Allegany State Park: 100 Years
Allegany State Park: 100 Years
An iconic WNY landmark celebrates a Centennial milestone
For those who don’t know, tucked away just outside of Salamanca, NY is a Western New York gem called Allegany State Park. With approximately 65,000 acres of land, three lakes and an abundance of wildlife, Allegany State Park is a fantastic way to spend time in the great outdoors. In fact, the park has been referred to as “the wilderness playground of Western New York.”
In May of 1921, an Act of the New York State Legislature approved the purchase of land in the Quaker Run Valley. Upon completing the purchase of the land, the park was formally dedicated on July 30, 1921. So, for those of you doing the math at home, that means this summer is officially the 100 year anniversary of Allegany State Park.
EllicottvilleNOW caught up with Adele Wellman, Environmental Educator 1 at Allegany State Park, to talk about some of the things the park is doing to celebrate the centennial.
eNOW: What exciting plans are there to celebrate the 100th Anniversary? What dates should people put on their calendar?
ADELE: A Virtual Centennial Celebration is currently in production, and is scheduled to be posted on July 30, 2021 on the NYS Park’s YouTube channel. Additionally, the Allegany Regional Environmental Education department is planning to host numerous programming opportunities in 2021 with a focus on the storied history of Allegany State Park. Up-to-date programming schedules can be found in our Rental Offices or on Facebook at facebook.com/alleganystatepark.
We will also be releasing a 4-part series of guides highlighting 100 points of interest within Allegany State Park. These guides will provide readers with a wealth of historic details and information on a range of topics and destinations from the early days of the park to its present day. The full series of guides will be available for purchase at the Red House and Quaker Rental Offices this summer.
eNOW: What kind of upgrades/improvements have been made over the past winter that people should look forward to this summer?
ADELE: Opened in fall of 2020, the new Quaker Multi-Use Trail spans approximately 1.6 miles from Taft Cabin to the Quaker Store along ASP Route 3. This key transportation and recreation resource provides safe and enjoyable means for our many visitors to bicycle or hike along the Quaker Run Area. Visitors will notice the early stages of construction for the expansion of this trail, which is planned to extend all the way to Quaker Beach.
eNOW: What, if any, COVID protocols will visitors need to be aware of this summer?
ADELE: Visitors are asked to keep up to date with all prevailing New York State Department of Health guidelines for face coverings and social distancing, along with all applicable social gathering limitations set forth by NY Forward. Additionally, overnight guests are asked to follow all applicable travel guidelines established by the NYS Department of Health.
eNOW: You’re a fantastic advocate of the Park and spend a lot of time there. What is your favorite trail to hike at the Park? And why?
ADELE: Blacksnake is my favorite trail. The 3-mile hike is very scenic with several bridges over picturesque streams, an abundance of wildflowers and huge hemlock, tulip and cherry trees. Along the top of the trail there is a granite marker indicating the PA/NY border. It’s fun to hop from side to side. The second half of the loop follows a railroad grade used in the late 1880’s by the A&K (Allegany & Kinzua) railroad to haul timber and hemlock bark off the hill and to the mills located throughout the area in the pre-Park days.
eNOW: You’re also an avid bike rider. Should the Park be more renowned for its bike trails?
ADELE: Allegany State Park has trails for all ability levels. The paved Quaker Multi-Use Trail and Red House Bike Path are very popular for riders of all ages and experience levels. The Art Roscoe Ski and Bike trail system located at the Summit area of the park offers riders a place to experience a more rugged terrain of dirt, grass, and various elevation changes. These double track trails were once old logging and fire roads which are perfect for beginner mountain bikers to learn skills. The Western New York Mountain Bike Association (WNYMBA) has volunteered and been active in adding singletrack trails to the park system. Starting in 2015, a 3.4-mile single-track called Old Thunder Run was hand built by volunteers in cooperation with park staff. WNYMBA continues their work on the second of the two new single-track trails (totaling 9 miles) located off the Stone Tower Road.
eNOW: In your opinion, what is the most underrated thing to do at the Park that more people should be aware of?
ADELE: The night sky is amazing. With little light from the surrounding areas, the stars, planets and comets are easy to see. The park is a magical place in the evening. Some of my favorite places to view the sky are Quaker Beach Road, the Red House Wetland, the Butterfly Meadow or anywhere around Red House Lake.
eNOW: What's your best story of an "animal experience" at Allegany State Park?
ADELE: There are so many! Lately, it’s been the ”bird fights” between the osprey and eagles. We were lucky enough to see a juvenile bald eagle harassing an osprey for a fish last week. However, having damselflies land on your arm while paddleboarding, getting a glimpse of an otter and finding tracks, watching a beaver haul sticks onto its lodge during an evening program, seeing young bears foraging for food just off the trail while on a bike ride or sitting in the dark woods watching my favorite creatures, the synchronous fireflies, are all very special. Every experience is unique and if I get to share those with the general public, it is special day.
eNOW: Playing off of that, raccoons are pretty cute … it’s okay if I try to feed them when I'm visiting ASP, right?
ADELE: They are cute, but never feed any of the wildlife. It’s against the regulations and it’s not healthy for the animals.
Make your plans to visit Allegany State Park this summer and enjoy the fantastic outdoor experiences that it has to offer. From swimming to hiking to paddleboarding and much, much more, there truly is something for everyone. And if you are looking for a keepsake from your visit, 100 Year Anniversary t-shirts are available at both the Red House and Quaker gift shops. But hurry up because they’ve been very popular as guests have been buying them up to help celebrate this incredible anniversary.