-rated schools in Chautauqua
The Chautauqua Lake Central School District serves the community and earns a B-plus rating from Niche. Niche also ranks the district as the second-best school district in Chautauqua County. Pre-kindergarteners through sixth graders may attend Chautauqua Lake Elementary School, which scores a B-plus. Situated on acres of land, elementary school teachers often intertwine outdoor learning opportunities with standardized learning, including the use of the school's trail system. Seventh through twelfth graders may attend Chautauqua Lake Secondary School, which scores a B.
Getting around on Route 394
The Chautauqua Area Regional Transit System, or CARTS, operates bus routes throughout the county. The brown line runs through rural areas and stops at the Chautauqua Institution. While the institute offers a walkable campus, the larger town is not. New York State Route 394 is the main road through town. Erie International Airport is about 50 miles west via Interstate 86, while Buffalo Niagara International Airport is about 75 miles northeast via Interstate 90. Residents are about 11 miles from Westfield Memorial Hospital and 17 miles from Jamestown's UMPC Chautauqua.
Written By
Lillie Duston
Photography Contributed By
Stefan Ludwig
Video By
Jackson Nacey
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Chautauqua, NY sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Chautauqua, NY over the last 12 months is $300,000, down 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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