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Olean is a city in the Southern Tier of New York.

Understand

Oak Hill Park Historic District

Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County and serves as its financial, business, transportation and entertainment center. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.

The city is surrounded by the town of Olean and is located in the southeastern part of the county. The population was 14,452 at the 2010 census.

Get in

By car

Olean is located along Interstate 86 at exits 25 and 26. Known as the Southern Tier Expressway west of I-81 in Binghamton, Interstate 86 connects to Interstate 90 in the west near Erie and Interstate 81 in Binghamton to the east.

New York State Route 16 runs through Olean as Union Street, the main north / south thoroughfare. New York 16 connects to Pennsylvania Route 646 to the south and to New York State Route 5 in Buffalo to the north.

By plane

The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bradford Regional Airport (BFD IATA) in Bradford, Pennsylvania, which is served with daily commuter flights from Pittsburgh via Southern Airways Express: four on weekdays, two on Saturdays, and three on Sundays.

Also, if you happen to be flying your own plane, Cattaraugus County-Olean Airport (OLE  IATA), located at 5420 Hatch Hill Rd. in the nearby town of Ischua, is open to the public for general aviation purposes.

In practice, however, arriving in Olean by plane usually means flying into Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

By bus

  • Coach USA buses arrive and depart from the parking lot of the Olean Center Mall at 400 North Union Street.
Service from Buffalo via Buffalo Niagara International Airport, East Aurora, Franklinville, and various points in between.
Service from Jamestown via Randolph, Little Valley, and Salamanca.
Service from DuBois via St. Marys and Bradford.
Service from Buffalo via Springville, Ellicottville, Salamanca, and various points in between.

Get around

As a smaller city a car is a benefit for travelling. However there are options available for those who are unable to drive.

By public transportation

The Olean Area Transit System (OATS) provides public transit in Cattaraugus County. The system provides 6 routes serving Olean and the surrounding area.

By taxi

See

Olean Public Library

Historic buildings

For a city of its size, Olean has a number of historic properties and districts.

  • 1 Beardsley-Oliver House, 312 Laurel Ave. Beardsley-Oliver House is a 2 1⁄2-story, wood-frame dwelling built in about 1890. It exhibits a late Victorian blending of Shingle Style and Queen Anne styles. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 2 Conklin Mountain House, 304 E. State St.. Conklin Mountain House is a Second Empire style wood frame dwelling built in 1886. The front facade features a three story tower with mansard roof and a wraparound porch. The interior features elaborate and extensive woodwork. It was constructed by the owners of Conklin Wagon Works, one of Olean's most important industries in the late 19th century. It was subsequently owned by the Mountain family, who operated the Mountain Clinic Infirmary. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 3 Oak Hill Park Historic District, Roughly along Laurens, N. Second, Third, Fourth, and W. Sullivan Sts.. The 32.5-acre (132,000 m2) district encompasses 89 properties including 82 residences, two churches, one school (the Olean High School), and a landscape design. There are 76 contributing buildings. The structures reflect a variety of mid-late 19th-century and early 20th-century architectural styles including Queen Anne, Italianate, and Gothic Revival styles. The structures were constructed between about 1849 and 1937. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 4 Olean Armory, 119 Times Sq.. Olean Armory is a historic armory building. It was designed by State architects Isaac G. Perry (1890 structure) and Lewis Pilcher (1919 structure). It consists of a two-story, Tudor inspired administration building constructed in 1919, with an attached Romanesque drill shed constructed in 1890. The building features a number of castellated style features such as turrets and buttresses. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 5 Olean Public Library, 116 S. Union St.. The Olean Public Library is a historic beaux arts library. It is located in the Union and State Streets Historic District. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 6 Olean School No. 10, 411 W. Henley St.. Olean School No. 10, now known as Ivers J. Norton School, is a historic school building. It was designed and built in 1908-1909, in the Prairie School style. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 7 St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 109 S. Barry St.. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is a Gothic Revival style church building designed by upstate New York architect Robert W. Gibson (1854–1927) and constructed 1889-1890. The complex also includes the Ashton Parish House, constructed 1922-1923, and the rectory, known as the Watson Wing, built about 1885. It is home to Olean's oldest continuously operating congregation, established in 1830. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 8 Temple B'Nai Israel, 127 S. Barry St.. Temple B'Nai Israel is a historic synagogue. It was built in 1929, and is a three- to four-story tall, light brown brick structure with terra cotta decorative details. It measures 85 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 50 feet tall. The front facade features a massive arched terra cotta portal encircling a large, round stained glass window. The congregation was established in the 1880s. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 9 Union and State Streets Historic District, Roughly 101-133 N. Union, 110-114, 116 W. State & 102, 116, 120 S. Union Sts.. The district encompasses 17 contributing buildings in the central business district of Olean. The district developed between about 1866 and 1939, and includes buildings in a variety of architectural styles including Beaux-Arts, Queen Anne, and Art Deco. Located in the district are the separately listed Olean Post Office and Olean Public Library. Other notable buildings include the Former First National Bank, current Manufacturers Hanover Building by Mowbray and Uffinger (c. 1915, 1938, 1950), Original First National Bank of Olean (c. 1866-1869), Masonic Temple by Warner and Brocket (1893), Olean House (c. 1889, 1893), and W.T. Grant Building (c. 1873-1878, Façade Update c. 1935-1940). (updated Apr 2016)
  • 10 United States Post Office, 102 S. Union St.. US Post Office—Olean is a historic post office building. It was designed and built in 1910-12 and is one of a number of post offices in New York State designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, James Knox Taylor. It is a two story masonry and steel frame building. Its Renaissance Revival design compliments the adjacent Olean Public Library. It is located in the Union and State Streets Historic District. (updated Apr 2016)

