Rural Wales is known for its landscape, transportation and community
Wales, 25 miles from Buffalo, New York, got its name because its rolling hills and swaths of greenery reminded early settlers of the Wales of Britain. This scenic landscape continues to draw residents, along with its proximity to the Aurora Expressway, which offers access to the rest of Erie County. Residents also appreciate the area’s school system and community. “The school district is very strong. It's a small town community feel, rural living, but still close to towns like East Aurora and close to the expressway,” says Matthew Foss, an associate broker with Trank Real Estate. Foss has been working in the area for almost 10 years. Wales is divided into hamlets like Wales Center, which has the town park and buildings and Wales Hollow, which is primarily farmland.
Rural Wales offers parks and preserves with quick access to the Aurora Expressway.
Taste Bistro and Coffee Bar is a frequent stop on East Aurora’s Main Street.
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Winter and summer activities in county parks and preserves
Wales Town Park is an open green area in Wales Center with a hard-top basketball court and a playground. Near Wales Primary, the Butterfly Athletic Park offers an inclusive playground for kids and includes a music area and a butterfly-shaped climbing wall. Also in the Wales Center is Kenneglenn Scenic and Nature Preserve, which protects portions of the Hunters Creek gorge, wetlands and forests. Visitors may hike and snowshoe in the area. Nearby, the 760-acre Sgt. Mark A. Rademacher Memorial Park/Hunters Creek, commonly called Hunters Creek, is a year-round location with opportunities for hiking, fishing and mountain biking in the summer and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. Emery Park, 5 miles from Wales, is a 175-acre recreation area featuring outdoor sports and hiking trails. It also has a ski lodge open during the winter months.
The Veteran Memorial in Wales sits next to Wales Town Park, honoring soldiers of various wars.
Hunters Creek and Kenneglenn Preserve offer trails near Wales Center year-round.
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Simple styles down long driveways
Homes sit on large lots and have long driveways and most are surrounded by farmland or mature trees. Wales is rural, and many homes rely on private wells and septic tanks. National, split-level and ranch-style homes are common and range from $175,000 to $500,000.
Ranch-style homes are common on wide lots across Wales.
Many Wales homes sit back from the road with long driveways and trees.
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Iroquois Central schools receive high Bs from Niche
Two school districts serve the area. The Holland Central School District receives a C-plus from Niche, but most students attend the Iroquois Central School District, which gets a B. Wales Primary gets a B-minus for kindergarten through fourth grade, and Iroquois Intermediate receives a B for fifth grade. Iroquois Middle gets a B-plus, and Iroquois High gets a B. The high school has several clubs and activities, including drama club, jazz band and mock trial.
Wales Primary serves K-4 and earns a B-minus from Niche.
Iroquois Middle in Elma earns a B-plus from Niche.
Iroquois High earns a B and offers drama, jazz band and mock trial.
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The Aurora Expressway makes commuting easier
“People work all over the place, it's convenient,” says Foss. “It’s close to the expressway, so they can get wherever they're working; East Aurora, Orchard Park, some people work from home. It’s a mixed bag.” The Aurora Expressway is between Wales and East Aurora, which is 5 miles away. Using state Route 16, the tourist area of Holland is 8 miles away. Using U.S. Route 20A and state route 400, Buffalo is 25 miles away. Mercy Hospital of Buffalo is 19 miles away, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 26 miles away. Promised Land Church and Wales Center Community Baptist Church is off U.S. Route 20A.
Shopping and dining in Wales and East Aurora
Wales Center Hotel, a bar and grill, is along Big Tree Road, with most of the area's shopping and dining. “The Wales Hotel has been famous for its wings for years,” says Foss. The East Aurora Auction and Expo Center is farther along the road, across from a Dollar General. The auction and expo center has a flea and farmers market that's open weekends year-round and an antique mall that's open Wednesday through Sunday. Live auctions are also held at the facility. For more shopping and dining, East Aurora has Bar-Bill Tavern, a rustic eatery that serves bar food and American fare in a historic building. For groceries, the East Aurora Cooperative Market is on Main Street and TOPS Friendly Markets is on Grey Street.
Main and Hamlin features outdoor seating in season.
East Aurora, 5 miles west, offers pubs and late-night dining on Main Street.
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Community events
In June, vendors and food trucks surround the South Wales Community Hall for the annual Community Fair. Each year has a theme, and the 2024 theme was “Memory Lane.” A booth was set up with photos from past events and a scrapbook that visitors could add to. The Wales Center Volunteer Fire Company hosts a drive-through chicken barbecue each April.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
Photography Contributed By
Benjamin Rose
Video By
David Strayer
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Chelsea Root,
an experienced agent in this area.
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