Experience it all in
The Greater Olean Area Community
Quality of life means different things to different people. Luckily, there’s something for everyone in and around Olean. Whether you’re looking for a thriving arts and entertainment scene, affordable housing packed with character and charm, or best-in-class educational opportunities and more—the greater Olean area boasts it all. The big cities only wish they had it this good.
Arts & Culture
Clubs
Education
Healthcare
Housing
Transportation
Recreation
Arts & Culture
The Greater Olean area offers a large, diverse assortment of programs in the performing and fine arts, thanks to the area colleges and the numerous local and regional organizations. National touring companies, well-known entertainers, symphonies, philharmonic orchestras, and more all find their way to Olean, enriching the cultural lives of our residents.
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African American Center, Cultural Development
Website | 1801 West State Street, Olean | (716) 372-3577
The center’s mission is to value, promote and integrate the rich and diverse history and culture of the Southern Tier Region of New York State through the celebration of the talents, lives, and history of the African Americans in the region.
Allegany Area Historical Association
Website | 25 N. Second Street, Allegany
The Association was established during the community’s Sesquicentennial celebration of 1981 for the purpose of collecting materials and artifacts pertaining to the history and development of the Allegany area. The Education Department of the University of the State of New York granted an Absolute Charter on December 10, 1987.
The Association’s permanent meeting site and shelter for historical artifacts is in the former United Methodist Church located at 25 N. Second Street in the village of Allegany. The church, a local historical landmark, was constructed in 1855 by the Methodist Episcopal Congregation, one of the earliest religious societies in the village. The Association now owns the building. The layout of the church has been preserved, including the original pews and pulpit.
Bartlett Historical House & Olean Point Museum
Website | 302 Laurens Street, Olean | (716) 376-5642
Take a walk back through time in the Victorian era of the late 1890’s in one of Olean’s oldest, grandest houses. New to the area – Olean Point Museum – existing carriage house is devoted to a time line tracking Olean’s history, children’s interactive center. During special exhibits, call for hours or for more information.
Chamber Music Society of Olean
Funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts Decentrealization Regrant Program administered by the Cottaraugus County Arts Council, the Music Society hosts several FREE Chamber Music Concerts throughout the year. The concerts are supported by our audience. Please support live chamber music concerts!
Dance Arts
Friends of Good Music
Garret Theatre Players
(716) 375-2405 | Email
The Garret Theatre Players is a St. Bonaventure University performing group. The players present a wide range of plays, ancient to modern day.
Haunted Hinsdale / Dandy House
Keynote Chorus
(585) 268-7310
The Keynote Chorus performs two official concerts per year in the Olean area. The chorus also can perform at churches, civic and other forums. Contact Al Mohilewsky for more information.
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Olean Barbershoppers
Website | (716) 912-4795
The Olean Barbershoppers perform at local events. Please contact Donald Derx for more information.
Olean Community Theatre
Website | (716) 375-1-OCT
The Olean Community Theatre holds theatrical performances, musicals, comedies and dramas. Season or individual show tickets available.
Olean Public Library
Website | (716) 372-0200
The Olean Public Library is a resource center for educational materials, and cultural arts center. The library has expanded their children’s section to include parent and infant reding areas.
Olean String Quartet
(716) 372-1380
The Olean String Quartet accepts engagements for variety of occasions. Please contact Sylvia Lynch.
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts (QCA)
Website | (716) 375-2494
The center is home of St. Bonaventure University’s world-class permanent art collection, a broad spectrum of art and historical artifacts that span from beginnings of Western civilization to the 21st Century. The collection totals approximately 2,000 works of art including paintings, sculpture, glassware, works on paper, photographs, and rare books and manuscripts. The QCA boasts 18,000 s.f. exhibition space showcasing the permanent art collection, national touring exhibitions, and faculty and student exhibitions. Additional facilities include a 321 seat proscenium theater and a 110 seat black box theater. The QCA is host to over 50 performances a year including professional presentations of classical music, theater, dance, and film, as well as lectures, symposia and student performances. Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday and Sunday 12 to 5 PM. Museum admission is free and open to the public year round.
