Allegany State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allegany State Park |
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The park's Red House Administration Building from across Red House Lake.
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| Type | State park |
| Location | Cattaraugus County, New York |
| Area | 64,800 acres (262 km2) |
| Created | July 30, 1921 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Open | All year |
Allegany State Park is a huge state park in western New York State. It is located in Cattaraugus County, just north of the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The park is divided into two main parts: the Red House Area and the Quaker Run Area. It is known as "the wilderness playground of Western New York."
The Red House Area is the northeastern part of Allegany State Park. Here, you can find cool spots like Stone Tower, the Summit Fire Tower, and Red House Lake. There's also Bridal Falls and the Art Roscoe Ski Area. This section has five miles (8.0 km) of paved bike trails and 130 campsites. The park's main office, the Administration Building, is also in the Red House Area.
The Quaker Run Area is the southwestern part of the park. Its attractions include Quaker Lake, the Mount Tuscarora Fire Tower, and many hiking trails. You can also explore Science Lake, Bear Caves, and Thunder Rocks. The Quaker Amphitheater and several campsites, including Cain Hollow campground, are here too.
In 2007, Allegany State Park was named a top "Amazing Spot" in the nation. It's a great place for outdoor adventures!
Contents
- History of Allegany State Park
- Park Roads: Getting Around Allegany State Park
- Administration Building: Park Headquarters
- Old Quaker Store Museum
- Hiking Trails: Explore the Park on Foot
- Program Sites: Fun Activities in the Park
- Cabin Trails: Where to Stay
- Tent and Trailer Areas: Camping in the Park
- Reserving Campsites and Cabins
- Group Camps: For Larger Groups
- Beaches: Swimming in the Park
- Maps: Finding Your Way Around
- Images for kids
History of Allegany State Park
Allegany State Park started on May 2, 1921. That's when New York State decided to buy two large pieces of land in the Quaker Run Valley. The state gave $25,000, but only if private groups raised the same amount first.
How the Park Began
The first piece of land, about 7,020 acres (28.4 km2), was bought on June 18, 1921, for $31,500. It belonged to the family of Amasa Stone. A second, smaller piece of land with buildings was bought for $4,300. The park officially opened on July 30, 1921.
New York Governor Nathan Lewis Miller chose Senator Albert T. Fancher to lead a team to develop the park. Fancher is known as the "Father of Allegany State Park." Seven cabins in the park are named after him.
Early Park Development
The park's first office was a converted schoolhouse. For sleeping, people used Army surplus tents on wooden platforms. The first permanent cabins were built in 1925.
In 1924, a special fund helped develop the Red House Area. This included building the Red House Administration Building and the Red House Dam. The dam created Red House Lake.
In 1926, Science Lake was built, offering the park's first official swimming area. Next to the lake was the Allegany School Of Natural History. This school had 42 cabins, a main building with a library, science labs, and a meeting room.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at the Park
From 1933 to 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build a lot of the park. They built roads, bridges, camping areas, trails, picnic spots, and even a ski resort. The CCC also worked on conservation projects like planting trees and improving wildlife habitats.
Over the years, the park grew even more. Quaker Lake was added, and cabins were made ready for winter. More trails for hiking and snowmobiling were created. Picnic areas, bike paths, horse paths, and better roads also made the park easier to enjoy. A ski facility called Bova ski area opened in the 1930s but closed in 1980. You can still enjoy cross-country skiing in the park today.
Changes to Park Land
By the 1960s, Allegany State Park covered most of the towns of Red House and Elko. During this time, two big projects were happening nearby: the Kinzua Dam and the Southern Tier Expressway. The state of New York tried to buy out residents in Elko and Red House. Elko was successfully vacated. However, many residents of Red House fought to keep their homes. Because of this, a small part of Allegany State Park still has 14 privately owned houses. The state still offers to buy these properties if they are ever left empty.
Park Dance Halls
The park has a fun history, including its old dance halls.
Old Quaker Dance Hall
The Old Quaker Dance Hall was located near the Quaker Inn. Many dances were held here from the Great Depression era into the mid-20th century. Live bands played music while people danced on the large floor. This building was taken down in 2002 because it was in poor condition.
Red House Dance Pavilion
The Red House Dance Pavilion was by Red House Lake. It was built on the concrete floor of an old barn. Like the Quaker Dance Hall, weekend dances were held here throughout the summer, from the 1920s through the rock & roll era. The Red House Dance Pavilion was last used for a dance in 1973. It later became a game room and was torn down in 1984. A miniature golf course was built there but was also removed. Now, it's an empty lot.
New Ireland Settlement
Another part of the park's history is the settlement of New Ireland. This village was formed in the mid-1800s by Irish settlers who had left Ireland during the Great Famine. It was near Limestone, New York, but within the park's boundaries. The village no longer exists, but you can still see ruins of the old buildings from Limestone Run Road.
