Unadilla is a scenic small town with interstate access
Located along the Susquehanna River and Interstate 88, Unadilla is a rural community in upstate New York where the small-town atmosphere is complemented by regional accessibility. “One of the best things about Unadilla is it’s right on the I-88 corridor,” says Richard Santos, a licensed real estate salesperson with Keller Williams Upstate New York Properties who’s sold homes here since 2019. “There’s an exit right on the south side of Unadilla, so it’s very convenient to jump on the highway, and you can get anywhere — all the way to Albany or Binghamton in the other direction.” Unadilla’s village area is home to a few locally owned businesses and parks, and the surrounding countryside has views of the Catskill foothills.
Turn-of-the-century village homes with farm properties nearby
In the village, turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival, Italianate and National homes typically sit on lots of about a third of an acre , providing space between neighbors and room for driveways and detached garages. Mature trees shade the narrow streets and yards, and there are sidewalks through most of the area. Ranch-style and Cape Cod homes are also available, typically around the village’s edges, which gives way to rolling farmland and pastures. Ranch-style and manufactured houses are spread far apart here, and many properties include several acres. Prices typically range from around $50,000 to $500,000, depending on condition, size and acreage. “There’s very affordable housing, and if you like a big historic house, there’s plenty of historic homes in these villages that are renovated already,” Santos says. “Or if you want an investment property, you can obtain things pretty modestly.” Many homes in the village are in designated flood zones and might require flood insurance.
The Otego-Unadilla Central School District serves the area
Kids can attend schools in the Otego-Unadilla Central School District, which earns an overall rating of C-plus from Niche. They can start at the C-rated Unatego Elementary, then go to the B-minus-rated Unatego Junior/Senior High for middle and high school. The high school’s Dollars for Scholars program raises college scholarship money for students. Six students from the class of 2024 were each awarded $4,000 for college through the program, and the group expects to award a similar amount for the foreseeable future.
Locally owned village businesses and a farm market
The Donut Hut and Bakery is one of the few businesses in Unadilla’s village. This locally owned restaurant is best known for its fresh donuts, and it also serves pizza. Green’s Long River Inn serves pub fare and has a spacious dining room with lounge seating and a pool table. The village is also home to a hardware store, a gas station and The Green Giraffe consignment shop. The Covered Bridge Farm Market sells farm-grown produce in the summer and fall; its Fall Fest each September brings live music and kids’ activities to the farm, and it also hosts a holiday market during Thanksgiving weekend. Nearby grocery stores include Price Chopper and Dollar General in Sidney . National retailers like Walmart and BJ’s Wholesale Club are in Oneonta .
Routes to Sidney and Oneonta
State Route 7, which is the village’s Main Street, leads around 5 miles to Sidney, while I-88 leads around 18 miles to Oneonta. The A.O. Fox Hospital’s Tri-Town Campus in Sidney is the closest emergency room, and A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta provides comprehensive care. The Otsego Express has bus routes from the village to Sidney and Oneonta. Sidewalks make the village pedestrian friendly, and houses of worship here include the First United Methodist Church of Unadilla and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. The Greater Binghamton Airport is around 47 miles away.
Outdoor recreation includes the river, trails and a drive-in theater
The Susquehanna River is a popular spot for fishing and canoeing, and there’s a public fishing area near the village. A playground and a basketball court are near the Unadilla Public Library, which hosts art classes and story times. Just outside of the village, Martin Brook Park has forested walking paths that are known as good spots for birdwatching. The family-owned Unadilla Drive-In theater has screened blockbuster movies each summer since 1956.
Popular events include a community yard sale and a canoe race
There are several events in Unadilla throughout the year, including Memorial Day weekend’s General Clinton Canoe Regatta, which is the longest single-day flat-water canoe race in the world. Paddlers start at Otego Lake in Cooperstown and make their way down the Susquehanna River to Bainbridge , passing through Unadilla on the way. In July, the Unadilla Carnival of Sales is a town-wide yard sale that also has food vendors and live music.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
