Lewiston blends historic charm with modern-day convenience
With Niagara Falls a few miles south and Canada to the west, Lewiston played a key role in trade and exploration during the 17th and 18th centuries, and it later served as a crossing spot for enslaved people following the Underground Railroad. Today, its riverside setting provides opportunities for fishing and boating, while proximity to Buffalo also makes it convenient for commuters. Festivals, concerts and locally owned stores attract thousands of visitors each year. “It’s a really nice, small community,” says Sam Talarico, an associate broker with Century 21 North East who has lived in Lewiston for more than 50 years. “If you visit, you’re going to come back.”
Access to state and town parks, as well as the Red Brick Gym
Lewiston offers a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation. At Lewiston Landing Park, docks line the shoreline, enabling boating and fishing. “The Lower Niagara River is home to an assortment of fish — salmon, bass, walleye and pike,” Talarico says. Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park has historic sites and hiking trails along the Niagara River Gorge. Joseph Davis State Park offers disc golf and canoe access, while Lewiston Town Park has a playground and ball fields. The Red Brick Gym also has a playground, as well as an indoor fitness center. Members of Niagara Falls Country Club can play its 18-hole course, and Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Nation’s 18-hole course is open to the public.
Lewiston housing includes condos and waterfront estates
Housing and street styles vary throughout the community. In the village of Lewiston, businesses line Center Street, and houses rest along tree-shaded streets to the north and south of the retail district. While some residences date back to the 1800s and early 1900s, later additions include ranch-style homes, bungalows as well as some multifamily housing. The surrounding town of Lewiston has planned communities in the west, and more rural properties cover most of the northeastern part.
Townhouses and condos typically sell from $160,000 to $370,000, and owners pay between $250 and $760 in monthly HOA fees. Fixer-uppers tend to range from around $120,000 to $170,000, but the majority of sales run from $190,000 to $800,000. Custom-built waterfront estates rarely come on the market, but recent sales have ranged from around $1.33 million to $1.63 million. Some parts of the community are prone to flooding, and lenders may require flood insurance. The area's CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
Artpark and Center Street festivals
Lewiston’s peak festival season runs from summer through fall. During this time, Center Street is often closed on weekends to make room for events. The Lewiston Jazz Festival typically draws thousands of attendees and more than 150 musicians. Another big gathering is the annual Niagara County Peach Festival, which features carnival rides, parades and a peach shortcake-eating contest. Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park hosts major performances, including concerts by Grammy-winning artists and comedy shows.
Lewiston is served by two school districts, both with A-minus ratings
The southeastern portion of Lewiston is zoned for the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District, while the rest of the town and village fall under the Lewiston-Porter Central School District. Both districts receive A-minus ratings from Niche. Lewiston-Porter Primary Education Center gets an A rating from Niche. Lewiston-Porter Intermediate Education Center, Lewiston-Porter Middle School and Lewiston-Porter High School all earn A-minus ratings. All four share a campus, and students can participate in art, theater and music from kindergarten onward. Private options include Stella Niagara Education Park, a Catholic elementary and middle school. Niagara University, also within the community, offers undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs.
Restaurants, small businesses and a grocery store on Center Street
The Griffon Brewery and Gastropub has a dining area that overlooks the river, but most businesses are concentrated along Center Street. Apple Granny is a casual, sit-down restaurant known for its fish fry, and Casa Antica serves Italian cuisine. Center Street is also home to gift shops, bakeries and boutiques, as well as a Tops grocery store. For more shopping options, residents travel to Niagara Falls or Buffalo.
Lewiston residents can travel by bike, bus or car
Lewiston’s tourism industry provides local employment, as do Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Niagara University. The Discover Niagara Shuttle offers a free, seasonal shuttle between Youngstown, Lewiston and Niagara Falls, and Connect Niagara has year-round, weekday service around Niagara County. Paved multiuse paths allow for some bike travel, but most people depend on cars. Interstate 190 connects drivers to Buffalo, about 25 miles south. Niagara Falls International Airport is roughly 10 miles away, but Buffalo Niagara International Airport, 30 miles southeast of Lewiston, offers more flight options.
Winters tend to be less snowy than in nearby Buffalo
Although the Buffalo region is known for its snowy winters, Talarico says that most storms tend to stay to the south of Lewiston. “You hear about Buffalo and the snowbelt, but we usually miss a lot of that because we aren’t as close to Lake Erie,” he says. “We occasionally get a storm off Lake Ontario, but they get considerably more.”
![Charlie Lingner]()
Photography Contributed By
Charlie Lingner
