Roseboom offers scenic country living with easy access to nearby towns
Located in the foothills of upstate New York's Catskill Mountains, Roseboom is a scenic agricultural area where homebuyers can find secluded homes on several acres while still being close to Cooperstown and Cobleskill. “I find that when I want culture, I can go to Cooperstown and have access to the lake and museums. And yet, it’s an easy drive to Cobleskill, so if I want Burger King or Walmart, I can just go the opposite way,” says Linda Kiesow, a licensed real estate salesperson with Country Boy Realty who’s lived in Roseboom for nearly 50 years. “I find that I can get everything I need from here, and yet the houses in Roseboom are priced less than Cooperstown, and most of them are less than Cobleskill.” Roseboom is home to several state forests and is a short drive from Otsego Lake, providing plenty of ways for residents to enjoy the area’s natural beauty.
Secluded properties with views of the Catskill Mountains
Sprawling pastures and hilly forests define the landscape in Roseboom, and the farmhouses, log cabins and ranch-style homes here often sit on several acres far from neighbors. The foothills of the Catskill Mountains rise above the farmland here, creating scenic, pastoral views from many of the homes and from the quiet, two-lane and dirt roads that weave through the area. “A lot of my sales are people buying as a summer home now but planning on living in it when they retire,” Kiesow says, adding that many buyers here come from downstate areas. “They’re looking for something on 10, 20 acres because they feel like they’ve had neighbors their whole life, so they want to be in a country, secluded location.” Prices typically range from around $140,000 to $370,000. Properties in low-lying areas can have a high risk of flooding.
Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School serves kids in all grades
Kids can attend Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, which earns a rating of C from Niche. The school teaches pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the same building and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 10-to-1, according to Niche. At the school’s health center, kids can get medical treatment, dental services and mental health care for free.
Recreation includes state forests, golf and Otsego Lake
Roseboom is home to several state forests. “State land is open for hiking and hunting, and there are snowmobile trails,” Kiesow says. “It’s open access — no fee whatsoever. You can just go there and hike and picnic.” Honey Hill State Forest is best known for its snowmobile trail, and R. Milton Hick Memorial State Forest has a nearly 5-mile trail for hiking or cross-country skiing, a fishing pond and two trout streams. The nine-hole Cherry Valley Golf Course is open to the public and offers seasonal memberships. Nearby, Glimmerglass State Park provides access to Otsego Lake, where people can swim, boat and hike. Cooperstown is the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which documents baseball history and hosts special events.
A country store and restaurant close by, more options in Cooperstown
Roseboom’s small town center includes Roseboom United Methodist Church, Bob’s Country Store and The Roseboom Café. Bob’s Country Store is a small grocery store that also offers locally sourced meat, desserts and deli sandwiches. The Roseboom Café has a casual diner feel and serves American comfort food. Nearby, Cooperstown has a walkable Main Street with locally owned boutiques and restaurants, and it’s also home to a Price Chopper grocery store and CVS. More national retailers are in Oneonta.
Within 30 minutes of Cooperstown and Cobleskill
Cooperstown is around 11 miles away via state Route 166 and county roads, and Cobleskill is 19 miles away via state Routes 165 and 10. “Cooperstown and Cobleskill both have hospitals,” Kiesow says, referring to Bassett Medical Center and Cobleskill Regional Hospital, “so there’s excellent medical care within minutes.” Oneonta is around 30 miles away, and the Albany International Airport is a 62-mile drive.
Snowy winters can limit travel on dirt roads
Roseboom’s winters can be cold and snowy, but Kiesow says, “We don’t have the tremendous lake effect storms like they have north of us.” She says that the main roads are usually cleared pretty quickly after snow, but some of the dirt roads aren’t maintained at all through the winter. “They really do take care of the roads well, and ... the power doesn’t go out very much,” she says.
Vintage tractors at Roseboom Antique Power Days
On the third weekend of August, Roseboom Antique Power Days celebrates vintage farm equipment with three-days of exhibitions, food booths and vendors. “People bring hundreds of old tractors,” Kiesow says. “They have a tractor parade, and they fire up all these antique tractors and drive them around the block. The people from downstate are kind of confused when suddenly we block off the roads and drive tractors around.” The three-day event can attract hundreds of people to the area. “It’s just a nice, small-town community event,” Kiesow says.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
