Little Valley is the county seat and close to Ellicottville
Like many other towns in Cattaraugus County, Little Valley hosts a mix of permanent residents and seasonal vacationers traveling from nearby cities. Ellicottville is nearby, with a ski resort and other attractions, so some vacationers spill over into Little Valley, buying winter and summer homes. “There are more people living here full time,” says David Blanchard, broker with Keller Williams Realty-Lancaster, with 37 years of experience in the county. “You get a little bit more in Little Valley than Ellicottville.” Little Valley also distinguishes itself from other nearby towns by functioning as the Cattaraugus County seat. Every summer, residents and visitors come to Little Valley for the county fair, but Blanchard also says locals will stop by town for administrative things, like getting their driver’s license.
Hiking and horseback riding in state forests and along county trails
The Rock City and McCarty Hill state forests are on the eastern side of Little Valley, stretching over 6,000 acres. North County Scenic Trail is a popular hiking trail, and Little Rock City Nature Trail is open to biking and horseback riding and includes many interesting rock formations. More hiking and horseback riding trails are available at Elkdale State Forest. Elkdale Country Club is a full course that’s open to the public on the weekends. Pat McGee Trail is a multi-use trail for hiking, biking, horseback riding and snowmobiling that goes right through the center of Little Valley. Its endpoints are Cattaraugus and Salamanca, making it 7 miles total in length.
Historic Victorians and open fields across Little Valley
Narrow sidewalks line the roads in Little Valley, leading pedestrians to historic Victorians and Nationals and ‘60s and ‘70s ranch-style homes. Many homes have front porches overlooking small yards dotted with trees. Dirt driveways lead to detached garages. Further from the town center, there’s more space between homes. Open fields feature barns and offer views of the gently sloping mountains. “You’ll have some people who have a second home in Little Valley, but it doesn’t have the golf course or mountain biking,” Blanchard says. “But it’s a lot more reasonable in price.” Homes in Little Valley start around $80,000 and reach up to $210,000.
Ellicottville Brewing Co.'s new Little Valley location
Ellicottville Brewing Co. recently expanded, adding a new location in Little Valley, helping increase traffic in the town. “It helped put Little Valley on the map, and it helped put the prices in the area up after it opened,” Blanchard says. The Little Valley location has a rustic feel, with wood ceilings and exposed beams, and visitors can order burgers and pizzas along with their drinks. Blanchard says The Bear Brick is another popular casual American joint known for its burgers and wings. It also has a lot of pool tables and a stage for live music. Crosby’s is the town’s convenience store, attached to the gas station. Dollar General also has some grocery and convenience items. TOPS Friendly Market is about 9 miles away in Ellicottville, while the nearest Walmart Supercenter is 22 miles away in Springfield.
The summer farmers market and the Cattaraugus County Fair
From July to September, the Little Valley Farmers Market sets up in the parking lot at Grace Bible Baptist Church, where people can explore local produce on Thursday afternoons. For the first week of August, the Cattaraugus County Fair draws visitors to the fairgrounds in Little Valley. Activities include rodeos, demolition derbies, pig races, sea lion shows and live music.
Local public schools with Career and Technical programs available
For kindergarten through fourth grade, students head to Cattaraugus-Little Valley Elementary School, which receives a B from Niche. Cattaraugus-Little Valley Middle School receives a C-minus rating. B-rated Cattaraugus-Little Valley High School offers Career and Technical Education programs at Ellicottville's Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) center. Students can learn about animal science, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts and automotive technology.
New York state routes connect Little Valley with bigger cities
Rock City Road goes through the center of Little Valley, becoming New York routes 353 and 242 outside of the town. The latter connects people with Ellicottville, while the former heads south to Salamanca. Both cities are about 9 miles from Little Valley. Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is around 24 miles away. Commuters can drive the 53 miles to downtown Buffalo, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 57 miles away.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
