SCHUYLER COUNTY
County Offices
105 Ninth Street
Watkins Glen 607-535-8133
www.schuylercounty.us
Chamber of Commerce
214 North Franklin Street
Watkins Glen 607-535-4300
www.watkinsglenchamber.com
Communities in Schuyler County
Catharine, Cayuta, Dix, Hector, Montour, Orange, Reading, Tyrone, Watkins Glen
Schuyler County is west of Ithaca at the south end of Seneca Lake. The population is just around 20,000 year round residents. During the tourist season the area sees over 1.5 million visitors, as racing enthusiasts, wine aficionados and nature lovers flock to the region. It is a semi-rural county comprised of twelve towns and villages. The county seat is located in Watkins Glen, a lakeside village that is home to Watkins Glen International Raceway.
Lifestyle
Residents and visitors enjoy numerous indoor and outdoor sports and recreation activities during all four seasons. These include: Watkins Glen International Raceway ; Watkins Glen State Park and Marina; Sugar Hill, Connecticut Hill, and Meads Hill State Parks; Seneca, Cayuta, Waneta, and Lamoka Lakes; over a dozen wineries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail; Queen Catharine Marsh; and the 16,032 acre Finger Lakes National Forest. Seneca Lake, offers fishing, boating and a wealth of other water sports. It also creates an ecological niche perfect for grape growing, which has given rise to the world-class wineries open for tours and tastings. The Catharine Valley Trail, which connects Watkins Glen and Horseheads, NY, is a well-known cross country skiing, cycling and hiking route. Golfers can enjoy a view of Seneca Lake and the neighboring hillsides from one of several golf courses in the area. Schuyler County anglers fish in the legendary Catherine Creek seeking trout in early April, while Seneca Lake provides good fishing year-round. Lamoka, Waneta and Cayuta lakes provide pan fish in summer and through the ice in winter. Hunters also find the region full of many game opportunities.
Schuyler County is home to an abundance of arts and cultural opportunities, including the International Motor Racing and Research Library, which provides an extensive archive on the history of open wheel and motor cross racing. The regions aviation heritage can be explored at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, in Hammondsport, and the National Warplane museum, at the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport. This entire area is known as the “Soaring Capital of the World” for its part in early days of gliding and this is recognized at the National Soaring Museum on Harris Hill in Big Flats near the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport. With its short driving distance to Ithaca, residents and visitors have many interesting venues for culture and entertainment such as Ithaca’s Hanger Theatre, The Museum of the Earth, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, and the Ithaca Farmer’s Market. Twenty minutes away in Elmira, the Clemens Center offers a 1,600 seat theater and presents international performing artists covering a broad array of programs including: Broadway musical tours, symphony orchestras, popular stars, country musicians, children’s theater, national dance companies, comedy, jazz, gospel and more. Closer to home, the Lake Country Players provide dramatic fun for the community, while the annual Finger Lakes Wine Festival, held at Watkins Glen International Raceway, draws visitors from throughout the United States.
Traditional downtown shopping can be found in the villages of Watkins Glen, Montour Falls, and Burdett, with quaint shops, galleries, memorabilia and antiques. Also less than 20 minutes away, the Arnot Mall and nearby Consumer Square in Big Flats, NY are home to over 100 department and specialty stores. To the north, the popular Waterloo Outlets are a 45-minute drive from Watkins Glen. Family restaurants and fine dining abound in Schuyler County. Many of the area wineries have opened restaurants where diners can enjoy a meal on a deck overlooking Seneca Lake. Dinner cruises on the lake itself are also a popular attraction.
Services
Schuyler County has easy access to numerous state and local highways. This system of roads provides excellent interstate access to the county. Air transportation is easily accessible via the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport, a 20 minute drive from Watkins Glen; the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport, a 45 minute drive; Greater Rochester International Airport, a 1 hour drive; and the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, a 1.5 hour drive.
Education is very important in the county, represented by institutions of higher education and a strong network of public, private and parochial elementary and secondary schools. These schools offer educational programs to fit the needs of all students in all disciplines, including business, the arts and education. Neighborhood schools stress basic skills in reading, writing and math. Education is strengthened by a public library system and communities committed to supporting quality, affordable education for their young people. Several excellent school districts service Schuyler County’s K-12th grade students, including Odessa-Montour, Montour Watkins Glen, Trumansburg, Horseheads, Corning and Bradford. Finally, for those with younger children, Schuyler County Childcare Coordinating Council can help with connections to area childcare providers. The area also includes several outstanding institutes for higher learning, all within a 30-minute drive, including Cornell University, Ithaca College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Cornell’s Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, Elmira College, and Corning Community College. SUNY Binghamton and Alfred University are both accessible as well.
Health care is a priority in Cortland County and is well represented by excellent full-service hospitals, healthcare facilities and human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. Schuyler Hospital, in Montour Falls, offers full service emergency, medical, surgical, and senior care. Arnot Ogdon Medical Center also provides comprehensive services to the Schuyler community, while the Guthrie Health Care System manages several clinics throughout the region. In addition, the area has a full complement of services for older adults including; independent living, adult day care, and short and long term residential care.
Schuyler County represents a great cross section of the region – offering a high quality of life for its residents along with the natural beauty of the region. Combine these features with plenty of opportunities for recreation and proximity with larger communities offers residents a broad selection of options for living.
