The rural community of Queenston is part of the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and part of it sits on the Niagara Escarpment, offering some wonderful picnic opportunities, a baseball field and swimming pool. The southern terminus of the Bruce Trail is just 160 metres from General Brock’s Monument on the eastern side of the monument’s park grounds. This historical spot is where the first battle of the War of 1812 was fought and Queenston Heights was recognized as a National Historic Site in 1968.
The RiverBrink Art Museum is along the Niagara Parkway and is home to a collection of 1,400 and more artworks and artifacts, by Canadian and international artists, and assembled by Samuel E. Weir. He originally used the Georgian style building as his country residence since it was completed in 1970. After his death in 1981, it was converted into the art museum.
The Queenston-Lewiston Bridge runs across the Niagara River, which is also the border between the USA and Canada, and connects the village of Lewiston, New York with the village community of Queenston.
History runs deep in this village, and even though it was destroyed in 1813, it soon became the terminus for the first horse-drawn railway between Erie and Ontario in the 1830s, only to be bypassed by the steam railroad in 1854. Everything is within walking distance in the village and it has a community centre, library and post office.
The area is also home to the site of the Queenston Quarry, established in 1837, and for 150 year its stone was shipped to many cities of Ontario. The architecture of many of the town’s buildings is early 19th century and there are some beautifully structured homes in the community.
This small residential community is very quiet, and the mild climate of the Niagara Region makes it popular with retirees. Even though the community itself is small, the nearby surrounding area has a wide range of activities and festivals to be enjoyed. Hospitals, airports, shopping and athletic activities abound in the area. The Queen Elizabeth Highway (QEW) links Toronto with the Niagara Peninsula and Buffalo, New York, allowing day trip escapes to the wineries and other activities in the region.
Lovers of boating, golf, fine dining, wines and the beautiful countryside have tons of things to keep busy with. The Niagara Parkway and the Bruce Trail offer fantastic hiking, walking, and cycling paths. These run along the Niagara River and offer scenic views.
The Niagara Region has a very stable real estate market with relatively consistent sales. Price fluctuations, both positive and negative, are due to the small sample size. Buyers and sellers can both win in the well-balanced market. The area, especially Niagara-on-the-Lake, is popular with retirees; however, there is a small demand from families seeking to live in the area because of work opportunities or for its quieter lifestyle.