Museums


The southern tier is host to many great museums. Take a break from exploring the hills to exploring some history, expand child creativity or see some unique collections. Some of the museums are close by and others are a little farther away, but worth the trip!

Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is located 50 minutes away in the harbor in downtown Buffalo New York. The park is the largest inland Naval Park with the boats in water in the country. This historical excursion features three decommissioned Naval vessels that served in a variety of military conflicts as well a tanks, PT boat, jets, helicopters and an indoor museum. Enjoy a guided or self-guided tour through the vessels and speak with the staff to learn further history on the ships!

Access many of the rooms and learn how they were used. Expore the submarine, and see the massive engines and torpedo ports. Visitors will get a hands on experience on some of the sacrafices that military endured serving our country while living on these vessels. The museum offers special events, guest speakers and has a gift shop. Help preserve this history for future generations by visiting the museum. The military and navel park is generally open May through November. They are located at 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY, 14202. Call for tickets and information at 716 847-1773 or visit their website.

Ellicottville Historical Society Museum is located in downtown Ellicottville. The museum as been around since 1956 and has many pictures and historical infomation about the town and community. The current location was built in 1853 and was one of the original four corners in downtown Ellicottville. The building has been a county clerk's cffice, a bank, a german church, a millinery shop, and a firehouse. The town historian is often around to answer questions and provide information about the town history.

Explore the building and see many of the historical pictures and artifacts. The museum is generally open June through September on Saturday and Sundays, 1 PM to 4 PM. They are located at 2 Washington St. Ellicottville, NY 14731. Call for hours at 716 699-8415.

Lucy - Desi Museum is located about 45 minutes away in Jamestown, NY, near wear Lucy grew up. The museum has been open for over 25 years and celebrating the lives, careers, and legacies of the “First Couple of Comedy” and how they impacted on the world. Explore the behind the scenes look at the show, and walk through the recreated aprtment and hotel sets where the shows were filmed. See props, costumes, Emmy Awards, scripts, one of kind footage, posters and more. Explore the lives and careers of the iconic couple!

The museum also have a gift shop with souveniers, t-shirts, and merchendise of the iconic couple, scenes and more. Save some money by purchasing a dual admission ticket with the National Comedy Center. After the museum, visit the Lucille Ball Memorial Park on the site where her career started, working in the summer at the Celoron Amusement Park.

They are located at 2 West Third Street Jamestown, NY 14701. They are open Thursday through Tuesday 10 AM to 5 PM, and are closed Wednesdays. Call to confirm hours and for information at 716 484-0800.

National Comedy Center opened in 2018 and is located about 45 minutes away in Jamestown, NY. The National Comedy Center non-profit cultural institution, the museum celebrates comedy’s great minds and unique voices, while providing an examination of the time-honed creative processes that have elevated comedy to an art. The state of the art museum expolres the minds of great comedic voices, minds and has exclusive collections and world-class exhibits. Explore More than 50 immersive exhibits following and interactive journey through comedy history, from early vaudeville acts to the latest viral memes.

They host annual events, such as the Luccille Ball Comedy Festival, host classic commedy movie nights, have national commedians performe live and have host commedic legacy exhibits. The museum also has the National Comedy Shop, which has souveniers, t-shirts, merchendise and legondary commedic items, which sales help support the museum. Save some money by purchasing a dual admission ticket with the Lucy-Desi Museum.

The National Comedy Center is located at 203 West Second Street Jamestown, NY 14701. They are open Thursday through Tuesday 10 AM through 5 PM, closed Wednesdays. Call for hours, event tickets or information at 716 484-2222.

Roger Tory Peterson Institue is located about 45 minutes away in Jamestown, NY. Explore the galleries with Art that Matters to the Planet or hike on their nature trails and discover flowers, birds and the wonders of nature. Enjoy the Roger's Art Studio and draw what your see on the wall. The have seasonal events, art classes and a museum store.

