Farmlands, waterfront views and a tight-knit community in Fleming
Fleming, 5 miles south of Auburn, is a Cayuga County town offering single-family homes with rustic seclusion and waterfront views of Owasco Lake. Compared to Auburn, Fleming is slower-paced, has less commercial activity and focuses more on leisure. "We're smack in the middle of the Finger Lakes," says Anita Clasper, clerk of Fleming. "There's a lot of camping, beaches, parks, picnic areas — a lot to do." Auburn covers the town's shopping and dining needs. "A lot of people who work in Auburn live in Fleming," Casper says. In the summer, the town is busier with a calendar of community events and tourists visiting the area's lakes and wineries. "It's pretty tight-knit," Casper says. "Everyone knows certain names in Fleming because their family has been here for generations."
Fleming offers residents a mix of suburban convenience, and rustic lakeside living.
Many homes in Fleming come with gorgeous views of Lake Owasco
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Ranch-style retreats and lakeside living
Fleming's single-family homes are either dotted along country roads or set close together around Owasco Lake. Ranch-style homes, farmhouses and Colonial Revivals from the mid to late 20th century are typical, but there are a handful of 21st-century Minimal Traditional and custom homes, too. "As you're further away from the lake, it's mostly older homes," Casper says. Many of these older homes are tucked away on spacious, wooded lots, allowing for privacy; some have additions like barns, workshops and detached garages. "There are some newer subdivisions and constant building/renovating on the lake itself," Casper says. Near the lake, single-family homes are set along suburban streets with traditional lawns and attached garages. Some waterfront homes have desirable features like private docks and decks. Prices range from about $200,000 to $700,000, depending on size, features and renovation needs.
Ranch style homes are common throughout Fleming.
Many of the lakeside homes in the area have private docks for easy access to the water.
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Concurrent enrollment opportunities at Southern Cayuga Senior High
Fleming is part of several school districts, including Southern Cayuga Central School District, which is rated C-plus overall by Niche. Kids may start at the B-rated Emily Howland Elementary before moving to the C-plus-rated Southern Cayuga Junior/Senior High. Through the Cayuga Advantage Program, teens at Southern Cayuga may take concurrent enrollment courses for credit at Cayuga Community College at no additional charge.
Emily Howland Elementary School serves students from Kindergarten through 4th grade.
Southern Cayuga High School near Fleming is in a rural setting surrounded by rolling green fields and trees.
The prestigious Cayuga Community College is located in Auburn, just a short drive from Fleming.
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Swimming, fishing and boating at Owasco Lake
Less than a mile away, several parks are clustered around the northern end of Owasco Lake. Emerson Park features a disc golf course, a playground and a small beach with a supervised swimming area. The lake's open for fishing, too, with plenty of rock bass and yellow perch to catch. In Winter, the lake freezes over and is a popular destination for ice fishing. Lakeside Dog Park is popular with four-legged friends for its small and big dog enclosures. Deauville Island Park offers picnic shelters, and the entire island can be reserved for private parties. Nearby, Owasco Marine rents pontoons, and Owasco Paddles has kayaks and paddleboards. Other highlights include the Owasco Country Club's private 9-hole course and The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, where theater comes to the Finger Lakes.
Emerson Park in Fleming has a boat launch and folks love to use it to fish Owasco Lake.
Whether your pup's name is Fido or Ragnar, he will love Lakeside Dog Park in Fleming.
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Shopping trips to Auburn and lakeside dining
Residents generally shop and dine in Auburn. Wegmans and Aldi cover basic groceries, while the seasonal Auburn Farmers Co-op Market has farm-fresh produce and homemade treats. Simple Roast Coffee offers locally roasted brews to start the morning, and the old-school Auburn Diner serves all-day breakfast in an early 20th-century rail car. Next to Emerson Park, the seasonal Seb's Green Shutters offers gluten-free comfort food, like double cheeseburgers, Coney Island hot dogs and root beer floats. There are a handful of wineries within 10 miles of Fleming, too, including family-operated Quarry Ridge Winery by Cayuga Lake with dry wines, charcuterie boards and waterfront views. "There's music and different events at wineries all the time in the summer," Casper says.
Fleming residents can travel to Auburn, about five miles north of the community, for their shopping needs.
After a day at Emerson Park, residents can stop in for some comfort food at Green Shutters, a local favorite in the Fleming area.
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Volunteering and celebrating with the Friends of Emerson Park
The Friends of Emerson Park plan community events by the lake. "They have music every Thursday night during the summer," Casper says. In addition to the summer concert series, there are disc golf tournaments, July 4th fireworks and vintage car shows. Residents can join The Friends of Emerson Park and volunteer at clean-up and construction events. Currently, the non-profit organization is raising money for Project Playground, which aims to build an accessible playground with a splash pad, mini-amphitheater and designated play areas for children of all ages.
State Route 35 and the nearest hospital and airport
State Route 34 passes through Fleming, providing a direct route to Auburn. The town is generally car-dependent. "There's not a walkable area," Casper says. Auburn Community Hospital is 6 miles away, and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport is a 28-mile drive.
Written By
Travis Rocha
Photography Contributed By
Charles Kennedy
Video By
Grace Kim
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