Cultural attractions among a small town in Cortland County
The town of Homer has operational farms and preserved historic enclaves in Central New York’s Cortland County. Intersected by Interstate 81 and just north of the city of Cortland, Homer is a quick drive from cities like Syracuse and Ithaca, as well as the recreation of the Finger Lakes. There’s plenty to do without leaving town, though. The town’s primary center of activity is in the village of Homer, which has cultural events at the Center for the Arts of Homer and the Village Green, locally owned restaurants and businesses along Main Street, and preserved homes dating as far back as the early 1800s. “It’s historical. It’s very quaint. People love it here. We’re a hub,” says Teresa Howell, broker at Yaman Real Estate and a lifelong Homer resident.
Preserved historic homes and other buying options in Homer
Tree-lined streets with sidewalks create a cozy, residential feel through most of the village. Homer’s historic district along and branching off Main Street has carefully maintained Victorian, Greek Revival, Italianate and Federal homes built throughout the 1800s. Traditional-style properties built in the early 1900s and midcentury ranch-style homes are also common here. Some properties on the outskirts of town sit on several acres of woods or farmland. Houses in Homer typically sell for between $120,000 and $400,000. The area has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2, lower than the national average of 4.
Locally owned shops and restaurants along Homer’s Main Street
Main Street is lined with small businesses like the Homer Men and Boys Store, a family-owned clothing and shoe shop, and Bev & Co., a clothing boutique and gift store. “There are a ton of really cute shops right here on Main Street. We have some beautiful restaurants, including a couple really nice ones,” Howell says. Diners can enjoy brunch with mimosas or a dinner of steak and salad at The Exchange Restaurant. Dasher’s Corner Pub has lowkey entrees like burgers and sandwiches, as well as higher-end options like surf and turf. For groceries, Village Food Market has some options conveniently on Main Street and P&C Fresh Market is a couple miles south in Cortland.
Entertainment at historic cultural venues downtown
Phillips Free Library on Main Street serves locals from its preserved circa-1902 brick building. Just down the street, the Center for the Arts of Homer hosts concerts, musicals and art exhibitions in a former Baptist church. Homer’s Village Green has open space and a bandstand off Main Street next to Homer Congregational Church and First Methodist Church. “In the summer, we have all kinds of bands playing,” Howell says. The Village Green also hosts the town’s farmers market each Saturday between May and October.
Diverse extracurricular options at Homer schools
Students in Homer typically attend Homer Elementary for pre-K through second grade and Homer Intermediate for third through fifth grade. Both these schools earn B ratings from Niche. Older students continue to B-rated Homer Junior High and B-plus-rated Homer Senior High School. Students at the high school can participate in groups such as the Jazz Band, Marching Band, Ukulele Club and Drama Club. Athletic teams include ice hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, football and golf.
Recreation at town parks and the nearby Finger Lakes
Homer has several town parks. Albert J. Durkee Memorial Park has shaded picnicking and fishing areas on a pond and along the Tioughnioga River, and Griggs Memorial Field hosts Little League games on its ballfields. Vernum Memorial Park’s multipurpose courts have basketball and pickleball behind the Homer Community Building on South Main Street. Just south of downtown Homer, the private Cortland Country Club has a well-manicured, 18-hole golf course and event space. Little York Lake, in the town's hamlet of Little York, is stocked with trout for anglers and has hiking paths at the adjacent Dwyer Memorial Park. Dwyer Memorial Park is home to Cortland Repertory Theatre, which hosts shows on its outdoor pavillion and plays on its indoor stage. Homer is also a close drive to New York’s Finger Lakes, with the closest being Skaneateles Lake. Here, locals can launch their boats for a day on the lake’s crystal blue water or cool off with a swim during the summer.
Quick drives around Central New York from Homer
Interstate 81 runs through Homer, connecting drivers 30 miles north to Syracuse and 45 miles south to Binghamton. Ithaca, home to Cornell University, is also about 25 miles southwest. Syracuse, Binghamton and Ithaca each have commercial airports that serve the region. Cortland is just south of Homer and has the closest hospital, the Guthrie Cortland Medical Center.
![Faith Wakefield]()
Written By
Faith Wakefield
