New York Railroads
DESTINATION: UTICA, NY
by Tom Trencansky, Dryden, NY
www.newyorkrailroads.com
Utica, New York, in the heartland of the Empire State,
halfway between New York City and Niagara Falls. This is Central New York at it’s finest.
Utica is located along the Mohawk River and Erie Barge Canal, and a
convenient portal to the Leatherstocking and Adirondack regions of the state.
From Utica, it’s a quick drive to Old Forge, or Cooperstown, or even
Syracuse and Albany. Transportation
to and from Utica is easy by air, boat, train or automobile, exit 31, New York
State Thruway. And, since it is
within an hour or 90 minutes of so many attractions, downtown Utica is an ideal
location for vacation.
Downtown
Utica, as
with many urban areas in the northeast, is a city coming back from near death.
A rebirth, modern and attractive, the downtown district is one of
survival with newly renovated historical structures such as the Hotel Utica and
Utica Union Station. Always popular
is the F. X. Matt Brewery Tour (Saranac beer and soft drinks).
Next door to the Union Station is the Children’s Museum, with a special
attention to hand’s on displays for the kids.
The newest attraction pulling into downtown Utica is the Adirondack
Scenic Railroad, which now departs the station with seasonal excursions bound
for Old Forge and other destinations including entertainment trains to excellent
dining in nearby Forestport. There
are more than a dozen motels and hotels and full array of dining facilities in
the area.
Oneida
County is
the home of Utica and Rome as well as dozens of typical central New York towns
and villages. The valley has nearly
two-dozen major attractions; everything from the Utica Zoo, to Erie Canal
Village, to Fort Stanwix National Monument, to many others.
The Oneida Indian Nation is located west and home of New York State’s
huge Turning Stone Casino. Horse racing is just down the road at Vernon Downs.
Sylvan Beach on Oneida Lake has an amusement park as well as great
swimming and boating. The Oneida
County Visitor and Convention Bureau’s office is located at Exit 31 of the NYS
Thruway.
Hotel
Utica has
become an icon for the renewal of the city.
This 90 year-old hotel was saved from the wrecking ball only within the
past 4 years, completely renovated, both modern and elegant, and transformed
into its former glory. Walking into
the huge entrance hall, a visitor is taken back to the start of the twentieth
century. The hotel’s 112
elegantly appointed rooms, including 14 spacious suites are artistically
furnished in mahogany wood for an historic charm.
In 2002, Hotel Utica proudly joined the prestigious National Trust
Historic Hotels of America.
Adirondack
Scenic Railroad now departs Utica for Old Forge from two to four days per week with an
all-day excursion. The ride is
slightly more than two hours each way allowing a four-to-five hour visit to Old
Forge for a relaxing lunch, and some shopping in the many gift and specialty
shops. The ride is smooth with
modern, air-conditioned passenger coaches, open air car and snack bar.
The scenery is as good as New York has to offer as the railroad climbs
out of the Mohawk Valley and passes through the foothills of the Adirondacks.
Towns and villages such as Holland Patent, Remsen and Otter Lake pass by
the windows. The railroad is proud
to feature the word scenic in its name. From
the moment it leaves Union Station, the railroad lives up to that name and
reputation as it provides more than two hours worth of scenic vistas including
passing over large railroad trestles at Kayuta Lake, Big Woodhull Creek and the
Moose River at McKeever. All
Aboard!
The
railroad is actually owned by New York State and the operation is run by the
not-for-profit, Adirondack Railway Preservation Society.
This organization is restoring the full 141-mile railroad corridor from
Utica to Lake Placid. Twice
abandoned, the railroad is now complete through the heart of the Adirondacks and
the restoration of passenger travel through to Lake Placid is only a few years
away. The society has already opened an additional service with
seasonal train already operating in the Lake Placid to
Saranac Lake region.
Utica
Union Station
is restored to the grandeur it held when built in 1914.
This is a classic railroad station was once the pride of the New York
Central Railroad and is now a regional transportation 
center, served by train,
bus and taxi. Amtrak trains pass
through on their route across New York State and service to Albany, New York
City, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and all points further east and west.
The station’s interior has been compared to a cathedral’s with huge
arches and tall marble columns. Owned
by Oneida County, the facility is home to several offices and restaurants. Outside are several railroad-oriented displays shared with
the adjacent Children’s Museum including an original New York Central steam
locomotive. Good dining within and
nearby, the station complex is worth a visit.
Cooperstown
is only a stone’s throw away. Home
to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown is on the shore of Otsego Lake and
hosts many other attractions including the Farmer’s Museum, Soccer Hall of
Fame, breweries, antique shops and Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad.
Old
Forge and
the Fulton Chain of Lakes has been a vacation destination for a hundred years.
Ever since the first Adirondack trains passed through in 1892, the area
has been the playground of the rich and famous.
Huge estates were built throughout the area and it continues as a major
get-away today. The Adirondack
Scenic Railroad offers short excursions from the Thendara Depot.
One of New York’s largest attractions is the Water Safari and Enchanted
Forest. Located in downtown Old
Forge, Water Safari is a paradise for the kids with dozen’s of rides,
attractions and water rides, all with heated water. McCauley Mountain’s ski
lifts with give you a great view of the area.
Excursion boat service is available to visitors of the Fulton Lakes by
Old Forge Lake Cruises. Nearby
attractions such as the well-respected Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake,
Camp Sagamore and Raquette Lake are within easy driving distance.
Whether a day or a week, Utica has it all. This year’s vacation plans? Why not Destination Utica?
Some information to make your plans:
Adirondack
Scenic Railroad 1-877-508-6728
www.adirondackrr.com
Baseball Hall of Fame
1-888-425-5633 www.baseballhalloffame.org
Cooperstown Visitor’s Information
1-607-547-9983
www.cooperstownchamber.org
Hotel Utica
1-877-906-1912
www.hoteluticany.com
Oneida County Visitor’s
Center 1-800-426-3132
www.oneidacountycvb.com
Old Forge Visitor Information
1-315-369-6983 www.oldforgeny.com
Water Safari & Enchanted Forest
1-315-369-6145 www.watersafari.com
Editors,
This article is offered free of charge by the author. He is a volunteer working for the not-for-profit Adirondack Scenic Railroad and has written this article to promote the restoration of this historic rail line. All that is asked is that two copies of any publication are mailed to him at the following address:
Tom Trencansky, PO Box 609, Dryden, NY 13053.
And, thanks for supporting the railroad’s restoration.
This webpage was created for www.newyorkrailroads.com
New York Railroads © Updated 11/28/04tt