Land clearing begins for upscale cabins in Allegany State Park

SALAMANCA, N.Y. Land clearing began last week in the Quaker area of Allegany State Park for the first of 28 upscale cabins to be constructed under a public/private partnership.

The Empire State Development Corp. has awarded a $420,000 grant toward the $2.1 million cabin project being constructed and operated by ASP Partners LLC., a Bronxville company located in Westchester County, just north of New York City.

Pre-construction activities, including grading, is under way on Parallel Trail in the Quaker area, said Gary Quattrone, Allegany State Park manager. Fourteen full-service cabins, similar to the newer Fancher-style cottages will be constructed on Parallel Trail, where older cabins were demolished last fall.

Construction on another 14 cabins in a meadow along Bova Road in the Red House area will begin sometime in the fall, after completion of the 14 cabins on Parallel Trail. Park forces are not involved in the construction.

The high end cabins will include bathrooms with shower facilities, kitchen, dining room and bedrooms. Reservations will be handled through the state park rental offices; or online at http://www.newyorkparks.reserveamerica.com. Parks maintenance employees will not be responsible for the newer cabins. They can be booked up to nine months in advance, and cost $695 a week, or $173.75 for a night.

They hope to have the Parallel Trail cabins up and running sometime this summer, then go on to Bova, Quattrone said. They are all year-round cabins. The cottage program has been very popular here. The turn-away rate is high. These new cabins will provide more opportunities for our campers who want a different camping experience.

Two years ago, state parks officials sought to combine an attraction that included a zip line, as well as new cabins in a similar public-private partnership. The project did not work out.

The Empire State Development Board approved its $420,000 share at a meeting last Thursday.

The $2.1 million project includes design work and extending utilities to the new cabins, which were described in the Allegany State Park Master Plan adopted a few years ago.

Park officials believe the new cabins will not go vacant. Instead, they should boost overnight visits in Cattaraugus County by increasing the average length of stay, as well as draw more weddings and destination events.

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Land clearing begins for upscale cabins in Allegany State Park