Summer at the Stone House at the Cattaraugus County Museum
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Holiday Valley making $5 million in capital improvements this summer
BY DEB EVERTS
ELLICOTTVILLE — After this year’s spectacular ski and snowboard season, Holiday Valley Resort is continuing its commitment to long-term investment and guest experience enhancements with nearly $5 million in capital improvements planned for summer 2026.
Holiday Valley has set its sights on a better-thanever future with projects spanning multiple areas of the resort. The projects include snowmaking infrastructure, lodging upgrades, golf course operations, mountain adventure attractions and athlete training facilities, ensuring visitors enjoy comfort, convenience and memorable moments in every season.
According to Director of Marketing Dash Hegeman, the largest portion of the investment will focus on continued modernization and automation of Holiday Valley’s snowmaking system, reinforcing the resort’s ability to deliver consistent early-season and peak-condition skiing and snowboarding throughout the winter season.
Hegeman said the
snowmaking improvements continue an ongoing investment strategy aimed at increasing energy efficiency, improving water and air delivery systems and maximizing snowmaking capabilities during favorable weather windows.
“Holiday Valley has enjoyed two winters in a row where we saw strong natural snowfall, great snowmaking windows and very strong guest visitation coming to the Ellicottville area. All of that has allowed for significant reinvestment back into the resort,” he said. “The improvements include new snow guns, as well as new lines for water and air, that were in need of replacement.”
Additional major projects include the installation of new RFID gate technology across the resort, upgrades to guest accommodations at The Inn at Holiday Valley with recently installed new keycard locks on the doors, improvements to several aerial courses at Sky High Adventure Park, enhancements to the Holiday Valley Training Center building, a complete renovation of the McCarty Café, in the Main Lodge, and new turf maintenance equipment for the Double Black Diamond Golf Course.
Hegeman said the new RFID gate system will modernize resort access while helping streamline guest flow and improve operational efficiency throughout the resort. This will allow guests to reload their lift ticket or season pass online and skip the ticket window completely, so they
sure the trees in the forest are staying healthy and aren’t getting overused.”
Hegeman said construction and installation on many of the projects have already begun and will continue throughout the summer ahead of the 2026-27 winter season. He said these investments help Holiday Valley continue to build the business in a way that is sustainable, which helps to support the staff, community and the Western New York region while creating a fantastic guest experience.
BY KELLEN M. QUIGLEY
— What
EAST OTTO
is believed to be the oldest historic building in Cattaraugus County not only pre-dates the Civil War — it pre-dates the very town it calls home.
Built in 1833-34 as a Baptist Church, what currently serves as the East Otto Historical Museum was first located about a mile east of the four corners where East Flats and Reed Hill roads intersect.
In 1854, the Town of East Otto broke away from the Town of Otto and became incorporated as its own entity.
That same year, the building was moved to “Otto Corners,” where the center of town was developing. A larger church that now serves as the hamlet firehall later replaced the building, which was sold to the town and, in 1873, was moved a few yards south to its present location at 8982 Reed Hill Road.
The building became East Otto’s first Town Hall and was used for meetings and voting. At times, it was also used as a schoolroom and even for Methodist Church services when the congregation’s church burned. It still has the original two wooden voting booths and the platform where the minister stood and later where the town board sat.
In 1972, after the town’s governmental offices relocated to its present location, the East Otto Historical Group (EOHG) was given permission to use the former hall as a museum.
Since then, the town’s people eagerly donated or loaned their ancestors’ family items for display, ranging from items that were once made in
can head right to the slopes.
“This is an ongoing project. There will be three new gates added to the resort this year,” he said. “They will be at Mardi Gras, Snowpine and Tannenbaum.”
A few changes are being made at Sky High Adventure Park. Hegeman said rerouted and upgraded courses are designed to enhance the guest experience while introducing new challenges and improved traffic flow within the aerial adventure system.
“There won’t be actual new courses made, but a couple are getting rerouted,” he said. “This is done from time to time in order to make
Oldest building in Cattaraugus County in need of TLC
East Otto, family scrapbooks, death notices, birth and marriage info, pictures of homes and people of East Otto and much more.
“The museum building and contents are our town’s History,” said Michelle Gogel, president of the EOHG and Town of East Otto Historian.
“It is appropriate that the historical items telling the story of East Otto are in the oldest building in town.”
In 2021, the town board proposed that the EOHG move the museum’s contents to the town hall. Gogel said the two combined rooms made available at the town hall were considerably smaller than the existing museum building, so not everything could be saved. In addition, the rooms at the town hall could not be locked due to a grant agreement, so the items would not be secure. Instead, she said the town board agreed to put a new roof on the museum building in 2023. Now, the EOHG is reaching out to the public to help paint and make necessary repairs to the museum.
