Quality of Life
Recreational Opportunities
Cattaraugus County’s center, the greater Olean area, can offer you cultural opportunities and recreational activities that rival almost any city in the United States. The possibilities are endless, no matter what your interest may be.
A wide range of programs are made available to local residents in the performing and fine arts in the form of theater, art galleries, museums, and more. If you’re up to making the 70-mile drive, you could experience a major Broadway Theatre production performed in Shea’s Theatre in Buffalo. Buffalo is also home to the nationally acclaimed Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo Philharmonic, and so much more.
The greater Olean area is extremely rich in recreational activities for people of any age. Whether an avid sportsman or a recreational hobbyist, the area offers you the opportunity to get outside and enjoy yourself. Allegheny State Park, the largest state park in New York State, provides its visitors the opportunities of swimming (in two different lakes), boating, camping, fishing and hiking. Holiday Valley, the area’s most popular downhill ski resort, also offers a wonderful golf course and lodging during the spring and summer season. The Allegheny River is locally recognized for wonderful fishing. Each season brings new and exciting opportunities for you and your family.
As to major spectator sports, the City of Olean is fortunate in that it is in the very heart of Buffalo Bills football and Buffalo Sabres hockey country. The homes of these teams, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Stadium and HSBC Arena, respectively, are located in downtown Buffalo, conveniently a 90-minute drive from Olean. Along with football and hockey, the Buffalo Bisons, part of the International Baseball League, bring America’s favorite pastime to the area and is located in close proximity to the HSBC Arena.
However, you don’t have to travel to Buffalo to see an excellent sporting event. You truly would have to look no further than a game at St. Bonaventure University, which offers sports fanatics tennis, baseball, soccer, and basketball games, just to name a few. St. Bonaventure basketball, in particular, has a huge fan-base in this area. If football is your sport, Olean High School has an excellent football program that the community is proud to support.
With its strong sense of community firmly in place, Olean exhibits many local festivals and events that bring hundreds of people together. Some of these activities include a Antique Auction, Rally in the Valley, A Taste of Olean, Art in the Park, Street Classics Car Show, Corn Festival, Santa Claus Lane Festival, and a Johnny Appleseed Festival. These family events are just some of examples of Olean’s diverse activities.
Cattaraugus County offers a wide spectrum of community activities for an individual or a family and definitely has something for everyone. Whether your passion is sports, theater, or an array of hobbies, our area will be able to meet and exceed your standards!
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