Olean
Around Olean
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · New York · 75k people
Olean
“Maple City”
Where the hills meet the river and every season feels like home.
St. Bonaventure BrownForest GreenAutumn Gold
Welcome to Olean, where the Allegheny River winds through the Enchanted Mountains. Whether you're here for the outdoors, the Bonnies, or just a good beef on weck, you'll find a friendly community ready to share the best of the region.
Clubs for Olean
No clubs for Olean yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Olean. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Olean. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Allegany State Park New York's largest state park; hiking, camping, and lakes.
- Allegheny River Fishing, kayaking, and scenic views through the region.
- Seneca Allegany Casino Entertainment, gaming, and dining destination.
- St. Bonaventure University Home of the Bonnies; historic campus and events.
- Rock City Park Unique rock formations and walking trails.
- Salamanca Rail Museum Railroad history in a historic station.
- Outdoors Hiking in Allegany State Park
- Outdoors Fishing on the Allegheny River
- With kids Visit Rock City Park
- With kids Salamanca Rail Museum
- Evenings Seneca Allegany Casino shows
- Evenings Bonnies basketball games
- Locals love Hunting camps
- Locals love Sugar shacks
Through the year
- Cattaraugus County Fair July Classic county fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Maple Weekend March Open houses at sugar shacks across the region to see syrup making.
- Olean Oilers Baseball Summer Summer collegiate baseball games at a local field.
- St. Bonaventure Bonnies Basketball Winter NCAA Division I basketball games on campus.
Cold, snowy winters and mild summers. Best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Late spring through early fall
Talk like a local
- “Bonnies”
- St. Bonaventure University sports teams and fans.
- “Catt”
- Cattaraugus County.
- “The Enchanted Mountains”
- Nickname for the region's hills and forests.
- “Sugar bush”
- A maple syrup grove or operation.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- St. Bonaventure Bonnies NCAA Division I
- Olean Oilers New York Collegiate Baseball League
Also rooting for Buffalo Bills (NFL), Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Buffalo Bisons (MiLB)
Eat and drink
- Beef on Weck A roast beef sandwich on a kummelweck roll, a western New York staple.
- Sponge Candy A crunchy, honeycomb-like candy covered in chocolate, popular in the region.
- Maple Syrup Produced locally from sugar maples, a source of pride and a seasonal treat.
Where people go
- Allegany State Park The largest state park in New York, offering hiking, camping, and winter sports.
- Allegheny River A scenic river that flows through the area, popular for fishing and boating.
- Seneca Allegany Casino
- St. Bonaventure University A small Franciscan university that anchors the community with its campus and events.
- Sugar Shacks Local maple syrup producers where visitors can watch the boiling process and buy fresh syrup.
- Hunting Camps Rustic cabins and lodges used by hunters and outdoor enthusiasts in the surrounding forests.
Heritage and traditions
Olean and its neighbors are proud of their small-town friendliness, the deep roots of the Seneca Nation, and the natural beauty of the Allegheny River and Allegany State Park.
This time of year in Olean
- Hunting season Fall Deer and small game hunting in the forests in the fall.
- Fall foliage October Colorful leaves in the hills in October.
Say it like a local: “gumband” — Rubber band
Festivals
- Allegany Nature Pilgrimage May Guided walks and workshops at Allegany State Park in May.
- Seneca Nation Allegany Pow Wow August Traditional dance, drumming, and crafts in August.
- Olean Italian Festival July Italian food, music, and heritage in July.
- Salamanca Fall Festival September Crafts, food, and a parade in September.
- St. Bonaventure Christmas Concert December Holiday music by university choirs in December.
- Olean First Friday Monthly Art walks and gallery openings in downtown Olean, monthly.
Landmarks with a story
- Seneca-Iroquois National Museum Museum of Seneca culture and history in Salamanca.
- Our Lady of Angels Chapel Historic chapel on the St. Bonaventure University campus.
- Olean Historic District Downtown Olean with 19th-century architecture and landmarks.
- Allegany Indian Reservation Sovereign territory of the Seneca Nation, with cultural sites and community buildings.
- Kinzua Dam Dam on the Allegheny River that created the reservoir; a significant engineering feat and a painful history for the Seneca.
Food traditions
- Seneca corn soup A traditional Seneca dish of hominy and beans, often served at community gatherings and pow wows.
- Fry bread Fried dough served at Native American events, often with powdered sugar or taco toppings.
- Friday fish fry A Lenten tradition at churches and taverns, featuring haddock or cod with fries and coleslaw.
- Hunting camp breakfast Hearty breakfasts with venison sausage, eggs, and pancakes, a staple at hunting camps.
- Buckwheat pancakes A local favorite, often served with maple syrup from nearby sugar shacks.
Music and arts
- Seneca traditional music Drumming and singing at pow wows and cultural events.
- Native American crafts Beadwork, cornhusk dolls, and quillwork made by Seneca artisans.
- Local folk music Singer-songwriters and bluegrass performances in small venues.
- St. Bonaventure choirs University choral groups perform concerts throughout the year.
A little history
- 1800s Olean's name from oil
- 1965 Kinzua Dam flood
- 1858 St. Bonaventure University founded
- 1850s Railroad in Salamanca
- 1921 Allegany State Park established
Rivalries
- St. Bonaventure vs. Canisius Western New York college basketball rivalry.
- Game day St. Bonaventure Bonnies basketball
- Game day Olean Oilers baseball
- Outdoors Hiking in Allegany State Park
- Outdoors Fishing on the Allegheny River
- With kids Rock City Park
- With kids Salamanca Rail Museum
People here speak with a Western New York accent, often saying 'pop' for soda, 'crick' for creek, and 'youse' for you all. The name 'Allegany' is pronounced 'al-uh-GAY-nee'.
Only here
- Salamanca is the only city in the US located on a Native American reservation.
- The Allegheny Reservoir was created by the Kinzua Dam, flooding Seneca land.
- Rock City Park features unique rock formations.
- The Seneca Nation has a sovereign government within the county.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce 'Allegany' as 'al-uh-GAY-nee'.
- Be ready for heavy snow in winter; invest in a good snow shovel.
- Try a beef on weck at a local tavern.
- Respect the Seneca Nation's sovereignty and land.
- Explore Allegany State Park for outdoor recreation.
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Part of Buffalo area
Nearby
Every areaBradfordPennsylvaniaSmall town, big outdoors.WellsvilleNew YorkWhere the hills are sweet with maple and the nights are quiet.WarrenPennsylvaniaWhere the wild forest meets the river's calm.JamestownNew YorkWhere the grapes grow and laughter livesSt. MarysPennsylvaniaWhere the elk roam and the forest whispers.WarsawNew YorkRolling hills, close-knit towns.BuffaloNew YorkWhere wings were born and winters are sharedBataviaNew YorkHeart of the Genesee Valley
Olean, NY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.