Other attractions

  • 11 Cutco/Ka-Bar Visitors Center, 1040 E. State St., ☏ +1 716 790 7000. M-F 9AM-5PM; also Sa 10AM-4PM from Memorial Day through Christmas. Cutco, one of the world's largest manufacturers of direct-marketed knives, cutlery, and kitchenware, was founded in Olean in 1949, and this small museum tells the company's story. Interpretive exhibits cover company history and the manufacturing and marketing process, and antique kitchen, military, and pocket knives are displayed. This is also one of the only retail outlets for Cutco and Ka-Bar brand products. For knife enthusiasts, the Center pairs nicely with the Zippo/Case Museum in Bradford, PA, and/or the American Museum of Cutlery in Cattaraugus. 
  • 12 Sprague's Maple Farms, 1048 Portville-Obi Rd., Portville (6.5 miles from downtown Olean via Routes 417 and 305), ☏ +1 716 933-6637. Su-Th 8AM-8PM, F-Sa 8AM-9PM. Modern facilities open year round to enjoy maple syrup in the restaurant, shop in the gift shop or hike to the old fashioned maple sugar shanty along the trails out back of the facility. (updated Nov 2017)

Do

Arts

  • 1 Cattaraugus County Arts Council, 100 West Main Street Allegany, NY 14706, ☏ +1 716 372-7455, . The Cattaraugus County Arts Council (CCAC) promotes the creation, presentation and appreciation of arts and culture in the region, while nurturing education and commerce in the arts. CCAC serves as a leader and driver of diverse activities and programs that promote the arts and expand their accessibility to all in the region. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Friends of Good Music, ☏ +1 716 375-2494, . Friends of Good Music is dedicated to providing excellence in programming and performance of classical music that will expand knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts for residents of the Twin Tier Area. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Olean Community Theatre, ☏ +1 716 375-1628. Olean Community Theatre, Inc. has been providing quality, live entertainment for New York's Southern Tier since 1979. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 2 Olean Theatre Workshop, 702 Washington Street, ☏ +1 716 373-7469. Celebrating 25 years at the Washington Street Theatre. The Olean Theatre Workshop, Inc. is a not for profit corporation that performs and presents a variety of theatrical productions. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Southern Tier Symphony, ☏ +1 716 378-0560, . The Southern Tier Symphony, based in Olean, is a regional orchestra in its thirteenth season, with paid musicians. (updated Apr 2016)

Outdoors

  • 3 Rock City Park, 505 Route 16, toll-free: +1-866-404-7625. May 1st through October 31st 9am to 6pm daily. Join thousands of visitors each year who enjoy a 45 minute hiking trail, museum, fluorescent rock room and also souvenir and gift shop! (updated Apr 2016)
  • 4 Riverhurst Park, 1269 Olean Portville Road, ☏ +1 716 373-0535. Riverhurst Park is a small family owned park on the banks of the Allegany River. This private family owned campground is the perfect place to enjoy a family camping vacation. RV, pop-up, or tent.Chalet available with full bathroom and kitchen. Riverhurst Park is home to the historical 100 foot tall white pine trees. Kayak and canoe rentals for registered campers. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 5 Pfeiffer Nature Center, 1974 Lillibridge Road Portville, NY 14770 & 1420 Yuba Dam Road Portville, NY 14770, ☏ +1 716 933-0187. Pfeiffer Nature Center is home to more than 648 acres of nature’s bounty. Located in rural, southwestern New York State, you’ll find miles of open-access hiking trails, a historic American Chestnut log cabin, great birding areas and a picturesque pavilion available for rent. The Nature Center has two beautiful properties to explore. The Lillibridge Property consists of 188 acres of forest and has a rustic American Chestnut log cabin listed in the National & State Registers of Historic Places. The front of the cabin offers a spectacular panoramic view of both nearby farms and distant mountaintops. A timber frame pavilion offers a covered shelter for picnics and other events in the meadow. The Nature Center also owns 460 acres on Yubadam Road, the Eshelman Property, which has an active sugar bush, on-going scientific research projects, and a small farm. There are three miles of trails through forests, meadows, transitional zones, near ponds and wetlands. More trails are being developed to support snowshoeing and cross country skiing. (updated Apr 2016)