Park Fire Towers
To help prevent forest fires, three fire lookout towers were built in the park. The first, Summit Fire Tower, was finished in 1926. It is 66 feet (20 m) tall. The other towers were Mt. Tuscarora Fire Tower in the Quaker Area and Mt. Irvine Fire Tower.
The Mt. Tuscarora Fire Tower still stands near Quaker Lake. The Mt. Irvine Fire Tower was taken down in the early 1970s when planes started being used for fire surveillance. However, it was saved and put back together in Ellicottville, New York.
Natural Gas Storage
Inside the park, off France Brook Road, is a large storage area for natural gas. This is called the Limestone Storage Pool. It's operated by National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation. They use over 20 wells to store and control natural gas in a huge underground sandstone area. The park gets free gas as part of the agreement.
A plan made in 2010 protects the park from new oil and gas drilling.
Park Roads: Getting Around Allegany State Park
Allegany State Park has three main roads that connect the Red House and Quaker Run areas. These roads are important for getting around the park.
Main Park Roads
- Allegany State Park Route 1 (ASP Route 1) goes from north to south through the middle of the park. It runs from the park's entrance near Salamanca to the Quaker Run Area. This road is closed in winter and used as a snowmobile trail.
- Allegany State Park Route 2 (ASP Route 2) runs from west to east in the northern part of the park, then north to south on the eastern side. It goes from the Southern Tier Expressway to the Bradford, Pennsylvania, entrance. In winter, ASP Route 2 and ASP Route 3 are the only roads connecting Red House and Quaker Run.
- Allegany State Park Route 3 (ASP Route 3) runs from west to east, connecting ASP Route 2 near the Bradford entrance to the Quaker Run entrance. Like ASP Route 2, it's a key road for winter travel between the park's two main areas.
Secondary Park Roads
There are also several paved secondary roads in Allegany State Park:
- Allegany State Park Route 2A (ASP Route 2A) runs along the southern shore of Red House Lake.
- Quaker Lake Road goes around the northeast side of Quaker Lake.
- Cain Hollow Road leads into the Cain Hollow Campground.
- Friends Boat Launch Access Road leads to a boat launch on the Allegheny Reservoir.
Minor Access Roads
The park also has many minor access roads, which are usually dirt roads. They might not be maintained in winter.
- Bay State Road connects ASP Route 1 and ASP Route 2. Part of it is closed in summer to protect the few remaining residents of Red House.
- France Brook Road runs from ASP Route 2 to ASP Route 1.
- Ridge Run Road leads to Thunder Rocks.
- Limestone Run Road connects ASP Route 2 to the former village of Limestone.
- Coon Run Road goes south into Pennsylvania and the Allegheny National Forest. It's gated at the border in summer.
- Wolf Run Road was built for the town of Elko, which is now part of the park.
- Holt Run Road is near the Friends Boat Launch.
- Bova Ski Hill Access Road leads to the old Bova Ski Area, which closed in 1980.
- Stone Tower Access Road is a loop around Stone Tower.
- Roads within the cabin trails are dirt roads that allow access to the cabins, even in winter.
Administration Building: Park Headquarters
The Administration Building in Red House was built in the Tudor Style during the Great Depression. It has been updated but still has a cozy, rustic feel.
What's Inside the Building?
This building houses several important park services:
- The Red House Rental Offices, where you can rent cabins.
- The NYS Park Police Station.
- The park's natural history museum.
- The Red House Gift Shop.
- The Red House Restaurant.
- The Allegany Regional offices for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP).
The building also has a sitting room with a large bay window that looks out over Red House Lake. This room is used for events and meetings and has two fireplaces. The gift shop is run by J-Con Parks, Inc. The rental office, gift shop, museum, and Park Police Station are on the main floor. The restaurant and park offices are on the upper level.
Old Quaker Store Museum
The Old Quaker Store Museum opened in 1996. It has exhibits about the park's history, its natural environment, and how it developed. The museum is located in Salamanca, New York.
Hiking Trails: Explore the Park on Foot
Allegany State Park has 18 hiking trails for you to explore all year round. They vary in length and difficulty. Six of these trails are part of the Art Roscoe Ski Touring Area. These trails are groomed for cross-country skiing in winter, so they are not available for hiking then. The Ridgerun trail, part of this system, has a lean-to shelter. The Art Roscoe trails are near Summit in the Red House Area.
Special Trails
The Allegheny Highlands Snowmobile and Horse Trail also starts in the park. A unique feature of the park is that the famous North Country Trail passes through it. This trail is over 4,000 miles long and goes through seven states! The 18-mile section in Allegany State Park has four lean-to shelters.
The Black Snake Mountain trail is special because it touches the Pennsylvania state line. On this trail, you can find a concrete marker that shows the exact border between New York and Pennsylvania. You can even sit on it and be in two states at once!
