Freedom's quiet setting is surrounded by amenities
Long two-lane roads and working farms that stretch over gently rolling hills fill the town of Freedom. This Cattaraugus County area is just south of Arcade, where residents go for restaurants and shops, but Freedom has its own experiences like getting breakfast at Moore’s Maple Shack and Pancake House and fall trips to Bliss Family Farm. Freedom is aptly named, as the area allows people to enjoy some of Western New York’s amenities without having to live in the busy cities. Cheri Liddle lives in the area, close to Centerville, and has run her farm and store, Backporch Produce, since 2014. “It’s very quiet, very peaceful,” Liddle says. “All my neighbors are amazing people!” With serene hills and recreation close to home, Freedom provides a rural setting with amenities moments away.
Farmhouse, ranch-style and bungalows for under $600,000
Four-bedroom farmhouse-style and ranch-style homes on expansive lots have sold for around $420,000 to $540,000, while bungalows and ranch-style properties with fewer rooms can sell for about $170,000 to nearly $220,000. Homes that sell for less than $170,000 often need repairs. Living in an agricultural-focused area means no subdivisions and no HOAs, but Beaver Lake community is an exception. Homeowners in Beaver Lake pay about $100 monthly in HOA fees for private lake access and maintenance. Regardless of where the homes are in Freedom, the lots are large and sprawling, often with tall shade trees. Some neighbors are separated by vast fields, while homes along state Route 98, Freedom Road and Eagle Street are closer together.
Driving to restaurants in Arcade or Backporch Produce in Freedom
Most residents drive to Arcade to shop at grocery stores like Tops Friendly Markets or dine at restaurants like Farmhouse Cafe or John & Mary's. While Arcade has the most options, Freedom has some of its own long-standing businesses. Backporch Produce sells farm-fresh goods and berry syrup from the roadside farm store. Liddle says she sells fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and cream-top milk. She also stocks homemade goods, from pot pies and elderberry syrup to body creams and bath bombs. While some people purchase items from the farm store, others visit during the pick-your-own season for garden-fresh elderberries or herbs. Moore’s Maple Shack is a family-owned business that sells syrup all year, but the Pancake House opens from January to about mid-April during peak maple season. Longmeadow Farm raises sheep and uses the wool to create natural, hand-dyed yarn, which it sells in its shop, The Woolroom.
Short trips to work and an hour drive to Buffalo
Anyone who doesn’t own their own business might drive roughly 6 miles in about 10 minutes to manufacturing jobs in Arcade. Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is a major area employer in Springville and the campus is nearly 20 miles away or a roughly 30-minute drive. Commuters heading to Buffalo have a 50-mile drive along Route 98 to downtown or the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. A one-way trip to the city takes about an hour. Historic churches hold services closer to home, from Sandusky Baptist Church, built in 1846, to Salem Walsh Church, built in 1855.
Attending elementary school in Arcade before moving on to Yorkshire
Freedom is a part of the Pioneer Central Schools district, which receives a B from Niche. Kids can attend prekindergarten through fourth grade at Arcade Elementary School. A long multipurpose field separates the Pioneer Middle and Pioneer High School campuses in Yorkshire. All three schools earn B ratings from Niche. Pioneer High’s flag football team made school history by securing the first state title in nearly 60 years of Pioneer athletics.
Fishing, racing and hunting around Freedom
Freedom’s only park is in the village of Sandusky: Freedom Town Park. A small playground separates the covered picnic tables from the fenced-in baseball field. Lime Lake is a short drive away, where locals go to kayak and fish for largemouth bass. Freedom Motorsports Park roars to life every May when stock-car racing begins. Races are held on the dirt track through September. Exploring the outdoors is a major pastime for people throughout the county. Freedom residents can easily access Cold Creek, Bush Hill and Farmersville state forests. All three locations allow hunting, but Farmersville and Cold Creek have trails for snowmobiling. Ellicottville’s Holiday Valley Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in the county, and Freedom is less than an hour from the recreation destination.
Annual fall traditions at Bliss Family Farm
Every fall, Bliss Family Farm becomes especially busy outside of daily dairy farm tasks. People stop by on the weekends to pick pumpkins, walk the corn maze and see the sunflower field. One of the biggest events at the farm is the annual car cruise held toward the end of September, where people can see new and vintage cars, listen to live music and enter raffles.
Preparing for heavy winters and future wind farms
Freedom and the whole of Cattaraugus County often see snowstorms in the winter, which have led the county to declare travel advisories when road conditions are poor. "It’s better to have four-wheel drive,” Liddle says. “Winters can be pretty rough in the area.” As of 2025, the town of Freedom is reviewing plans to add solar panels within town limits without ruining the rural atmosphere residents prefer. “There is currently a large windmill project being erected right now,” Liddle says. Invenergy is constructing an Alle-Catt Wind Farm in Freedom that is expected to be operational in late 2026.
