Blue Zone transformation in the historic railroad city of Corry
Businesses and volunteers in Corry, the smaller of Erie County's two cities, have spent millions of dollars and countless hours crafting wellness infrastructure and initiatives in recent years. “We’re one of the rare Blue Zone-designated communities in the country,” says Karen Puckly, a Realtor with Re/Max Real Estate Group who’s lived around Corry for over 30 years. "You can go into our local markets and see signs that tell you what food is Blue Zone-approved." The Blue Zones Project organization promotes adopting healthy physical and social habits found in communities with exceptional population longevity, called Blue Zones.
Corry was Blue Zone-certified in 2022, but other organizations like Impact Corry expand on its vision. Today, commercial buildings from Corry’s industrial boom bear fresh paint and grant-funded updates. Trains pass through town next to a mural of the locomotive that Corry manufactured in the early 1900s; down below, cyclists lock their rides on sculptural bike racks near a leg of the developing Erie to Pittsburgh Trail system. These blended scenes of an old industry town and a redeveloping rural city center make clear that Corry’s longevity is tied to the assets that never left town: the scenic recreation areas of northwestern Pennsylvania and the creativity and close relationships baked into small-town life.
Blocks and rural back roads lined by historic single-family homes
Much of Corry is laid out in city blocks, lined by sidewalks and single-family homes built in the mid-1800s through the early 1900s. Simple National houses, bungalows and American Foursquares mix on many streets, but buyers can also find more decorative Victorian homes around the community. Some Cape Cods, colonials, split-levels and ranch-style houses were built on scattered lots from the 1940s through the 1980s. Similar home styles line rolling country roads on Corry’s outskirts, set on suburban lots in the occasional subdivision or on a small amount of acreage surrounded by forests. Prices can range from around $40,000 to $320,000, depending on a home’s square footage, condition and lot size.
Shopping and dining in downtown Corry
Mom-and-pop businesses are housed in colorful historic commercial buildings on Center Street. That old-book smell and the aroma of pub-style food fill Library Bar & Grill, an aptly named restaurant in the city’s former library building. Vendors curate dozens of unique tchotchke booths in the Whistle Stop Antique Mall. A short walk away, art supplies and finished works decorate Painted Finch Gallery. Sander’s Markets is a smaller regional grocery chain that enhanced its produce and healthy foods signage as part of the Blue Zones Project. Tractor Supply and Walmart are along U.S. Route 6. Down the road, an iconic red sign beckons drivers to the counter seating at Gigi’s Route 6 Diner. Houses of worship like Salt Church hold services throughout the city.
Attending the Corry Area School District
Corry is served by the Corry Area School District. Corry Area Primary School, Corry Area Intermediate School, Corry Area Middle School, and Corry Area High School all earn C-plus grades from Niche. Older students can also enroll in vocational training programs through the Corry Career and Technical Center.
Corry’s parks, regional trails and winter sports destinations
Mead Park has a fishing pond, hiking trails, picnic pavilions and hiking trails. The amphitheater and Corry Area Historical Museum get busy during Glenn Mead Days, a lively summer celebration full of music, rubber-duck racing and picnicking. City Park, a grassy space downtown, hosts many of Corry’s other recurring events. Locals might tee off at the public North Hills Municipal Golf Course or maintain a membership at the Corry Country Club. The Corry Junction Greenway Trail is a section of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail that connects Corry to Clymer, New York. Bikes are familiar sights during warm weather, while snowmobiles and cross-country skiers come out through long, snowy winters. Peek’n Peak Resort, a well-known winter-sports destination, is around 20 minutes away in New York.
Celebrating CorryFest and First Fridays
City Park and nearby blocks come alive with parades, vendors, live music and fireworks during the Corry Area Chamber of Commerce's summertime CorryFest. The local YMCA has begun holding its own concurrent fundraising event, inviting talented sculptors to send wood chips flying at the Chainsaw Carving Festival. Each month from May through December, part of Center Street is closed to cars to encourage foot traffic at popular First Friday events. “They do different themes,” Puckly says. "We had Bigfoot Bash, but before that, there was a wine walk and a chocolate theme. You get tickets and sample everything in all the local businesses."
Getting around Corry and traveling to Erie
Corry is a hub for employees at local schools, manufacturers, government offices and LECOM Health Corry Memorial Hospital. The city of Erie is a little over 30 miles away. Although the region is largely car-dependent, Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority buses do offer limited commuter and local routes in the city. Erie International Airport is about 45 miles from home.
Extreme winters in the Lake Erie snowbelt
Lake-effect snow blows in from Lake Erie through the winter months; snowplows are crucial to keeping things moving. “We’ve had some years with mild winters, but this is still an area that’s used to averaging over 100 inches of snow a year,” Puckly says. Snowmelt can also increase flash-flood risk in low-lying areas near Bear and Hare creeks.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