In the Quaker Area, the Tornado Trail shows the damage from an F-1 Tornado that hit on August 28, 1990. Even though much of the area has regrown, you can still see the path the tornado cut.
List of Hiking Trails
Here are some of the hiking trails and their lengths:
- Mt. Tuscarora trail - Fire Tower (5.3 miles)
- Bear Caves trail - Mt. Seneca (4.0 miles)
- Black Snake Mountain trail (3.0 miles)
- Three Sisters trail (2.5 miles)
- Bear Springs trail (0.5 miles)
- Beehunter trail (6.5 miles)
- Osgood trail (2.5 miles)
- Red Jacket trail (2.0 miles)
- North Country Trail (ASP section) (18.0 miles)
- Conservation Trail (4.0 miles)
- Patterson trail (3.5 miles)
- Ridgerun trail (5.0 miles)
- Leonard Run Loop (5.0 miles)
- Christian Hollow Loop (4.0 miles)
- Sweetwater trail (2.7 miles)
- Flagg trail (3.0 miles)
- Eastwood Meadows trail (2.5 miles)
- Snowsnake Run (4.9 miles)
Besides hiking trails, there's a paved bicycle path around Red House Lake. On this path, you'll find the Thomas E. Kelly Bridge, which is the only covered bridge in Western New York.
Program Sites: Fun Activities in the Park
The park has 71 program sites where park naturalists lead walks and other activities. The park publishes a Recreation Activities Bulletin that tells visitors about these programs. The sites are numbered and correspond to a map.
For example, you might meet at Site 28 for a tour of a Beaver colony. Or, you could meet at Site 60 for a bike and hike to Bridal Falls. Other activities include tours of the Bear Caves (Site 42) or Thunder Rocks (Site 35), and night owl walks (Site 32).
Cabin Trails: Where to Stay
Cabin Trails are groups of cabins that you can reach by dirt roads. Each trail usually has shared restrooms, and some have shower facilities. All cabin trails in the Red House area have their own shower house.
The park rents 375 cabins on these trails. 150 of them are ready for winter use.
Red House Area Cabin Trails
- Anderson
- Sugarbush
- McIntosh
- Beehunter
- Congdon
- Ryan
- Summit
Tent and Trailer Areas: Camping in the Park
Besides cabins, the park also has three campgrounds for tents and trailers.
Red House Tent and Trailer Area
This campground is in the Red House Area, along Stoddard Creek. It has five loops (A, B, C, D, and E). Some sites are non-electric, and all loops are connected by dirt roads.
Cain Hollow Camping Area
This campground is in Cain Hollow, off Quaker Lake Road. It has four loops (A, B, C, and D). Many sites have electrical hookups and central bathrooms. Water taps are located throughout the campground.
Loop A is open and good for trailers. Loops B, C, and D have more trees. Cain Hollow was recently updated with new bathhouses. There's a trailer dumping station on the main road. All roads are paved, and campsites have partial paved or gravel driveways. Cain Hollow Campground is open from mid-May to mid-October.
Diehl Tent and Trailer Trail
This camping trail is next to English Creek, near the Quaker Inn. It has 8 cabins and 22 non-electric sites. There's a bath and shower house at the start of the trail.
You can buy gift cards for camping at most New York State Parks.
Reserving Campsites and Cabins
You can reserve all campsites and cabins either in person at the park or online through ReserveAmerica.com.
Group Camps: For Larger Groups
The park also has several larger campsites called Group Camps. These are mainly for big groups like Boy Scout troops or church groups. They usually have several cabins or dormitories, a kitchen with a dining hall, bathrooms, showers, and sometimes classrooms.
The largest group camp is Camp Allegany. Camp Turner is another group camp, run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo as a summer camp. Some group camps are being renovated. For example, Group Camp 5 is now open for reservations as of May 24, 2013. Work is also being done on cabins at Camp 10 (Carlton).
Beaches: Swimming in the Park
Allegany State Park has two small swimming beaches: one at Red House Lake and another at Quaker Lake.
Beach Rules and Facilities
Lifeguards are on duty at both swimming areas from 11 AM to 7 PM. Both beaches have a diving platform in 12 ft (3.7 m) deep water. There are strict rules about flotation devices; only Coast Guard-approved ones are allowed. Air mattresses, tubes, and even kids' water wings are not permitted. Beaches sometimes close due to thunderstorms or other dangers.
Both beaches have restrooms near the parking lot. The old restrooms near Quaker Lake were replaced with a new pavilion in 2016. There is also a snack bar at both Red House Lake and Quaker Lake.
Maps: Finding Your Way Around
A new Allegany State Park map and brochure were created in 2010. Allegany State Park staff worked with Cattaraugus County to make a new map and brochure to help visitors find their way around.
Images for kids
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The park's Red House Administration Building from across Red House Lake.
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New York
Location of Allegany State Park within New York State