Roger Tory Peterson's was an artist signature contribution to the arc of the American Conservation Movement was the modern field guide, whose illustrated field guides allowed for easy, accurate identification in the field. The experience of using the field guide has helped millions of people across the globe really see the natural world..

They are located at 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. They are generally open Wednesday through Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM, and are closed Monday and Tuesday. Call to confirm hours and for information at 716 665-2473.

Salamanca Rail Museum is just 20 minutes away in Salamanca, New York. This is a fun trip for the entire family, not just train enthusiast. The historical pieces and the architectural design of the station will surely impress the family. Walk through the rail cars, explore the station, view the working “N scale” train setup and more.

During the summer guests can take rides on the speeder cars for a donation and also explore many of the rail cars on the tracks. The admission is free, but donations are appreciated to keep the museum going along with the countless volunteers. They also have a gift shop with train memboralia, books, toys, and souveniers to support the museum. The C&O and ???? line used the station during its prime time!

A must for railroad enthusiast of all ages! Public tours year-round on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Visit their facebook page for programs and events. They are located at 170 Main Street Salamanca, NY 14779. Call for tours, programs and events at 716 945-3133.

Seneca Iroquois National Museum is also located in Salamanca, NY, just 20 minutes away. They built a fabulous new musueum and cultural center in 2019. This museum offers year-round exhibits, cultural art and many collections. The cultural art and collections include Seneca beadwork, Seneca baskets, photos, artwork, log homes and more.

There are seasonal exhibits as well as permanent exhibits that include “This is Where We Walk”, “Histories Mysteries” and the “Longhouse” exhibits. They have a gift shop where you can purchase hand made stone carvings, pottery, baskets, textiles, original art and more.

The museum is open year round Monday through Friday 10 am to 4:30 pm. They are located at Address: 82 West Hetzel Street Salamanca, NY 14779. Call for hours at 716 945-1760.

Zippo/Case Museum located about 40 mintues away in Bradford, PA. The Zippo/Case museum is an exciting destination to see the history of the iconic brands and must see for collectors of Zippo lighters and Case knifesfrom across the world. The museum features a variety of exhibits that show the rich history of both American icons, including rare Case knives, an enormous three-bladed canoe pocket knife, a “knife-in-motion” hologram. You can also see the original sales promotional car for Zippo Lighters.

Visitors can see many iconic advertising items, displays and zippo lighters that could not be repaired and a replacement was sent. The museum is also the flagship store, so vistors can purchase Case knives, Zippo ligheters and have their current items survised as well. The Zippo lighter workshop is located in the museum, and visitors can see staff working on the lifetime honored lighter repairs.

They are located at 1932 Zippo Drive Bradford, PA 16701. They are open Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and 11 AM to 4 PM on Sundays. Call to confirm hours and for information at 814 368-1932.

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Click the museum name to visit their website
Lucy-Desi Museum
Zippo/Case Museum
Seneca Iroquois National Museum
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Lucy-Desi Museum
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Zippo/Case Museum
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Seneca Iroquois National Museum

Family Fun


There are some great family fun trips within a 45 minute plus drive from Hocking Hills. The excursions include train rides, zoos, wildlife parks, science exploration and more!

Cascade Lanes is located 20 mintues away in Springville, NY. A great 10 lane bowling alley, for family fun. They are connected with Tim & Bonnie's pizza in Springivlle, so you can order some great food while you are there. They also have information about the alley and events on their facebook page.

They are generally open daily. The are located at 385 S Cascade Dr Springville, NY, 14141. Call for hours, information and lane availability at 716 592-9001.

Holiday Valley Resort 3 Pool Complex is a great place to cool off and have fun in the summer. The pool complex features a toddler pool, a lap pool and an activity pool with a slide and diving board and several multi-tiered sun decks. Reservations are required for the pool complex and must be purchased in advance on their website. There are select timeslots for Holiday Valley lodging or rental guests, and time for the public. They have Cabana nights with live entertainment at the poolside bar.

