Pavilion provides small-town charm and rural living near Rochester
The quiet, semi-rural town of Pavilion sits about 35 miles southwest of Rochester and 50 miles east of Buffalo , making it possible to reach either city for work or entertainment. Most daily needs, however, are met in Batavia or Geneseo, both roughly 12 miles away, where residents find shopping, dining, medical services and other conveniences. The Genesee County community is home to slightly more than 2,000 residents, allowing a know-your-neighbor atmosphere. Pavilion’s hamlet—the center of town—lies at the intersection of Route 63 and Route 19, marked by the town’s only traffic light. “We don’t have much; it’s very rural, which is one of the benefits,” says town clerk Stacy Halsted. “It’s more of a small-town, tight-knit community, like what you see in the movies.”
Ranch styles and spacious farmhouses sit on quiet, country roads
Pavilion’s housing landscape is defined by quiet residential streets and stretches of farmland that reflect its rural character. Sidewalks are limited, and most properties are single-family homes, with 83% of residents owning their houses. Ranch-styles, colonial-styles, split-levels and farmhouses are common, with sizes ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 square feet. Homes typically sit on half- to three-quarter-acre lots, though some properties span multiple acres. Move-in ready homes generally range from about $110,000 to $450,000, with the higher end reserved for houses on more land. Mobile homes are also prevalent, often priced between $30,000 and $235,000. However, the median sale price for a single-family home in Pavilion is around $225,000.
Pavilion schools support community spirit with events and traditions
Students can begin at Dorothy B. Bunce Elementary School before advancing to Pavilion Middle-High School, both of which receive a C-plus rating from Niche. Both schools play an important role in fostering community spirit through hosting events like Gopher Days and the Gopher 5K. “The elementary school does Gopher Days, with food trucks, booths and games for kids,” Halsted says. “For the middle-high school’s 5K, they invite outside towns too. And they also do Tractor Days, which sums up how rural and tied to farming we are.”
Library, hiking trails and campground offer year-round recreation
While there are no public parks within Pavilion’s boundaries, residents still have access to recreational opportunities. Hollwedel Memorial Library, located in the village, hosts regular paint nights and workshops. Genesee County Park and Forest is about 8 miles west of town, offering hiking and snowmobiling trails, a playground and a Nature Center equipped with outdoor learning spaces. “We also have a campground that just opened up, Lokee-Hikee,” Halsted says. “They’re more seasonal, with live music and food in the summer.”
BW’s Restaurant serves locals, while more options are in Geneseo
In addition to outdoor recreation, retail options within Pavilion are modest and centered around the hamlet, where residents can find a gas station, post office, bank, Dollar General, and a local pizzeria, Timmerman’s. On the town’s east side, Davis Countryside Meadows features a public golf course accompanied by BW’s, a restaurant known for its menu of steaks, burgers and a full-service bar. “BW’s is very good; it’s really the biggest and only restaurant that we have,” Halsted says. “And it’s on a snowmobile trail, so it’s a year-round spot.” Halsted mentions that for a wider variety of restaurants and grocery stores, most residents go to Geneseo and Batavia , depending on where locals live in town. “We also have a few small farmstands throughout town with people selling eggs,” she adds.
Routes 19 and 63 connect Pavilion to Interstates 90 and 390
State Routes 19 and 63 serve as the key roadways that link Pavilion to nearby communities, providing access to Interstates 90 and 390. The town is car-dependent, as no public bus or train service the area. The nearest hospital, Rochester Regional Health, is located in Batavia, roughly 10 miles away. For further travel, residents typically use Buffalo Niagara International Airport or Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.
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Written By
Mary Beth Greene
