Go On An Outdoor Adventure at Rock City Park
Go On An Outdoor Adventure at Rock City Park
Olean Attraction Offers Hiking, Climbing and Family Fun for All
Photo / Rock City Park
The weather is begging us to get outside and do something, but what? Do we go hiking? Do we go for a picnic? Do we get the family together and go for a drive?… (if you’ve taken out a loan for your gas this week, of course). Why not make a day of it and do all of these things? Head out to Rock City Park, located at 505 Route 16 S. in Olean, NY when they officially open on May 1st and enjoy everything this long-beloved natural attraction has to offer.
First, let’s start with a little history about the park. It’s been an attraction since 1890, famous back then for its Bon Air Hotel and dance pavilion. There was even an amusement park onsite equipped with a merry-go-round, box ball alleys and photo houses.
Today, thousands of guest come out to enjoy the natural beauty of the rock formations of what many call one of the Eighth Wonders of the World (Rock City is home to the word’s largest exposure of quartz conglomerate) and to explore the 45-minute hiking trail. Don’t forget to get your photo taken with the Park’s “Bigfoot” while you’re there! All visitors can receive a map with a guide that tells you about some of the rock formations you’ll see along the trail.
Rock City Park is family friendly, open to all ages (children under 16 should be supervised by an adult) and offers many spots just perfect for an impromptu photo op, like the balancing rock or dining hall pass. They have the RCP gift shop open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm that carries great souvenirs, refreshments and snacks, an extensive museum, florescent rock room, and numerous picnic areas. A one shot stop for a great day out in the spring and summertime.
But that’s not all the park has to offer. They also host special occasions and events - weddings, reunions, school field trips, business gatherings and more. Weddings are often held on the scenic vista that overlooks Allegany’s Enchanted Mountains. The park pavilion can hold up to 50 guests. You can call ahead to book an event (or to take an advantage of their group/senior citizen discounts) by reaching out to owner Cynthia Smith at 716-560-8579.
You also can’t forget the giant Gem-Mineral-Fossil show, celebrating it’s 15th year in 2023, the park’s annual Fall event, where guests pay a small admission fee (kids under 12 are free) for a day taking in the autumn foliage, visiting many rock and gem vendors, jewelry vendors and the RCP Shop. Vendors will be offering geodes, mineral specimens, handcrafted gemstone jewelry and more. Last year they had about a dozen vendors! So come stroll along the trail, do a little shopping, take a break studying the museum or grabbing some grub at the on-site food vendors. This is a great family friendly event, both educational and entertaining. The show runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. For more details, visit rockcitypark.com.
There is also something special in the works for the 2023 season. But owners Cindi and Dale Smith aren’t sharing what it is until May 20th. Be sure to follow their Facebook page to see what they have planned. They did say it was something big!
Some good things to note: The park is open daily starting May 1st through October 1st from 9:00am-5:00pm, only closing during occasions of inclement weather. Cost of admission is $5 per person, children ages 6-12 are $3, with available group and senior discounts. The cost includes not just the trials but any shows/events happening during the day. Dogs are allowed as long as they remain on a leash and their waste is collected in a plastic baggie. The 45-minute long hiking trail is not handicap accessible but they do offer a 20-minute virtual tour of the park. There are bathrooms on-site and those are handicap accessible and parking is typically free, unless there is a special event taking place.