Locke is a down-to-earth country town in southern Cayuga County
From its rural family farms to the 19th-century homes in its village center, Locke is a southern Cayuga County town that has preserved its small-town look over generations. While larger cities like Auburn, Ithaca and Cortland are nearly equidistant from this part of the Finger Lakes region, it’s remained a place where mom and pop restaurants and casting into Hemlock Creek hold more appeal than urban life. “Locke has this sense of stability, between the agricultural landscape and rolling terrain. Almost everybody owns their homes, so people live there a long time, really get to know their neighbors and take care of each other,” says Brian DeYoung, an associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Heritage Realty who’s specialized in the Finger Lakes region for more than 22 years. “Things change really slowly. The person who owns the diner in Locke might change, but it's slow enough for everyone to adapt. The charm is that it's just more down-to-earth.”
Historic village homes and rural Locke living
Sidewalks connect the American Foursquares, Victorians and National homes built in Locke’s village center in the mid-19th through early 20th century development. These suburban-sized lots quickly give way to farmland and rural acreages throughout the rest of town, where houses can range from manufactured and ranch-style to historic farmhouses or contemporary custom builds. Move-in ready homes sell for around $150,000 to $560,000, depending on age and whether they come with a quarter acre of land or a couple of dozen acres. Buyers might seek secluded plots full of creeks and streams, or enjoy clear sightlines across gently rolling hills, personal paddocks and hobby farms. “I’ll have clients that work at Cornell that might have the money to live wherever they want in Tompkins County, but they choose to live in Cayuga for the taxes,” DeYoung says. “You can live north, drive almost the same amount of time to work, and get more house, property and privacy for your money.”
Fillmore Glen State Park and recreation around the Finger Lakes region
Fillmore Glen State Park is named in honor of Millard Fillmore, a presidential son of Locke. The forested gorge is a waterfall-pocketed destination for summertime swimming and camping or bundled-up wintertime hiking. Fillmore Golf Club is nearby, a public 18-hole course that offers day passes and seasonal memberships. Anglers cast for brown and rainbow trout from the public Hemlock Creek Fishing Access Spot. The southern tip of Owasco Lake is about 9 miles from home, where locals might launch a bigger boat from private marinas or kayak into the lake from the forested Owasco Flats Preserve.
Commuting to cities in and around Cayuga County
Locke is around 20 miles from Ithaca and Auburn, and closer to 15 miles from Cortland. Cayuga Medical Center is also about 20 miles from home. Travelers can use the small Ithaca Tompkins International Airport or drive about 50 miles to Syracuse Hancock International Airport for more frequent commercial flights.
Attending Moravia Central and Groton Central schools
Moravia Central School District serves most of Locke. Millard Fillmore Elementary School serves prekindergarten through sixth grade and earns a C-plus from Niche. Kids finish up at C-plus-rated Moravia Junior/Senior High School, where older students can earn credit at Cayuga Community College. A small southern part of Locke is served by Groton Central School District, which earns a B-minus overall.
Hometown businesses and shopping in Moravia, Auburn and Ithaca
The junction of state Routes 90 and 38 forms Locke’s sleepy village center. At the same crossroads as the post office, regulars and passers-through stop for breakfast and lunch at Barb’s Diner. It’s changed names and hands over the years, but has retained a loyal customer base thanks to homestyle cooking and service. Cobblestone Inn is farther south on 38, a casual spot to order classic bar food, grab a drink and shoot some pool. While locals might buy some potatoes or apples from Benlauck Farm, they travel a little farther from home for most groceries. Modern Market and Dollar General are about 4 miles away in Moravia. For more shopping and dining options, residents often drive to Auburn or Ithaca.
Supporting the LVFD at Locke Fireman’s Field Days
The Locke Volunteer Fire Department fundraises through raffles and food sales all year, but nothing brings the town together like the summertime Locke Fireman’s Field Days. While the event brings four days of live music, carnival rides and fair food to the local fairgrounds, the biggest crowds turn out for Friday’s fireworks display and the Saturday evening grand parade. Locke’s place along Route 90 also means that residents look forward to clearing out their basements each July during the Annual Route 90 50-Mile Garage Sale.
Flood risk on Hemlock Creek
Waterways like Hemlock Creek may flood nearby homes and roads after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
