Pendleton offers country living with access to urban amenities
Pendleton, 15 miles from Niagara Falls, is a rural town bordered by Tonawanda Creek and state Route 78. Residents enjoy the area’s bucolic atmosphere and access to cities, dining and outdoor recreation. The town is made up of farmland and open greenery between Niagara Falls and the city of Tonawanda. The land is divided into hamlets such as Pendleton Center, Wendelville and Mapleton.
Recreation at parks and local trails
Tonawanda Creek surrounds the town and is a popular fishing and boating area. Some businesses border the creek for its scenic views. Near the creek, Depeau Park is an open field surrounded by mature trees with hard-top tennis and basketball courts. On the other side of the creek is the Erie Canal Trail, a 360-mile trail for cyclists and hikers between Albany and Buffalo. Farther inland is Pendleton Park, with 22 acres of recreation. The park has Mason’s Mission Playground, a colorful play area for children of all abilities. Surrounding the playground are baseball and softball fields. Hard-top tennis courts are surrounded by fencing for pick-up games.
Pendleton Creek Golf Club & Pub is an 18-hole private course with a public pub serving American fare. Shawnee Golf Course is a public 9-hole course with a pub offering bar food.
Homes are along winding roadways among farmland
Homes dot winding roadways surrounded by open greenery and farmland. Houses are on large, manicured lots down long driveways. Some residences have in-ground pools. Most homes are connected to public water and sewer systems, though some have wells and septic tanks. Houses near the Tonawanda Creek may experience flooding as the water rises during inclement weather.
National, Minimal Traditional and Colonial Revival are common housing styles. They range from $150,000 to $735,000.
Locally-owned eateries throughout Pendleton
Craft Coffee House is a chic café in Pendleton Center that serves hand-crafted espresso drinks and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Along Mapleton Road, Smith’s Orchard Cider Mill is a family-run farm that makes fresh-pressed cider and sells apple pastries. Visitors may pick apples. The Ship Bar & Grill is a rustic modern pub serving American comfort and bar food along the water. State Route 78 is lined with businesses like Dollar General and Tractor Supply Co. Just outside Pendleton is Niagara County Produce and Badding Farm Market and Garden Center for groceries.
Commuters use state routes and interstates to reach nearby cities
Using state Route 270, Lockport is 6 miles from Pendleton, and the University at Buffalo is 8 miles away. Tonawanda is 9 miles away using Bear Ridge Road. Lockport Road leads 15 miles to Niagara Falls. Buffalo is 23 miles away using Interstate 190.
Lockport Memorial Hospital is 6 miles away, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 17 miles away. Houses of worship such as St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Christian Faith Chapel and Good Shepard Catholic Church are near the Tonawanda Creek.
Starpoint Central schools get Bs and As
Two school districts serve the area. Lockport City School District gets an A-minus from Niche, but the majority of Pendleton is served by schools in the Starpoint Central School District, which gets an A-minus. Students may attend Fricano Primary for kindergarten through second grade, and Douglas J. Regan Intermediate for third through fifth grade. Both schools receive a B-plus. Starpoint Middle gets an A-minus, and Starpoint High gets a B-plus. Students may participate in extracurricular activities such as gaming clubs, art clubs and tech clubs.
Markets and town events
Vendors and artisans come to the Pendleton Center Market Station every third Sunday from June through October to sell fresh fruits, vegetables and hand-made products. The town puts on the Annual Pendleton Community & Shop Local Faire in October. The fair provides community members with insight into Niagara County's services, such as an educational experience from the Aquarium of Niagara. There are also craft vendors and live performances. Transit Drive-In along state Route 78 is a drive-in theater with a snack bar that shows new and retro films. While waiting for the next show, patrons may play mini-golf while little ones explore the playground.
![Isabella Pontecorvo]()
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
