The village of Cobleskill is a hub in the upstate New York countryside
Cobleskill is a rural town in the Schoharie Valley of upstate New York, less than 45 miles west of Albany. Its downtown village is the valley’s center of activity. “The town of Schoharie has the county offices, but Cobleskill is really the hub. We have the big schools and the downtown,” says Kimberly Liardo, an agent with Keller Williams Capital District, who’s lived in Cobleskill for over 25 years and is an owner of Pizza Shack on Main Street. Main Street is the vein of the village, lined with 1800s buildings that host storied restaurants and locally run shops. The village’s residential architecture hails from the same period, while SUNY Cobleskill’s small campus brings a young, educated energy. From the village’s walkable streets to the rolling green countryside, it’s hard to ignore Cobleskill’s natural beauty. “It’s a charming little town where everybody knows everybody, and it’s very scenic,” Liardo says. “Everywhere you look, there’s a beautiful view.”
Village homes from the 1800s and countryside properties
Sidewalks connect Main Street to the village’s residential drives, where mature trees shade a collection of 1800s and early-1900s homes. Small cottages and fixer-uppers can cost $50,000 to $150,000. Meanwhile, well-maintained 1940s Cape Cod cottages, 1910s American Foursquares and grand late-1800s Greek Revivals and Queen Anne mansions range from $160,000 to $360,000. The rolling pastures outside the village draw many out-of-town buyers looking for rural getaways. “A lot of downstaters buy cabins and country houses outside the village,” Liardo says. “It’s a great place to fish and enjoy nature.” Countryside residences include small ranch-style homes and large country homes on a few acres for $70,000 to $400,000. Farmhouses on 100-acre estates can reach over $1 million.
The Bull’s Head Inn is one of Main Street’s 1800s establishments
Main Street is a flashback to Cobleskill’s past. It’s the village’s artery of activity, with wide sidewalks lined with old-fashioned lampposts, decorated trees and historical 1800s buildings. The Bull’s Head Inn has been a Main Street staple since 1802, and the interior has barely changed, from the bar room framed with roughly hand-cut timbers to the dimly lit dining room. The vintage Park Theater is next door, and Catnap Books is one of the cozy shops within a few steps. Other Main Street hangouts include Chieftans, a popular Irish pub, and Brick House Bakery, where residents get confections and freshly made sandwiches. Groceries can be found at Price Chopper or Walmart on the east end of Main.
Countryside trails in the Catskill Mountains
The green pastures and rolling hills of the Catskill Mountains can be admired from nearby nature trails like Schoharie County Eagle Trail, a popular bird-watching route. There are also state forests surrounding Cobleskill. The main green space in town is Veterans Memorial Centre Park in the heart of the village. Residents gather on this green space on Main Street to picnic around the pond and celebrate community events.
Students can earn college credits at SUNY Cobleskill
The Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District earns a B-minus grade from Niche. It serves the neighboring towns of Cobleskill and Richmondville . Students in Cobleskill begin at Ryder Elementary and continue at Golding Middle, which sit next to each other on Golding Drive in Cobleskill and both receive a B-minus. They finish at Cobleskill-Richmondville High, which is between the two towns and gets a B rating. High schoolers can earn college credits in dual-enrollment courses with SUNY Cobleskill. “SUNY Cobleskill has a big presence,” Liardo says. “The students can use their dining plan at the village restaurants.” The small Cobleskill campus on the west end of town is one of 64 that make up the State University of New York.
Albany is less than 45 miles east of Cobleskill
Institutions like SUNY Cobleskill and Cobleskill Regional Hospital provide employment in town, but most residents commute to Schenectady and Albany. Interstate 88 leads just over 30 miles east to Schenectady, which is home to industrial businesses like General Electric’s Verona Schenectady Service Center. GE Verona is GE’s green energy-focused division, and the service center repairs and manufactures renewable energy machinery. Albany, New York’s state capital, is just southeast of Schenectady, less than 45 miles from Cobleskill. Travelers can fly from Albany International Airport, and they can take a 3-hour train from Albany to Manhattan’s Penn Station.
