Rural Sheldon has a sense of community
Sheldon, 30 miles from Buffalo, is a country community with roadside farmstands and open space. “This is a nice rural farm area,” says Melissa Haenle, a resident and agent with WNY Metro Roberts Realty, who has worked in the industry for 11 years. “We don’t find many properties that go on the market in Sheldon. They're usually over an acre lots, and mostly people moving away from the city out to the country.” While homes may be spread out, the county fire departments bring a sense of community to the town with annual events and activities. “It’s a nice, quiet rural area. Everybody just kind of helps everybody. It’s very neighborly,” says Haenle.
Shopping and dining at farmstands and in Strykersville
DanDee Farm Market, a small stand along Perry Road, sells seasonal produce, meats and flowers along Perry Road. Farmcraft Brewery has a farmers market every Sunday along U.S. Route 20A and often has live music on Fridays and weekends. The brewery serves bar food and craft cocktails and beer. Strykersville’s Main Street has eateries like Flipside, a restaurant that serves American comfort food and has a bowling alley. “Strykersville does have a Dollar General now, so that’s kind of a small grocery store; the next closest grocery would be Arcade or East Aurora,” says Haenle. The Dollar General is also along Main Street, across from the Red Apple Food Marts convenience store. Arcade has Arcade Center Farm for fresh produce and a Save A Lot, while East Aurora has Tops Friendly Markets and the East Aurora Cooperative Market.
Homes with large lots or on farmsteads
Most of the area's homes are set along roads with open stretches of land. Many have long driveways or are on farms. Houses are built closer together on smaller lots in Strykersville, a hamlet in Sheldon. Most residents use a well and a septic system. Cottage, National and ranch-style homes are common. They range from $230,000 to $490,000.
Fire departments bring the community together with annual picnics
“All the fire departments in the summertime have picnics, and each one takes a turn; they have tractor pulls, and that’s a huge hit,” says Haenle. “They have parades and things where all the fire departments in the county come.” The picnics often have raffles, live music, food and beer stands. Some picnics have a Waterball Competition, where firefighters use hoses to nudge a ball into the opposing team’s goal. The Strykersville Volunteer Fire Company has a two-day annual picnic near the beginning of July, with a parade, a car show and a fireworks display.
Attica Central School District earns a B-minus
Most students in the area attend Attica Central School District, which earns a B-minus from Niche. Attica Elementary gets a B-minus. Attica Middle and Attica High both get a B. The high school partners with Genesee Valley Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, which allows students to receive college credits and technical degrees in animal science, culinary arts and criminal justice. Other students may attend the Holland Central School District, which receives a C-plus.
Resorts and safaris near Sheldon
Byrncliff Golf Resort & Banquets has an 18-hole course and is open to the public. The resort also offers cross-country skiing and has a lodge, a campground and rental condos. Ironwood Golf Course has 18 holes and is open from late March to early April. Hidden Valley Animal Adventure is less than a mile from Sheldon and has safaris and petting zoos.
State routes lead to East Aurora, Arcade and Warsaw
Sheldon is between East Aurora, Arcade and Warsaw. State Route 78 leads to East Aurora, 10 miles away and state Route 77 leads 16 miles to Arcade. Centerline Road leads 14 miles to Warsaw. Using state Route 400, Buffalo is 30 miles away. The Wyoming County Community Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility is 15 miles away in Warsaw, and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 31 miles away. Houses of worship such as Saint John’s United Church of Christ and St. Cecilia are along Centerline Road.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
