Pike is a gateway to Letchworth State Park’s scenic falls
Pike is one of many tiny town centers in the rolling forests and pastures of western New York. Despite its size, it gets a decent number of visitors because of its proximity to Letchworth State Park, locally acclaimed as the Grand Canyon of the East. “Quite a few people stay here to go to Letchworth,” says Billy Proietti, the general manager of Letchworth Valley Campground & Resort in Pike. “It’s a cozy, warm place to stay, compared to camping in the park.” Pike doesn’t have much, besides homes, the Wyoming County Fairgrounds and one restaurant. Residents have the perfect amount of privacy among the woodlands and dairy farms, and they’re only around 5 miles from some of Upstate New York’s best scenery.
Letchworth State Park’s waterfalls are a few miles away
Letchworth State Park’s Upper Falls are just over 5 miles east. Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, this popular hiking area offers trails along the Genesee River, where visitors can admire wooded cliffs cascading down to rushing rapids and waterfalls. Letchworth Valley Campground caters to outside visitors. “We’re the closest campground to Letchworth. It’s a straight shot on one road,” Proietti. It also has recreation for residents. “We have a 150-acre property including a lake where you can fish, kayak and canoe,” Proietti says. “People don’t need to stay here either. They can just come for the day.”
Wooded cabins and farmhouses with acreage
Homes in Pike are either close to each other in the town or stand alone on many acres in the countryside. Fixer-uppers and ranch-style homes in town and small cabins with a few forested acres can range from $30,000 to $160,000. Larger colonial-style homes in town, farmhouses and countryside Tudor-style homes with more than 10 acres can cost between $160,000 and $270,000. Newer homes aren’t common out here, but open lots present opportunities for more recent builds, such as a brand new modern farmhouse on a 30-plus-acre property.
Letchworth schools have a 9-to-1 student-teacher ratio
Students in Pike attend Letchworth schools, which are based in Gainesville. The shared campus is more or less than 5 miles north of most homes. Kids start at Letchworth Elementary, rated a B-minus by Niche. Next is Letchworth Middle, given a C-plus. The pipeline concludes at Letchworth High, which gets a B. The district is proud of its 9-to-1 student-teacher ratio, compared to the national average of 16-to-1, allowing students to get specialized attention.
Neighbors get breakfast at Stunniez Countryside Diner
There’s one restaurant in Pike’s town center: Stunniez Countryside Diner. Stunniez is the only eatery for a few miles around, so it’s the go-to spot for neighbors to catch up over breakfast. Shop ‘n Save in Fillmore is the closest supermarket, less than 10 miles down state Route 19. Fillmore also has a few places to eat.
Pike is home of the Wyoming County Fair
The town gets more traffic for one week in August, during the Wyoming County Fair. The fairgrounds are in the heart of Pike’s town center. The festivities include a grand parade, followed by days of agriculturally focused events and community dinners.
Buffalo and Rochester are within a 60-mile drive
State Routes 19 and 39 run through Pike, taking drivers across Wyoming County and connecting them to other highways on their way to upstate New York’s larger cities. Route 19 leads 15 miles north to Wyoming County Community Hospital in Warsaw, the closest healthcare center. The hospital is also a source of employment in this agriculturally dominated region. The nearest large city is Buffalo, 55 miles northwest. Residents can also fly in and out of Buffalo. Rochester isn’t much farther away, just 60 miles north.
