A region in the northwest part of town, called Wende, is where several public institutions are located, including two prisons (the Erie County Correctional Facility and Wende Correctional Facility), as well as the Erie County Home. Several businesses can be found in the hamlet of Crittenden, near the intersection of Route 33 and Crittenden Road. The town bills itself as “Small Town America,” and touts its rural charm. Darien Lake Theme Park, the largest amusement park in the state, is less than 10 miles east.
Local Museums/Landmarks
The Alden Historical Society preserves the history of the town and its people. The group has erected markers at the sites of the former Black Water Baths (now St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church) on Main Street, and at the site of a former tannery, where a Rite-Aid Pharmacy now stands.