Great Valley is a small town steps away from a major vacation scene
When people think of Cattaraugus County, they often think of busy ski resorts, state parks and the rolling hills of the Enchanted Mountains. Great Valley is a small community among the hills that keeps residents close to all the action. “For the most part, it’s a 5-to-10-minute drive to Ellicottville, which is home to two ski resorts,” says Tina Dillon, a licensed real estate salesperson with Keller Williams Realty – Ellicottville Branch, who has over 30 years of real estate experience. “It has the availability of a community atmosphere with country living. The price point is a little lower than the resort community.” Locals might take a day trip to Buffalo, hit the slopes at Holiday Valley Resort when winter rolls around or catch up with neighbors at Katy’s Fly-In Restaurant. Great Valley blends beautiful western New York scenery and accessibility to Ellicottville’s vacation destinations.
Finding a permanent or vacation home among the hills
Some people move to Great Valley to enjoy easy access to Holiday Valley Resort for a season, but many find permanent homes here. “I’d say it’s about 65 percent year-round homes and 35 percent vacation homes,” Dillon says. “A lot of the homes under resale are either newer or have been remodeled. Very few that come on the market need someone to do a total gut job.” Contemporary Craftsman homes and townhouse units in the private Holiday Valley community have sold for $500,000 to $740,000. Cabin-style homes, condo units in Holiday Valley and ranch-style homes can go for $170,000 to about $490,000. Manufactured homes in Green Valley Estates can sell for less than $170,000. Due to the more rural setting, properties run on well water and septic tank systems.
Ski resorts, state parks and lakes, all minutes from Great Valley
Outdoor destinations surround Great Valley, and residents are minutes from some of Cattaraugus County's most popular resorts and parks. “Holimont is the number one private ski resort, and there’s Holiday Valley Resort, which is a public golf course and ski resort,” Dillon says. “We have numerous lakes and two state parks nearby.” Holimont is open year-round, though the public can only visit on weekdays because it’s members-only on the weekends. Close by, the Holiday Valley Resort is a much larger area, with ski slopes, biking trails and an 18-hole golf course. The McCarty Hill and Rock City State Forests are two parts of the same wooded and hilly area stretching roughly 6,000 acres. There are dedicated trails for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Residents might also drive down to Red House Lake or Spruce Lake for some time along the water.
Students can access college courses through Ellicottville schools
Great Valley kids attend classes in the Ellicottville. The B-rated Ellicottville Elementary School shares a campus with Ellicottville Middle/High School, which receives a B-minus. High school students who pass a Jamestown Community College placement test can enroll in a limited selection of courses, including college composition and public speaking. The school also partners with Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Quick trips to nearby Salamanca and Ellicottville
U.S. Route 219, also known as the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Highway, guides drivers about 5 miles to Hidden Valley Resort, Holimont and downtown Ellicottville. Some residents drive to Salamanca Health Center or the Ellicottville Health Center for routine care, but the Olean General Hospital has the nearest emergency room. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport is about 60 miles away, a trip that takes about an hour by car. Some people might attend services at Great Valley Community Church or walk down the sidewalk to the First Baptist Church of Great Valley.
The Great Valley Band Jam and Pumpkinville fall festivities
Locals head to the Great Valley Volunteer Firemen's Clubhouse every July for the Great Valley Band Jam. The event lasts a day and a half, with performances from local bands, food vendors and activities for kids. Admission is free, and some people reserve a camping spot for free to be close to the action for the entire event. Pumpkinville is a seasonal destination, opening in mid-September and closing at the end of October. People purchase daily tickets or a season pass to pet farm animals, hop on a hayride or wander the pumpkin patch. Eric Jones is a renowned sculptor who turns sand, ice and pumpkins into pieces of art. Jones visits Pumpkinville to show off his skills live on most Sundays.
Dining local at Katy's or visiting downtown Ellicottville
Katy’s Fly-In Restaurant is right across the street from the Great Valley Airport, and the interior decorations maintain the aviation theme. The breakfast menu stays roughly the same, with waffles and omelets, but the lunch and dinner specials rotate. Some days the specials highlight seafood, like beer-battered fish, while other days dishes like braised short ribs and buffalo mac and cheese get the spotlight. Clark's Market and Deli is the spot to grab a quick snack or a burger, while The Pub down the road is usually busy in the evening with people ordering drinks at the bar or catching up on the back patio. Ellicottville features busier restaurants and a Tops Markets for groceries, all less than 10 minutes from home. Boutiques like So Last Season Vintage and Gi Threads operate out of historic storefronts in downtown Ellicottville.
Winter weather means heavy snowfall
In June 2025, a tornado touched down in Great Valley and damaged some homes and trees. Despite this, tornadoes are not usually a concern. The most intense weather happens in winter, when Great Valley sees an average of 82 inches of snow annually. Dillon mentions the state maintains the roads, so snowplows are dispatched to clear the streets.