St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Library
Website | (716) 375-2000
The SBU Friedsam Library contains over 240,000 books, publications, and resource materials. The library also is home to a rare book collection which contains manuscripts from medieval times through rare books of the 1850s. St. Bonaventure owns about 100 late medieval manuscripts from the 1100s and about 300 incunabula – the scholarly jargon used to describe written material which existed before 1500.
Southern Tier Symphony
Website | (716) 372-1110
They’re very happy to offer you and your family the thrill of hearing exciting performances of LIVE symphonic music.
Theatre Workshop
Website | (716) 373-SHOW
Theatre Workshop offers many opportunities for young and old alike to perform on stage in various plays, musicals and other vehicles during the year. The opportunities include Workshop Kids, Adult Theatre Workshop and the Theatre Workshop Players. Contact Nick Patrone.
Tri-County Council on the Arts
Website | (716) 372-7455 | Email
The TCAC promotes the creation, presentation and appreciation of the arts in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties. Tri-County Arts offers a variety of programs including a full-service pottery studio, art classes for kids and adults, arts newsletters, gallery exhibitions, an online events calendar, and special events like the Routes to Art Studio Tour and Art in the Park. Tri-County Arts administers grants for the New York State Council on the Arts, and helps to connect arts and cultural organizations throughout the region for networking and support.
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Make Instant Connections When You
Join A Club
If you’ve recently moved to Olean, joining a club is one of the best ways to meet your neighbors and create instant bonds with people who share the same interests. From classic cars to literacy and from leadership groups to veterans groups—and everything between—there’s something for everyone in Olean. Use the button below to download a PDF listing of all of the nonprofit clubs and associations in our community.
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Education
From public schools, two centralized school districts, two private schools, two colleges, two universities, vocational learning, and a STEM learning center, you and your family will enjoy robust educational opportunity in Olean.
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Allegany Limestone Central District
Educates about 1,300 students in grades Pre-K-12 and includes an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. The New York State Education Department designated the high school as a “High Performing School.”
Archbishop Walsh Academy
A private, coed Catholic school in the Franciscan tradition affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
Hinsdale Central School
A premier rural school district in New York State. Includes an elementary school and a middle/high school.
New Life Christian School
A non-denominational, K-12 Christian school (K-12) educating both local students and those from more than 15 countries around the world.
Olean High School
Educates about 850 students from grades 8 to 12 and offers a wide range of course selections and special programs including Project Lead the Way (Engineering), a Business Department with CTE endorsement, Art, Language, Career and Technical Education at BOCES, and exceptional Music and Art departments.
Portville Central School District
Educates about 1,000 students Pre-K to 12th grade. Class sizes are small, with a 12.8:1 student to teacher ratio. The district buses approximately 90 percent of the students. The school includes an all-weather outdoor running track, soccer and football stadiums, athletic fields, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a Nautilus exercise center.
BOCES Vocational Technical Center
Offers practical vocational training and special education programs for high school students and adults.
Jamestown Community College
A community college rooted in rich liberal arts tradition, Jamestown Community College is comprehensive community college offering 35 degree and 21 certificate options with campuses in Jamestown and Olean and an extension center in Dunkirk.
St. Bonaventure University
The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Ranked a top 5 “Best Value School” by US News and World Report.
Empire State College
Part of the SUNY system, Empire State offers a non-traditional approach to an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree in a variety of arts and sciences.
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
A four-year college of the University of Pittsburgh system serving more than 1,600 students. The school offers 41 majors and more than 50 minors on a 317-acre campus.
Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center
A space-themed non-profit learning center designed to stimulate a student’s interest in science, math and technology through a series of hands-on experiences and simulations that are tied to classroom learning. Students who visit the Center are split into groups but work together from a simulated space station and mission control room to complete a space mission. The Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center has been conducting missions since Fall 2009. The Center’s primary focus is to get kids excited about math and science, but the center is also open for corporate training sessions and community events.
To schedule a space mission or for more information:
Call: (716) 379-8686
Email: Fred@DRCLC.org
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Putting “Affordable” back in front of “Housing”
Living in Olean won’t break the bank. Average home prices range from $30,000 to $300,000 with rents ranging from $400 to $700 per month. The cost of new construction is generally between $80 and $100 per square foot, and a typical urban lot that’s 100’ by 150’ costs between $7,000 and $20,000. Homes are typically frame construction, with a basement foundation. You won’t find costs that low in communities with Olean’s amenities. Guaranteed.
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Health Care
Olean is the county’s center for advanced health care services, with primary hospital coverage provided by the Olean General Hospital. The area enjoys one of the most attractive physician/resident rates in Western New York and also boasts home health care services, a dialysis center, a diabetes center, a sleep disorders center, a hospice program, nursing homes, and the Cattaraugus County ReHabilitation Center.
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HomeCare & Hospice
Homepage – HomeCare & Hospice (homecare-hospice.org)
A non-profit agency, provides a variety of comprehensive professional and para-professional health care services to all age groups. Home Health Care serves patients in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Wyoming counties.
Intandem
Intandem has been serving children and adults with disabilities throughout Cattaraugus County and beyond for more than 55 years. The agency assists more than 700 individuals each day, building brighter futures and giving them the tools to live, work and engage with their community as independently as possible.
Mercy Flight
Mercy Flight has been a unique operation since its inception in 1981. As the pioneer air-medical service in New York State, Mercy Flight was one of the first operations of its kind in the country. Mercy Flight’s main base of operation is now at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. In an effort to even better serve the community, a WNY Southern Tier base was established in 1998 thus reducing response times. The Olean, NY, base began operating in September 1998 in the new Louis Magnano/Olean General Hospital/Mercy Flight Heliport on the campus of Olean General Hospital. This base currently is in service 24/7 per day. As a result, Mercy Flight now flies more missions in Cattaraugus County than any other WNY county except for Erie County.
Olean General Hospital
Olean General Hospital is a 186-bed, non-profit, acute care hospital. For more than 110 years, the hospital has fulfilled its mission of providing the highest quality care services to the residents of Olean and its surrounding communities. The hospital’s core services include: a Chest Pain Center accredited by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care; interventional cardiac catheterization in partnership with Kaleida Health; cancer care in partnership with Roswell Park Cancer Institute; radiology/MRI, laboratory, outpatient procedures, physical therapy, surgical center, 24-hour emergency department, maternity (family birthing unit), dialysis, ICCU and the Gundlah Dental Center. In addition, the hospital operates primary care centers in Salamanca and Delevan New York. Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center are members of the Upper Allegheny Health System, formed in 2009. This integration enables both hospitals to better respond to health care needs of the region.
Olean Medical Group
Olean Medical Group is the area’s leading multi-specialty group, established in 1948. Located in Olean next to Olean General Hospital, Olean Medical Group strives to provide for its patients the best medical care with dignity compassion and respect.
Southern Tier Health Care System
STHCS is a three-county rural health network serving Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. Our mission is simple: to improve the wellness of our rural communities.
Total Senior Care
Total Senior Care – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Innovative, comprehensive person-centered care providing a full array of health services for the frail elderly, including adult social day and home care. Call for a free tour of the center and to learn more about how we help seniors remain independent.
Universal Primary Care
A not for profit primary care clinic serving the needs of the whole family from birth throughout life.
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In Olean, you can
Get Where You’re Going
Olean Area Transit System (what we fondly call OATS) is a public transportation service offered by the City of Olean. Routes generally run Monday through Saturday, with special runs serving St. Bonaventure University during weeknights and weekends. Pay per ride or grab a monthly pass.