The front of the building has dropped half an inch to 1 inch, and water has run off the front cement platform onto the front crossbeam.
Gogel said contractor recommendations include removing the concrete platform, replacing the front beam and reinforcing the front pilings it sits on. The concrete platform would be replaced with a wooden platform and entrance ramp, or more durable material if possible. The building also needs painting, and one of the windows needs to be repaired, but Gogel said these repairs will not change the historic
building’s character. The EOHG has also been planning fundraising events and special programs. Those who are willing to help donate or work on a fundraising dinner, call Steve Forster at (716) 257-9134. To help scrape or paint, call Doug Kirchner at (716) 481-1168.
To help with other projects, call Gogel at (716) 257-0654 or Julie Shamrock, community ambassador, at (716) 954-3258.
“As we look ahead and work together, EOHG wants to begin by saying thank you for your willingness to donate, volunteer and attend programs,” Gogel said.
“These investments reflect Holiday Valley’s ongoing commitment to improving the guest experience across all four seasons,” shared Dennis Eshbaugh, president and general manager. “From snowmaking and mountain operations to lodging, golf and summer attractions, we are thrilled to continue to reinvest in the resort to ensure Holiday Valley remains one of the premier year-round destinations in the Northeast.”
For more details, contact Hegeman at (716) 699-3905 or dhegeman@ holidayvalley.com. To learn more about the resort, visit holidayvalley.com.
“Someone recently said, ‘People don’t care today about history the way our parents and grandparents did. For that reason, it’s more and more important to keep it,’” she shared. “The building and contents are our town’s history.” Meanwhile, the EOHG is in the process of applying for nonprofit corporation and 501C-3 status.
“Until we complete that process, we have been given permission to fall under the umbrella of Historic Cattaraugus Corporation (HCC), allowing for taxexempt donations, grant applications for funding, educational programs and events,” she said. “We hope that you will consider donating to help preserve this historic building.” Checks can be made payable to HCC for EOHG (Historic Cattaraugus Corp for East Otto Historic Group). Mail checks to the treasurer, Elizabeth O’Neil, 7495 East Flats Road, East Otto, NY 14729. If you would like a receipt, please include a selfaddressed stamped envelope with the check. For updated information and dates, follow “East Otto Historical Group” on Facebook. The group will also post on the East Otto Post Office bulletin board, in the church
“We ask in doing so, to keep foremost in mind our efforts to preserve our history.” After the fire of 1962 wiped out the business section of town, Gogel said there is even more reason to preserve what little historical presence remains in East Otto. Whether you live in town now, used to or come to visit relatives — or simply live in Cattaraugus County — anyone can help save this history.
Photo provided
former church built in 1833-34 and now serving as the East Otto Historical Museum is believed to be the
Photo by Kellen M. Quigley
Holiday Valley Resort is continuing its commitment to long-term investment and guest experience enhancements with nearly $5 million in capital improvements planned for summer 2026.
Ɋ June 6 - Cynthia Mohr 5K at Veterans Memorial Park, Salamanca. Memorial 5K and walk in memory of Salamanca teacher Cindy Mohr. Proceeds benefit the Cynthia Mohr Scholarship fund and the 2027 Senior Trip. Register at salamancany.org/cindymohr5k. 9am.
Ɋ June 6 - Fire Tower Saturdays at Allegany State Park. Meet at Summit Ski Hut parking lot. Explore the last standing fire tower in the park. Join Friends of Allegany State Park for a unique experience. Quarter-
mile hike up to the tower.
Ɋ June 7 - Red House Sawmill Sundays at Allegany State Park. Meet at the sawmill off ASP Route 1. Uncover the rich history of the park sawmill as knowledgeable tour guides from the Friends of Allegany State Park or Allegany State Park Historical Society will be on hand to share their expertise and answer questions. 10am.
Ɋ June 11 - Summer at the Stone House at Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias.
Presentation on the Union Fife and Drum Corps. 7pm
Ɋ June 13 - Theresa Caputo Live at Seneca Allegany Event Center. Tickets start at $60.50. Visit senecaalleganycasino. com. 8pm.
Ɋ June 20 - Arts & Festival in downtown Randolph. 10am - 5pm.
Ɋ June 25 - Summer at the Stone House at Cattaraugus County Museum, Machias. Presentation on the Ka-Bar Story with historican Joe Bradley. 7pm.
Ɋ June 27-28 - Free Fishing Day throughout New York State. Hosted by the State Department of Environmental Conservation. No fishing license is required on these days for the fresh or marine waters. Visit dec.ny.gov.
Ɋ July 3-5 - Summer Music Festival at Holiday Valley. Enjoy a slate of fantastic artists at the outdoor slopeside venue. This weekend is filled with music and fun family adventures. Visit ellicottvilleny.com
11am.