They usaully open Memorial Day through Labor Day. They are generally open 7 days a week 11 AM to 7 PM during summer. The pool complex is located at 557 Holiday Valley Road Ellicottville, NY 14731. Reserve and purchase your swim pass dates and times on their website. Call for hours and questions at 716 699-2345.

Midway State Park is located on the shores of beautiful Chautauqua Lake. Midway State Park was established in 1898 as a trolley park and is one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the nation. Take a nostalgic ride on the vintage carousel, play a game of mini golf, ride go-carts, play water wars, take a spin on the tilt-a whirl, ride the roller coaster, dodge in the bumper cars , or watch their children on the many kiddie rides. A throwback to the old days of the classic Midway. Enjoy cotton candy, fair food, ice cream or games of skill to win a prize playing the classic midway games

The arcade museum, gift shop and concession stand are located in the 1915 building that once housed the dance hall and roller rink. Enjoy lunch in a picnic pavillion on lake Chatauqua. Midway State Park is about 55 minutes away, but well worth the day trip. They are open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day on weekends. In July and August they are generally open Wenesday through Sunday. Midway State Park is located at 4859 Route 430 Bemus Point, NY 14712. Call for hours and information at 716 386-3165.

Mini-golf at Allegany State Park - Red House is located at the Red House lake Boathouse in Allegany State Park. The 18 hole mini-golf course is fund for the entire faimly, with challenging fetures. It is located near the boathouse, with kayak, paddleboat, canoe and bike rentals. The area also has an extensive trail system for mountain biking and hiking in the summer and fall.

The mini-golf is typically open May through Sepetember depending on the weather. The boathouse is located near 2373 ASP Route 1 Salamanca, NY 14779. Call for hours and information at 716 354-9121.

Mister Happy Gem Mining opened in 2018 in the Sky High Adventure Park at Holiday Valley. Kids can puchase a bag of sand that contain gems to sift through in the mine and learn how to identify contents and find the fossils and gems. Each miner purchases a bag of sand that contains either gems or fossils. The kinds then learn how to excevate mines, and pour teh contents into a sive and wash the sand away with water that runs through a 65 foot long sluice. The miners then find the treasures in the bottom of the pan. An identification card is included for children to learn more about their gems or fossils.

There are various size bags to purchase for the kids to explore. They are open daily May through October and are located at 6773 Holiday Valley Rd, Ellicottville, NY 14731. Call for hours or information at 716-699-HIGH.

Old Fort Niagara is located in Youngstown, NY, near niagara falls. The fort offers visitors a chance to step back in time to an era when great empires struggled for control of North America. Visit original 18th century buildings, enjoy incredible views and take part in exciting living history programs during their special events. The Fort's Visitor Center has introductory exhibits filled with original artifacts, including the Fort's original War of 1812 Flag.

Spend a day in this national treasure that has been preserved by the Old Fort Niagara Association, which operates the fort from guest tickets and passes, the gift shops and community support. Old Fort Niagara is typically open Memorial day through Labor Day. The fort is about an 1 1/2 hours away. There are also shuttles from Niagara Falls State park. Old Fort Niagara is located 102 Morrow Plaza, Youngstown, NY 14174-0169 USA. Call for hours, events and information at 716 745-7611.

Pumpkinville is fall fun for the whole family! The farm animals to see, hay rides, the cow train ride, the corn cannon, bouncing air pillows, carosel, train rides, hay rides, corn maze, giant slides, story land, ball arcages, Pumpkin Patch Playground and more. Pumpkinville has plenty of treats; with a barbeque pit chicken, fresh pressed apple cider, home-made pumpkin and caramel ice cream, home-made deserts and pies, fudge, maple products, pumpkin doughnuts and more.

They have scenic helicopter rides on weekends, weather permitting. There is an apple barn and cider mill, painted pumpkins, merchant village and local artist gift shop. You can also pick up some pumpkins, apples, gourds, squash and other fall produce! Parents can enjoy the biergarten and sample local wines, craft beers or other beverages.