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Recreation
Whether you’re the outdoorsy type, the exercise buff, or more the “lazy river” type, you’ll find an abundance of recreational opportunities in the Olean area.
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Allegany Recreation Center
Website | Route 417, Allegany | (716) 372-1132
The Center offers approximately 100 programs each year on a quarterly seasonal schedule through Recreation/Youth Center, Senior Center, Community Parks, and the Allegany High School Gymnasium. The center schedules all pavilions, sports leagues, games, reunions, organizations, and group events/functions.
Allegheny River Valley Trail
Trail Map | Trail Brochure | Trail Rules
A 5.6 mile recreational trail through Olean, Allegany and St. Bonaventure University campus is used for fitness activities such as hiking, running, biking, and in-line skating. For more information on the trail or how to purchase a brick, please call the Chamber at (716) 372-4433.
Boat Launches
Get into the river and paddle away from several locations in and around Olean:
- ALLEGANY — Allegheny River, located off West River Road, south of the village of Allegany, south side of the Allegheny River. Hand launch, 8 cars parking, gravel surface
- HINSDALE — Olean Creek, off Route 16 on Giles Hollow Road, 6 miles north of the town of Olean. Hand launch, 5 cars parking
- OLEAN — Allegheny River, located off South Union Street, West River Road. Ramp launch, 10 cars parking, asphalt surface
- PORTVILLE — Allegheny River, located on Steam Valley Road, right from Olean-Portville Road (Route 417), Portville. Hand launch, 6 cars parking, gravel surface.
See a list of additional launches here.
Bradner Stadium
550 East State Street, Olean | (716) 376-5666
Bradner Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium that can accommodate baseball, soccer, and football. The stadium was built in 1926 and was substantially renovated in 2013.
Droney Fit & Wellness 24-7
Website | 3132 NYS Route 417, Olean | (716) 372-FITT
This health club/physical fitness facility open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week has a complete line of Life Fitness cardiovascular equipment, full-body variable resistance Life Fitness circuit equipment, a yoga/aerobic room with Fitness On Demand, Hammer Strength free weights, and locker rooms with private showers.
Eade Fitness 24/7
Website | Delaware Park Center, Olean| (716) 372-9444
Good Times of Olean
Website | 800R East State Street, Olean | (716) 379-8210
Good Times offers guests a family fun experience with activities all ages can enjoy. It includes a 16 lane bowling center and an 18 hole miniature golf course, an arcade, beach volleyball courts, darts, billiards, ping pong, shuffle board, and more.
Good Times also offers an enhanced dining experience for their guests with three restaurant options: The Point, Hammer Back Bar & Grill, and the Snak Shak. If you’re in the mood for a nice sit down dinner, visit The Point, serving a variety of steak and seafood dishes. Looking for a fun get-together with friends, or a place to watch the game? Head to the Hammer Back Bar & Grill. And if you’re looking for something quick and easy, visit the Snak Shak for hot dogs, baskets, and ice cream.
Holiday Valley's Sky High
Website | (716) 699-HIGH
Sky High offers an Aerial Park and a Mountain Coaster. Sky High is open daily through Labor Day, then weekends through Fall Festival. The Aerial Park is a series of platforms and “bridges” built in a 4 acre section of the woods. The platforms are built in the trees and the bridges connect the platforms. There are 8 courses with different levels of difficulty and the more difficult the course, the higher up it is in the trees. Reservations are required for the Aerial Park.
Little League
More Information (PDF)
PLAY BALL! These fields host Little League Jr./Sr. baseball tournaments. Tournaments could be hosted in the same age group same weekend split between Salamanca and Allegany (14 miles – 20 min drive time); Olean and Portville (5 miles – 10 min drive time); Salamanca and ECLV Ellicottville, Little Valley & Cattaraugus (9 miles – 16 min drive time); and mix and match in between!
