Rural Fabius has outdoor recreation close to major roadways
Part of the rolling farmlands of central New York, Fabius is a rural town 22 miles from Syracuse. The area has several hamlets near popular outdoor recreation spots such as Highland Forest and Morgan Hill. “There's a lot of farming, it’s a big farm community,” says Chip Hodgkins, an associate broker with Hunt Real Estate ERA. Hodgkins has worked in the industry for 25 years. “There are several great hikes to different waterfalls, Highland Forest is there … and they have cross-country skiing and mountain bike trails. In the wintertime, they have sleigh rides.” Residents are 30 minutes or less from urban amenities. State Routes 80 and 91 pass through Fabius, leading commuters to nearby cities and towns for work, shopping and dining. But the main draws are the area's ruralness and seclusion. "People appreciate their privacy,” says James Burnham, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties who has more than 15 years of experience.
Skiing at resorts, parks and forests
Morgan Hill State Forest has trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. They connect to the Labrador Hollow Unique Area, a protected forest with a boardwalk surrounding Labrador Pond and a hike to the scenic Tinker Falls. Labrador Mountain, a ski resort owned by SkiCNY, caters to all levels. Song Mountain Resort, 10 miles away, is owned by the same company and offers similar amenities. Highland Forest County Park has miles of trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. Sledding is allowed on the hill near Highland Park Road. Horse-drawn sleigh rides around the park are offered from December through March.
Housing market may see an increase with the new Micron facility
Homes are set along winding roadways that connect to state Routes 80 or 91. Most houses have wells and septic tanks on large lots or farmland. Homes in the hamlets of Fabius and Apulia have smaller lots on sidewalk-lined streets. “Very middle America, Americana-style homes. It kind of has a New England feel to it,” says Hodgkins. Colonial Revival, National and ranch-style homes are common and range from $160,000 to $575,000. Fabius may see a rise in homebuyers as Micron Technology, a computer chip manufacturer, is building a facility in Clay, 30 miles away near Syracuse, set to be done by 2045. “It's not really a second-home area, but because of Micron, because it’s moving to Syracuse, this part of central New York is going to see a resurgence of people moving into the area, trying to get income properties or buying things up for residential housing,” says Hodgkins. “The market is not coming after Fabius really heavily like it has closer to the Micron facilities, but the ancillary support jobs will need housing. ... Those service industries will need places like Fabius.”
Less than 30 miles to major cities
State Route 91 leads 22 miles to Syracuse and 27 miles to Liverpool. The route also leads 15 miles to Fayetteville. Manlius is 12 miles away using Ridge Road, and state Route 80 leads 7 miles to Tully. “You don’t have to go to the major metros like Syracuse for employment or groceries,” says Burnham. “You're not so secluded. You're not in the middle of nowhere, but it kind of feels like it.” Upstate Community Hospital is 18 miles away, and the Syracuse Hancock International Airport is 28 miles away. Houses of worship such as Fabius Christian Church and Apulia United Methodist Church are in hamlets within the town. Winters in Fabius bring 71 inches of snow annually. “We get some serious snow where we are. …The main thoroughfares are Route 81, which is right there, and Route 11, which are plowed and maintained regularly,” says Burnham.
Fabius-Pompey Central District earns a B-minus
Three school districts oversee Fabius. The Fabius-Pompey Central School District, which gets a B-minus from Niche, serves most of the town. Fabius-Pompey Elementary receives a C-plus, and Fabius-Pompey Middle-High receives a B-minus. Burnham says people appreciate the small class sizes, and students can get the attention they need. The middle-high school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 7-to-1. Some students may attend DeRuyter Central School District, which gets a C or the Tully Central School District, which receives a C-plus.
Shopping dining in hamlets of Fabius, Apulia Station, Song Mountain
C.L.N Mercantile sells antiques and serves American-style breakfast and lunch in the hamlet of Fabius. Neil Casey’s Farm Market & Greenhouses sells fresh fruits, vegetables and seasonal flowers along Route 80. The Nest Tavern hosts events and live music throughout the year in the hamlet of Apulia Station. The eatery offers bar food, pizza and subs. Heuga’s Alpine is an upscale bar and restaurant that serves handcrafted cocktails with seafood and Italian dishes in Song Mountain. For groceries, Tully Market is 7 miles away, and Tops Friendly Markets is 12 miles away in Manlius.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