Sports

  • 6 St. Bonaventure University Bonnies Athletics, 3261 W State Rd, St Bonaventure, NY 14778, United States, ☏ +1 716 375-2000, toll-free: +1-800-462-5050. The St. Bonaventure Bonnies are the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs of St. Bonaventure University, based in nearby Allegany, New York. The Bonnies compete in the National Collegiate Athletics Association's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 7 Olean Oilers Baseball, Bradner Stadium, East State Street, ☏ +1 716 474-8680. The Olean Oilers Baseball Team is a summer, wood bat development team playing in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL). (updated Apr 2016)

Other

  • 8 Good Times Of Olean, 800R East State Street, ☏ +1 716 379-8210. Mon-Tues 11:00am - 10:00pm Wed - Thurs: 11:00am - 12:00am Fri - Sat: 11:00am - 12:30am Sunday: 11:00am - 8:00pm. Located down the street from Bradner Stadium, Good Times is a 42,000 square foot entertainment facility in the heart of Olean. The facility includes a 16 lane bowling alley, large performance stage with premium audio, Arcade & Games areas. Outside you can find White Sand Volleyball courts, Batting Cages, an 18 hole Mini Golf, and a large open space for outdoor activities. The Hammer Back Bar & Grill is the featured restaurant and bar, open year round, with an upper mezzanine that looks down into the Event Centre. GTO boasts fine cuisine at The Point or the SNAK SHAK offers a fast stop. GTO offers a variety of hosting options for your important events. GTO also provides league play for Bowling, Volleyball, Cornhole, and Darts, along with Shuffleboard, and Ping Pong, there is never a dull moment at Good Times. (updated Apr 2016)

Buy

The majority of Olean's retail businesses are located on North Union Street.

  • The Olean Center Mall, 400 North Union St, ☏ +1 814 375-2602. 10am-9pm Monday-Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday. Over 20 stores including Bon-Ton, JCPenney, Sears and Kohl's. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Ask Design Jewelers, 175 N. Union Street, ☏ +1 716 373-4367. The largest selection of certified diamonds and bridal jewelry in the Southern Tier. Custom designs, engraving & jewelry repairs. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Brittani's Country Loft, 172 North Union Street, ☏ +1 716 373-5638. Tues.-Friday: 11:00-6:oo PM Sat. 11:00-5:00. Locally-made decor, re-purposed furniture and barn wood decor, Amish goods, etc. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Chic-tiques & Florals, 1080 Richards Rd. Allegany, NY, ☏ +1 716 372-5256. Refurbished shabby-chic antiques. Handmade wreaths, topiaries, swags and arrangements made from dried and silk flowers. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Handmade-by Shelby, 317 West State Street, ☏ +1 716 307-7517, . Tues. 10:00-6:00, Wed. 4:00-9:00, Thurs. & Fri. 10:00-6:00, Sat. 9:00-2:00. (Thru Dec.-Sat. 9:00-4:00 & Sun. 9:00-2:00). Unique painted or etched glasses and many other unique custom or personalized gifts for sale. Weekly painting classes are also offered. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Luckless Clothing, 701 East State Street, ☏ +1 716 379-8095, . Country inspired clothing brand started by two brothers in their grandmother's basement. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Sports Locker, 711 W. State St., ☏ +1 716 373-1411, . The Southern Tier’s largest selection of sports equipment, apparel and jerseys. (updated Apr 2016)

