Ellicottville is a winter skiing destination and a retiree hub
For most of the year, Ellicottville is a small town in Cattaraugus County, New York, home to over 1,000 people. However, in the winter, the population swells as tourists flock here from cities like Buffalo and Rochester or as far as Toronto and Michigan. Two ski resorts sit along the hilly landscape, optimizing western New York’s intense, snowy winters. Crowds peak the week between Christmas and New Year's. “Locals call it Hell Week,” says David Blanchard, broker with Keller Williams Realty-Lancaster, with 37 years of experience in Ellicottville. “The ski resorts are jammed, and the restaurants are jammed. We’re trying to hide, unless you’re a skier, of course.” Tourists are also drawn to the area throughout the year for mountain biking, golfing and other outdoor recreation. Locals, however, stay year-round for the local restaurants, active event schedule and outdoorsy lifestyle. Ellicottville receives a 1 out of 10 Cap Index Crime Score, lower than the national average of 4.
Skiing at Holiday Valley and HoliMont in Ellicottville
Most tourists and locals head to Holiday Valley in winter. Holiday Valley opened in 1958 and is open to the public for traditional skiing, cross-country skiing and tubing. On the western side of town, HoliMont is another resort, more frequented by members and season passholders than weekend tourists. While tourism is higher in the winter, both resorts are also open in summer for mountain biking and golfing. Beyond the resorts, Ellicottville has a couple of community parks and spaces. Ellicottville Village Park includes a playground, tennis and basketball courts and various fields. In Elmer’s Dog Park, pets can run around and stretch their legs. Right next door, Nannen Arboretum’s nature trail winds around a lake and through different gardens.
Short-term rentals and single-family homes in Ellicottville
Around the town center, Nationals, Colonial Revivals, Cape Cods and manufactured homes are more prevalent, where trees shade front yards and narrow sidewalks. Small gardens sit along front porches. Close to the resorts on the outskirts of town, condos, townhouses and A-frame chalets are common. Even though tourism is a draw, the town isn’t known for having too many seasonal second homes. Most tourists stay at the resorts or in short-term rentals. “There are a lot of VRBOs, and then there’s the hotel in town,” Blanchard says. Outside the official town limits, homes are more spread out, creating more privacy between homeowners and their neighbors. Condos at the Tamarack Club at Holiday Valley and manufactured homes start around $80,000 and reach up to $170,000. Other Holiday Valley and HoliMont condos and single-family homes in town range $220,000 to $550,000. Cabins and chalets typically fall between $640,000 and $990,000, though a handful on the southwestern side, closer to HoliMont, cost between $1 million and $2 million.
Downtown's local restaurants, breweries and ski shops
Downtown Ellicottville is a mix of local restaurants and ski shops. Blanchard says that Katy’s Café, serving breakfast and lunch with indoor and outdoor seating, is popular with locals. The Gin Mill is another favorite, with exposed brick walls covered in photographs and signs. It serves American fare and often has live music. Ellicottville Brewing Co. brews its beers on site and has a patio. For groceries, people can stop by the TOPS Friendly Market right downtown. Walmart and Aldi are 18 miles away in Springville.
Outdoor concerts in summer and festivals celebrating fall foliage
Ellicottville keeps residents and tourists busy through regular festivals and events. “We have our summer music festival, which is over the Fourth of July Weekend,” Blanchard says. “They bring in one well-known group on the Saturday night and the Buffalo Philharmonic on the Sunday night, and then there’s a big fireworks show.” In late October, the Fall Festival is popular with tourists. “People come in to see the leaves changing colors,” Blanchard says. “It’s probably one of our biggest weekends.” Ellicottville blocks off downtown streets for an arts and crafts show. Holiday Valley offers chair lift rides to the top of the mountain for better views of the valley and the fall leaves.
Ellicottville students attend one of two public school districts
Most Ellicottville students attend Ellicottville Central School District, and may start at Ellicottville Elementary School, rated B from Niche. Ellicottville Middle/High School receives a B-minus. Juniors and seniors can take Career and Technical Education classes through the town Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) center. The northern part of the community may head to West Valley's public school, West Valley Central School. This kindergarten through twelfth-grade school receives a C-minus from Niche.
Tourism traffic and commuting to downtown Buffalo
Locals and tourists can access Ellicottville and others in Cattaraugus County through U.S. Route 219, though the route can get clogged during tourist seasons and festivals. “If you don’t know the right way to get into Ellicottville, you could be stuck for an hour or an hour and a half from just 5 miles out,” Blanchard says. The route links people with Springville, about 19 miles away, where Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is located. Buffalo is 52 miles away, and people can catch flights out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