Below is information on each separate field with field information, fees, amenities and contact people/organizations details. Please call the Chamber at (716) 372-4433 with general inquiries.
Allegany (PDF)
Ellicottville/Little Valley/Cattaraugus (PDF)
Franklinville (PDF)
Olean (PDF)
Portville (PDF)
Salamanca (PDF)
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Olean 1854 FC
Olean 1854 FC is a men’s amateur soccer team playing in the Buffalo & District Soccer League. Home games are played at St. Bonaventure University.
Olean Oilers Baseball Team
The Olean Oilers Baseball Team is a summer, wood bat development team playing in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL). Founded in 1978, the NYCBL gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts. The NYCBL is affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB). The Olean Oilers will play their upcoming 2017 season in Olean, New York at Bradner Stadium.
Olean Soccer Club
Olean Soccer Club offers Recreational & Competitive Youth Soccer in Olean & Western New York. OSC runs both summer (outdoor) and winter (indoor) programs.
Olean Family YMCA
Website | 1101 Wayne Street, Olean | (716) 373-2400
The Olean Family YMCA has two indoor swimming pools, a full-sized gymnasium, a racquetball court, co-ed steam rooms, dry sauna, wellness center-nautilus and free weight equipment, aerobic studio, kindergym, and a kids club room.
Pfeiffer Nature Center
Website | 14 South Main Street, Portville | (716) 933-0187
Pfeiffer Nature Center offers more than 9 miles of free-access hiking trails, most open from dawn to dusk year round. Just a short walk from the parking lot on top of Lillibridge Road, visitors are in our Living Museum of old-growth and mature second-growth forest. This preserve also includes a Historic American Chestnut log cabin and a rentable timber frame pavilion, which also serves as our Outdoor Learning Laboratory. The Center’s Yubadam Road property is more ecologically diverse, with streams and ponds, sugar bush and pastures, wetlands and huge ancient boulders. The Nature Center offers programming year round, both on our preserves and in the community.
The Bernice Piersen Challenge Course
Located at Portville Central School, Portville
(716) 933-1147 | Email
The Pierson Challenge Course is designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social or emotional development of every student. The course is available to other school districts, non-profits, and businesses looking for team building activities as well as social groups for a challenge.
It includes:
- Two high ropes courses, one with five elements 32 feet off the ground and one with seven elements 42 feet off the ground. The final element is the 500-foot zipline.
- A low ropes course containing 13 elements designed to help your team build bonds and improve communication, team building, and problem solving. These elements focus on leadership skills and positive communication to achieve success on an element. They vary in amounts of risk, strength, and awareness and require you to work together as a team.
- An inside course that features a 32-foot climbing wall with four challenging climbing routes. Six other elements are suspended from the ceiling, challenging your balance, climbing skills and your love for heights.
The course is maxed out at 40 participants. For participant numbers and fees, please contact Portville Central School Athletic Director office.
State Developed Pond Area & Fishing Dock
Love to fish? A handicapped-accessible fishing dock is opened off Lower Birch Run Road to provide access to mitigation ponds. The 100-foot-long fishing dock is served by a handicap-accessible parking area. Fish include carp, panfish, northern pike, and bass. A black top walking path back between the other ponds provides individuals to view wildlife and birds and fish.
William O. Smith Olean Rec Center
East State and Front Streets, Olean | (716) 373-RINK
The center has a municipal swimming pool, indoor ice skating rink, outdoor roller blading rink and ramps and a pavilion.
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We’d love to have you.
If you’re looking for a close-knit, values-based community in a beautiful location with all the amenities a city offers, Olean is the place for you. Ready to experience it firsthand? Request our Welcome Relocation Packet. It’s a great resource for both new residents and visitors, packed with demographic information, a real estate directory, and listings of local attractions, schools, restaurants, lodging, and more.
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