Eat

  • Beef 'n' Barrel, 146 N Union St, ☏ +1 585 372-2985, fax: +1 585 372-3910. M-Sa 11AM-10PM. With wood paneling and flickering candles, the expansive Beef 'n' Barrel still manages to feel warm and inviting. It's like a modern version of a classic 1970s steak house, minus the smoky atmosphere. The pristine furnishings and classic décor lend sophistication and elegance, but the friendly staff and enticing menu avoid any hint of pretentiousness. The lunch menu is focused on sliced roast beef, including Buffalo favorite beef on weck sandwiches. The dinner menu moves the focus to steaks. You'll find a few other entrees on the menu, but beef is definitely the main attraction, as evidenced by the carving stations located in each of the dining rooms. House-made breads and desserts provide excellent complements to the main courses. $10-25. (updated Nov 2017)
  • Broken Wing Pizzeria & Grille, 313 Main St., ☏ +1 716 373-5600, . A sit-down restaurant serving a wide variety of foods including hand tossed pizza. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Century Manor, 401 East State Street, ☏ +1 716 372-1864. Local steakhouse serving Olean for over 50 years. (updated Apr 2016)
  • [dead link] Chuck Wagon Restaurant, 2457 N. Union Street Ext., ☏ +1 716 372-0464. M-Th 11AM-8PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM. Family-owned and -operated since 1955. Inventive BBQ flavors and a friendly atmosphere. Menu includes black Angus burgers and fries, char-broiled steak, char-broiled fish, hot and cold sandwiches, julienne and taco salads, house-made milkshakes, wine and beer. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Oishi Sushi & Hibachi, 2234 W State St, ☏ +1 716 373-8889. Authentic Japanese sushi and hibachi. You can watch as the chefs cook steak, chicken, fish, vegetables, fried rice, etc. in their inviting, wooden ornate dining room. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Randy's Fireside, 1644 Haskell Rd., ☏ +1 716 373-3473. Local eatery serving hand-cut steaks, fresh, never frozen burgers, local brews and salads. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Randy's "Up the River", 3767 South 9 Mile Road Allegany, NY 14706, ☏ +1 716 372-9606. Built in 1860 as a stage coach stop/hotel turned speakeasy, bar and restaurant. Popular with the St. Bonaventure crowd. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Sparky's Pizza & Subs, 501 W. State St., ☏ +1 716 372-1097. Subs, wings, salads, burgers, etc. (updated Apr 2016)

Drink

  • 1 Four Mile Brewing, 202 East Green St., ☏ +1 716 373-2337. Monday: Closed Tuesday – Thursday: 4 – 10pm Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 10pm Sunday: 10am – 8pm. Four Mile Brewing is a microbrewery located in a historic pre-prohibition brewing complex close to downtown Olean. Also serves a variety of sandwiches, munchies and a Sunday brunch. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 2 3rd Base Bar & Grill, 1302 West State Street, ☏ +1 716 372-8779. Legal beverages, Quick Draw, pool tables. They also serve wings, burgers, philly steak sandwiches & finger food items. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 3 Brickhouse Bar & Grill, 181 West Main Street, Allegany, NY 14706, ☏ +1 716 318-0283. Full service bar/restaurant serving burgers, pizza, wings, as well as daily specials. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 4 Eddie's State King, 901 E. State St., ☏ +1 716 373-2924. Neighborhood sports bar. Enjoy the cold beer, warm atmosphere & friendly bartenders. (updated Apr 2016)

Sleep

Bed & Breakfast

Hotel / Motel

Connect

Olean is primarily served by area code 716. However due to Olean's proximity to the 716/585 line, some Olean exchanges use the 585 area code.

  • Olean Life. Olean Life operates a website promoting nightlife and entertainment in the Olean area. Their focus is restaurants, nightclubs and live entertainment venues and events such as concerts and festivals appealing to a wide demographic. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 North Union Street, ☏ +1 716 372-4433, . The leading business organization in the greater Olean area since 1906. Your Chamber Connection to the Olean area visitor information, resident information, business services and membership directory. (updated Apr 2016)

Cope

Hospitals

Olean General Hospital, is a member of the Upper Allegheny Health System. The campus includes 186 patient rooms, together with comprehensive patient, administrative and physician services and accommodations to meet the diagnostic, treatment, administrative and educational needs of its patients and medical staff.

Newspapers and print media

The Olean Times Herald is a daily newspaper serving the western Twin Tiers region, based in Olean. The afternoon newspaper, one of the few remaining afternoon papers in the nation, is published by Bradford Publishing seven days each week.

Television


Television stations serving Olean include:

  • WVTT-CD Channel 25: Youtoo America.
  • W30BW Channel 30: Retro TV.

Go next

Routes through Olean
Jamestown ← Salamanca ←  W  E  → Cuba → Elmira
Buffalo ← Franklinville ←  N  S  → Becomes → Keating → END


This city travel guide to Olean is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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