Java is close to recreation and less than an hour from Buffalo
Among the gently rolling hills of farmland and woods of Wyoming County is the town of Java, where people live in hamlets or close to Java Lake in the Java Lake Colony. “It has a small private lake for kayaking, but people are starting to discover it,” says Brenda Bacon, an experienced Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services who also lives in the area. “It’s an affordable getaway, and there are beautiful sunrises.” Anyone who prefers to live away from the water is still close to outdoor destinations like Buffalo Audubon Society’s Beaver Meadow Nature Preserve. Java's few restaurants are destinations to catch up with neighbors, and more dining spots are minutes away in areas like Arcade. Java strikes a balance between an escape in the hills and a commuter town where commuters or Buffalo Bills fans can reach downtown Buffalo in less than an hour. And if living surrounded by beautiful nature isn’t enough, Java residents can occasionally see the blue and green Northern Lights without having to take a trip to Lake Erie or Canada.
Lakeside cottages and ranch-style homes on large lots
The cottages within Java Lake Colony and throughout the town have sold for $60,000 to almost $300,000. “I bought a place there a couple of years ago,” Bacon says. “Some of the places used to be rundown.” Some homeowners fixed up those rundown cottages and turned them into rental properties for out-of-towners looking to relax in quiet Java, but there are year-round residents as well. Ranch-style and farmhouse-style homes throughout the town have large lots and sell for $230,000 to about $500,000. Properties in the top range of Java's home prices often have 5 acres or more.
Neighbors live close to one another in Java Lake Colony, but many of the area homes are separated by farmland and vast stretches of trees. While most residents don’t have to worry about HOA fees, Java Lake Colony charges about $150 annually to access the private lake, participate in annual events and general maintenance. Homes in Java Center have access to public water, but most properties across Java run on septic tanks and well water systems.
Private Java Lake and public trails at Beaver Meadow Nature Preserve
Paying members can launch kayaks onto the private Java Lake, explore the athletic courts or let their kids hang out on the playground. Anyone can visit the Beaver Meadow Nature Preserve, managed by the Buffalo Audubon Society. The preservation features 8 miles of hiking trails that weave through woods and past ponds, and experts from the Beaver Meadow Nature Center lead paying visitors and members on guided hikes to spot birds resting on branches above. The center also has an all-natural playground and interactive exhibits in the nature center. North Java has Jellystone Park of Western New York, where visitors can rent cabins, set up in tents or hook up RVs. Kids can explore the water playground, play mini golf or paddleboard across the small lake.
Flag football champs at Pioneer High
Pioneer Central Schools serves all of Java, so kids attend Arcade Elementary School for prekindergarten through fourth grade. Pioneer Middle School feeds into Pioneer High School. The district and all three schools earn B ratings from Niche. In 2025, the Pioneer High flag football team made history by becoming the first team to win a state title in 60 years and the first to win a flag football title in the region.
Quick trips to Arcade and Buffalo
Java may feel set in a world of its own, but Arcade’s restaurants and grocery stores are about 20 minutes away. Arcade also has primary care centers, but for emergencies, there’s Wyoming County Community Health Center 20 miles away in Warsaw and the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in Springville. Drivers traveling nearly 40 miles to Buffalo have about a 40-minute trip to downtown or the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. When it comes to places of worship, almost every hamlet has options, like Holy Family Parish in North Java. Western New York tends to see significant snowfall every winter. Occasionally, Wyoming County will announce travel bans when the weather is too severe.
Catching up at Smokey's Bar & Grill or North Java Country Store
A few family-owned restaurants offer relaxed spaces to catch up with friends over a drink and wings. Java Center has Smokey’s Bar & Grill, where people might order wings for lunch or shepherd’s pie for dinner. North Java Country Store may look like an average gas station, but some locals stop in to order a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. The store also serves sundaes and milkshakes throughout the year. Silers Market is a roadside farmstand where anyone can pick up locally grown produce and fresh eggs and pay by leaving money in the waiting lock box. Arcade Market Place and Tops Friendly Markets in nearby Arcade offer a wider selection of groceries.
