Fulton’s rural charm includes state forests and family farms
Dense forests of evergreen, oak and maple trees frame grain and vegetable crops in Fulton Town. Only about 1,200 people live in the rural community, located deep within the Catskill Mountains. “It’s the largest town in Schoharie County in terms of land, but we’re very small when it comes to population size,” says Marcy Sammons, a lifelong local and a town councilmember. Fulton’s expansive landscape includes quiet state forests and peaceful fishing spots on Schoharie Creek, which flows along the town’s eastern edge. “A lot of people here have lived on their family farms for generations,” Sammons says. “But when we get new residents, they usually come because of how beautiful and untouched the area is.”
Houses can be miles apart in Fulton
Rolling tracts of crops and forest often separate Fulton’s farmhouses, cabins and ranch-style homes. “Some people's closest neighbors are miles away,” Sammons says. “But there aren’t very many of us, so it's pretty easy to know everybody in town.” Prices typically range from about $188,000 to around $450,000, depending on a house’s size, age and condition. Empty lots with less acreage can start at $20,000, while larger plots may reach $275,000. Heavy rain can cause Schoharie Creek to overflow, and houses near the waterway may be at risk of flooding.
Locals enjoy hiking, fishing and swimming in the Catskills
Several state forests with fishing ponds, campgrounds and trails stretch across Fulton. “We’ve had a lot of trouble with people accidentally trespassing onto private property because everything just kind of blends together with all the recreation space in town,” Sammons says. Schoharie County’s largest green space, Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest, is in Fulton. Visitors can launch paddleboats on the Looking Glass Pond and snowmobile through the 10,568-acre forest. Fulton is also home to the 2-mile-long Vroman's Nose Trail, which ends at a 1,200-foot-tall summit known as the “dance floor” for its flat terrain overlooking acres of farmland. Max V. Shaul State Park sits along Schoharie Creek, where people can swim in the shallow water and catch striped bass and walleye from the rocky shoreline. Though many of these places are well-used among locals, some residents enjoy recreation on their own properties. “I know people who can swim under waterfalls in their backyards, and people who have carved out their own hiking trails if their house backs up to a mountain,” Sammons says.
Kids can go to public school in Middleburgh
Middleburgh Central School District serves Fulton. Kids can attend Middleburgh Elementary and Middleburg Junior/Senior High, both of which earn B grades from Niche. The high school offers extracurriculars like ski club, Future Farmers of America and intramural running club. The State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill is about 9 miles north.
Produce stands are in town, and Cobleskill has grocery stores
Barber’s Farm, one of several produce stands in Fulton, stocks its shelves with local honey and seasonal goods, like pumpkins in the fall and melons in the summer. Besides these roadside stops, Fulton doesn’t have many shopping and dining options. “I don’t think a single restaurant has opened in Fulton as long as I’ve been alive,” Sammons says. “But we’re near other towns that do have those kinds of places.” Cobleskill has grocery stores, like Price Chopper and Walmart Supercenter, as well as the Cobleskill Regional Hospital. Pubs, coffee shops and cozy diners, including Mrs. K’s Kitchen, fill Italianate-style buildings in downtown Middleburgh, less than 10 miles east.
Winter driving can be tricky on Fulton’s roads
Fulton is a car-dependent community with winding, hilly roads that may be difficult to drive on during the winter. “People are slipping and sliding all over the place when it snows, especially if they don’t have four-wheel drive,” Sammons says. State Route 30 connects with other small towns, including Middleburgh. About a 53-mile drive east on Interstate 88 and Interstate 90 reaches Albany, home to the Albany International Airport.
