Tucked between Busti and Clymer, Harmony is one of a few towns in Chautauqua County that hug the New York State and Pennsylvania border. Its founding dates to the early 1800s, but Harmony was the largest town in the county, making it difficult for town officials to perform their duties. In 1918, the town was split into North Harmony and Harmony, and today each community offers a different lifestyle. While much of the surrounding landscape comprises woodland and farmland, North Harmony offers lakefront living along the banks of Chautauqua Lake. In contrast, Harmony offers a rural country landscape surrounded by thousands of acres of state forests that are open to the public for hiking, hunting, trapping, and more. "Hunting is a huge thing around here," says Jerod Zahn, a real estate salesperson with ERA Real Estate who has lived in the region for over 50 years. "On the first day of hunting season, everyone takes off work and students skip school."
Rural living in Harmony is a pleasant way to be in tune with the balances of work and family.
Panama Pizza is the place to go in Harmony for freshly made pies and friendly service.
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Panama Rocks, Chautauqua Lake and state forests
Panama Rocks Scenic Park stands out as the largest tourist attraction in town. Privately owned and operated, the park offers hiking trails that weave through towering rock formations, caves and tunnels. The park also features glamping, camping and axe throwing, and also hosts special events throughout the year. Aspen Acres is another campground about 9 miles away that caters to seasonal visitors.
Vast state forests make up the majority of Harmony's landscape. Unlike state parks where preservation is the main goal, these areas are open to the public for hunting, trapping and other recreational activities like hiking and primitive camping. Wooded areas include Panama State Forest, Brokenstraw State Forest, Hill Higher State Forest and Watts Wildlife Management Area. The latter consists of 1,401 acres of grassland and marshland for fresh-water fishing and wildlife viewing.
Western New York's mountainous terrain also makes it a sought-after winter destination. About 20 miles west, Peek'n Peak Resort is the closest year-round resort, where visitors will find ski slopes, a golf course and annual festivals. Timber Creek Golf Course is another modest, 9-hole course in town open to the public.
Chautauqua Lake, the county's crown jewel, is about 8 miles away, while small parks feature public boat ramps and lakefront beaches. "Chautauqua is best known for the lake and year-round recreation," says Rachel Willow, a licensed real estate salesperson with five years of industry experience. "But many of our communities are seasonal, so the draw to surrounding towns like Harmony is the year-round community." About 15 miles north, the prestigious Chautauqua Institution is one of those seasonal communities and attracts thousands of intellectuals for nine consecutive weeks throughout the summer.
Panama Rocks is a seasonal privately run park that has miles of trails amid the towering rocks that are found in Harmony.
Harmony is home to horses and an agrarian tradition of husbandry that is both ancient and modern.
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Farmhouses, colonials and ranch-style homes
Acres of woodlands and farmland are interspersed with rural residential roads. Architectural styles primarily consist of farmhouses, colonial- and ranch-style homes that range in price from the $100,000s to the $300,000s. Other styles include the occasional home with Italianate-style details, Dutch Colonials, bungalows, split-levels and rustic cabins. Spacious lots offer privacy, but some homeowners are close enough to wave to their neighbors across the street. Modest manufactured homes can sell for between $80,000 to $100,000. Plots of land are also available, ranging from $20,000 for 5 acres to $250,000 for over 40 acres. Harmony earns a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Farmhouses blend in with the Harmony landscape and aesthetic.
The heart of Harmony is the village of Panama, where homes and lives can be full of hope.
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Historical reenactments in Harmony
The Harmony-North Harmony Museum & History Center is about 5 miles north. The museum highlights the history of the area and hosts multiple events throughout the year. The historian speaker series draws small crowds, while history comes alive during the Living History Fair. During the fair, residents can explore a range of live demonstrations, including basket making, blacksmithing, leather working and paper making. The museum also hosts an annual Harvest Festival with live demonstrations, music, food and horse-drawn carriage rides.
At the Harmony Historical Society, volunteers catalogue and preserve records of the past for future research.
Bold and dramatic painting schemes give some of the barns panache in Harmony with the natural surroundings as compliment.
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Dining in the Village
Most local establishments are concentrated within the Village of Panama, including houses of worship, local schools and family-owned eateries. Three restaurants sit at the intersection of Main Street and North Street. Panama Diner's 1950s retro atmosphere offers a sense of nostalgia with black checkered floors, red accents and classic American fare. Across the street, patrons can head to Panama Pizza for pizza, subs or wings before stopping by Four Corners Ice Cream for dessert.
Additional local businesses are scattered around country roads, such as Whittier Apple Farm for fresh apples, cider and small goodies like homemade honey. Six miles away, The Herb Mill sells a mix of medicinal herbs and offers educational workshops on herbal health remedies. On the outskirts of town, Troyer's Greenhouse sells fresh flowers, herbs and vegetable plants. Troyer's also operates a deer processing facility next door. Dollar General is about 4 miles east of Panama, while larger grocers are about 8 miles further in Lakewood.
Delicious meals at the Panama Diner bring a brilliant flavorful dash to the surrounding Harmony.
The menu at Panama Diner may regularly change, but the flavors and atmosphere remain a constant superlative in Harmony.
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Resources for students and residents
The Panama Central School District serves Harmony and scores a C-plus rating from Niche. Pre-kindergarteners through sixth graders may attend the B-minus-rated Panama Elementary School. Seventh through twelfth graders may attend Panama High School, which also scores a B-minus. Due to the community's rural nature and economic needs, the school district offers a comprehensive Chautauqua County Community Resource Guide highlighting nearby grocery stores, food banks, summer feeding programs, childcare centers, mental health resources and more. The Panama Methodist Church runs the area's primary food pantry and is open to all school district residents.
About 8 miles away in North Harmony, residents can also utilize the Hewes Educational Center, which offers career and technical programs and special educational services. The Chautauqua County Safety Village, where kids can learn the rules of the road at a young age, is also on campus.
The Panama High School is housed within the Panama Central School and students grow together through shared experience.
Panama Elementary School is the primary portion of the Panama Central School.
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Commutes via State Route 474
The Chautauqua Area Regional Transit System serves the community and has one bus stop at the Panama Post Office. However, Harmony is mainly a car-dependent town. New York State Route 474 runs east to west, passing through the town's only Village and connecting residents to nearby communities like Ashville and Lakewood. Jamestown's UPMC Chautauqua is about 15 miles away via New York State Route 394. Erie International Airport is about 55 miles west via Interstate 86 and I-90.
Written By
Lillie Duston
Photography Contributed By
Jonathan Coon
Video By
Charles Kennedy
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