Pumpkinville is an annual tradition for families in the Southern Tier. They are open weekends mid-September through October 31st and are located at 4844 Sugartown Road Great Valley, NY 14741. Call for hours or information at 716-699-2205.

Seneca Allegany Casino and Event Center has world-class gaming, spa and salon services, an entertainment center, shops, pool, fitness center and expansive dining from 6 different venues. Thet enterainment center runs year round, bring in top name recording artists and acts.

The casion has slots, table games and a sports book. They are open 7 days a week, year-round. The casino and event center are located at 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd, Salamanca, NY 14779. Call for information at 877-8-SENECA.

Sugartown Farms is an alpaca farm and gift shop in Ellicottville. The Alpacas can be viewed during the farm store hours. The farm breeds show winning huacayas of color. They are beautiful animals to see. Their store has a wide variety of quality apparel and yarn made from Alpaca fiber. including socks, scarves, and hats.

Stop and see the alpacas and visit their store. They are generaly open Friday through Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. They are located at 6277 Sugartown Rd Ellicottville, NY 14731. Call for hours to confirm they are open 716-699-2902.

The New Central Lanes is located 15 minutes away in Salamanca, NY. A great 10 lane bowling alley. Bowlers can dine order food from Crist Restaurant, that is located in the ally!

They are generally open daily. The New Cental Lanes are located at 191 Central Ave, Salamanca, NY 14779. Call for hours, information and lane availability at 716 945-9819.

Cascade Lanes website
Holiday Valley Resort 3 Pool Complex website
Pumpkinville website
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Cascade Lanes
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Holiday Valley 3 Pool Complex
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Performance Venues


The Southern Tier is host to some great arts and culture. There are many local stages, outdoor performance venues and theaters that host events year round. Take on a live theatrical production, play, musical, movie or live concert.

Joylan Theatre opened in 1949 and is a wonderful single screen movie theater with the concession stand inside the theater. They have the latest technology for an enhanced movie experience with Dolby Digital audio components, JBL Professional Loudspeakers and QSC amplifiers mirror the finest audio systems installed in theaters worldwide. It is a great single screen thetare that seats 348 guests. See the current movie releases and enjoy this great trip down memory lane.

They are open daily and just a 25 minute drive to Springville, NY. The Joylan Thetre is located at 11 West Main Street Springville, NY 14141. Visit their website for current movies, times and to purchase tickets. Call for information and hours, at 716-592-7402.

Ray Evans Seneca Theater offers live musicals, live theatrical production, classic movie nights or other events that the Cattaraugus County Living Arts Associations (CCLAA) arranges. Theater opened in the 1940s and has countless hours of renovations by volunteers and is now home to the CCLAA. Catch a performacne at this wonderful theater.

The theater operates through community support, events, grants and thousands of volunteer hours. Help support the arts and this true commumnity theater by attending a show at this historic venue named after the Academy-Award winning lyricist Ray Evans from Salamanca, New York.

Visit their website to see the current schedule of performances. They have events year round and are located at 10 Main Street Salamanca, NY 14779. Call for hours, tickets or information at 716-945-1003.

Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino Entertainment Venue features the best entertainment in the region with amazing performers, must-see concerts, and the region’s best live bands. They have live national band concerts, tribute bands, commedians and other perfomers for your entertainment.

The casino and entertainment venture are 25 minuest away in Salamanca, NY. Visit their website to see performace dates and time and to purcahse in tickets in advance. The casino has table games, slots and a sportsbook. Their event calendar is year round, and they are and are located at 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd, Salamanca, NY 14779. Call for hours, tickets or performance information at 877-8-SENECA.

Skyview Drive-In website
Ray Evans Secenca Theater webpage
Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino Entertainment website
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What Wildflower 55 guests are saying


"Close to Holiday Valley and the casino to spend time with family and friends!"

— Guest December 2020

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