Franklinville is a rural escape with quiet streets
Rolling state forests, quiet streets with neighbors spread out and direct routes to larger cities define Franklinville, a slow-moving town in Western New York’s Cattaraugus County. Outdoor explorers and nature lovers often find their home in Franklinville for the scenery and access to recreation. People might join the local hunting club or spend some alone time fishing on Case Lake or along Ischua Creek. “As an outdoor enthusiast, it’s one of the better hunting areas in the county,” says Travis Thurston, an associate broker with New York Land Quest who knows the area's amenities well. “It’s a mixture of open and undeveloped land with a combination of swamp land. Not a lot of it is built on. It’s a bigger parcel and bigger acre area. It’s country living.”
Living close to neighbors in the village or spread out in the town
Craftsman bungalow, colonial and split-level homes are close together in the village of Franklinville, though neighbors still have plenty of breathing room between their homes. Many of the houses in the village were built in the early 1900s, but they have access to public water and sewer lines. In the surrounding town, cabins and ranch-style homes have sprawling lots and run on septic tanks and well water systems. “Another benefit is you’re just a town over from Ellicottville,” Thurston says. “That’s very popular, so if people don’t want to pay the Ellicottville price, they hop a town over and find a nice spot in Franklinville. You’re 15 to 20 minutes away.” Prices across Franklinville range from $110,000 to $250,000, though manufactured homes or properties needing repairs can sell for less than $110,000.
Outdoor enthusiasts join clubs and explore nearby state forests
Case Lake Park is one option for a quiet fishing and kayaking spot. “You have the Ischua Creek that runs through most of the area there, which is a stocked stream, so the fishing is really good,” Thurston says. Franklinville Conservation Club members have access to over 200 acres of amenities, like the stocked fishing pond and rifle range, but members also visit in the evenings to dine at the club’s bar. No one needs a membership to hunt or camp in Bear Creek or Boyce Hill State Forests. Nearby Ellicottville’s Holiday Valley Resort is considered one of the best ski spots in Western New York, and Franklinville residents are less than 20 miles from the destination. Ischua Valley Country Club in northern Franklinville is more than just a public nine-hole golf course. When fall and winter roll around, anyone can visit on Friday evenings to bowl on traditional lanes or order Sunday brunch at the clubhouse. The club also maintains over 50 miles of snowmobile trails used by Franklinville Snowmobile Club members.
Franklinville's high school has pieces of the past
The Franklinville Central School District receives a C-plus rating from Niche. Franklinville Elementary School is across the street from Ten Broeck Academy/Franklinville Jr.-Sr. High School. Both schools have B-minus ratings. Ten Broeck Academy was established around 1867. The first building was torn down, but the current high school still uses the name and has some of the original stones near the entrance.
Franklinville is close to larger cities, like Buffalo
Streets in the village have wide sidewalks that create walking paths from homes to the restaurants and stores along Main Street. In the surrounding town, residents might walk across their yards to chat with their neighbors, while some have to drive down the street to reach the next house. Depending on where people live in town, areas like Ellicottville and Springville are about 20 miles away by car. Springville has the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, while the Cuba Memorial Hospital is a little closer, about 16 miles away.
Buffalo and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport are about 50 miles away. “It’s about an hour away from Buffalo,” Thurston says. “A lot of people from the city buy land down here, and they always like being in that one-hour range. It’s a straight shot. You just drive Route 16 all the way down.” Great Lakes Cheese opened a new facility in northern Franklinville in 2024, bringing new residents and job opportunities to the area.
April maple festival and monthly soup nights at Franklinville Baptist
Every April, Franklinville celebrates maple season with the WNY Maple Festival. The two-day event always features an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, live music, carnival rides and demonstrations from local maple farmers. Franklinville Baptist Church has been in the village for over 200 years, and anyone can visit on the second Wednesday of every month for soup night.
Family-owned restaurants fill Franklinville's small downtown
The village of Franklinville, while quiet, has restaurants, businesses and schools. “It’s not overtaken by big brand stores,” Thurston says. “It’s a lot of small-town businesses on Main Street. They’re really trying to make it stay that way.” Barbara's Maplehaven is one of the more popular restaurants for its buffet-style setting. The Coffee Shop at Big Tasty's BBQ LLC is another busy spot for breakfast and lunch. Franklinville Food Market is a small grocery store with gas pumps outside. Dollar General sells basic needs, and Bartholomew’s Pharmacy is a family-owned drug store and gift shop that’s been open since 1863.
Preparing for snow and summer storms
The village prohibits overnight street parking from November to April and during snowstorms to make room for snowplows. Residents are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes. Summer storms can occasionally bring hail and strong winds.
