Montezuma’s scenic countryside and Finger Lakes recreation hubs
An early Cayuga County resident was so proud of the scenic marshes and rolling hills that surrounded his grand hilltop estate that he felt like the Aztec emperor Montezuma; that’s what he started calling the property, and it’s a name that's stuck for the entire modern town. Lordly though its name is, Montezuma is known more for its wealth of natural beauty and local Erie Canal history than for palatial architecture. The northern tip of Cayuga Lake and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge are the empires of waterfowl and snapping turtles. A developing reputation as an Empire Trail Town draws locals and visitors to marvel at century-old engineering projects like the arcing Richmond Aqueduct. And while everybody gets together to support the local fire department and kick off a lengthy annual yard sale, Montezuma is overwhelmingly the kind of quiet country town where residents are looking to enjoy the tranquility of the Finger Lakes region. “If you want to be even more rural and off the map than a sleepy town like Locke, you find somewhere like Montezuma,” 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. "It’s 20 minutes from Auburn, but you can find a property where you don’t see another house from your yard.”
Recreation in wetlands, along the Erie Canal and on Cayuga Lake
Migratory birds perch in the wetlands and woods of the sprawling Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, part of an even larger conservation complex that borders its namesake town. Human visitors can birdwatch or hunt in the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area. Cyclists share the road along Montezuma’s stretch of the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile network that connects the Erie Canalway to the Adirondacks and New York City. Montezuma began the process of becoming an official Empire State Trail Town in 2025 to further boost outdoor tourism. A mural of the historic village and a metal horse statue with a mane made of chains mark Montezuma Heritage Park. Hikers can follow 11 nature trails to discover what remains of early Erie Canal infrastructure, like the Richmond Aqueduct. Giardina Memorial Park offers athletic fields and a small playground near the town’s offices. Private marinas and public boat launches open access to Cayuga Lake, about 10 minutes from Montezuma. The town’s proximity to wetlands means mosquitoes can be heavy during summer, and bug spray is essential.
Single-family homes in a country village and on rural acreages
Winding country roads take residents past the farmland, forests and settlements of single-family homes that make up Montezuma. In the historic village center, farmhouses, Colonial Revivals and National homes were built close together in the mid-19th through early 20th centuries near the town’s post office. Out in the surrounding countryside, manufactured and ranch-style homes sit on small, rolling acreages, where hills, barns and coves of trees offer distance between neighbors. Move-in ready homes sell for around $90,000 to $270,000.
Shopping and dining in Auburn
Outside of stopping at the gas station and chain eateries at the nearby I-90 travel plaza, residents leave Montezuma for shopping and dining. Auburn is about 20 minutes from home. Genesee Street and its surrounding blocks are lined by historic commercial buildings and sidewalks connecting locally owned businesses to grocery stores like Wegmans. Prison City Pub and Brewery doubles down on Auburn’s nickname, which references the presence of the state's oldest prison. While the brewery does have some jail cell decor, patrons are more invested in enjoying craft beer and New American fare at a modern industrial bar or out on the patio. National chains, including Home Depot and Bass Pro Shops, are farther from the city center in shopping centers and at the indoor Fingerlakes Mall.
Attending Port Byron Central School District
Montezuma is served by Port Byron Central School District. A.A. Gates Elementary School serves prekindergarten through sixth grade and earns a C-plus from Niche. Students finish at Dana L. West Jr. - Sr. High School, which also scores a C-plus. Older students can enroll in early college pathways to earn college credits for free while in high school.
The 50-mile Route 90 Garage Sale
On the last weekend of July, Montezuma becomes the northern terminus of the annual 50-mile Route 90 Garage Sale. “There are just hundreds and hundreds of people participating,” DeYoung says. “You stop at one yard sale and can see from the next, to the next, to the next. People save up stuff all year for it.” The Montezuma Fire Department cooks breakfasts and lunches to appeal to hungry passers-through. Residents also head to the firehouse for barbecue chicken or fish fry dinners throughout the year.
Auburn commuting and taking I-90 around the Finger Lakes
Auburn, the Cayuga County seat and home to Auburn Community Hospital, is about 10 miles from Montezuma. Interstate 90 offers a roughly 35-mile drive to Syracuse and a 60-mile drive to Rochester. Syracuse Hancock International Airport is about 35 miles from home.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
