Our Community : Watkins Glen
Seneca Lake Pier
Watkins Glen, New York is the county seat of Schuyler County, nestled in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes region. Watkins Glen is situated at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, the largest and deepest of all the Finger Lakes. Schuyler County is characterized by rolling hills and narrow valleys. Carved by glaciers in the ice age, majestic gorges and waterfalls abound.
The Watkins Glen State Park contains one of the Finger Lakes’ most famous gorges, a one and a half mile trough, with three hundred foot high sandstone cliffs and nineteen separate waterfalls.
Watkins Glen is a small town with a population of 2,149 reported in the Census 2000. This charming, waterfront community, with its excellent harbor and marinas, has attracted tourists for more than a century. The historic Franklin Street shopping district is well known throughout the region.
Watkins Glen International is a racetrack which holds NASCAR Winston Cup races and its own annual Grand Prix. The town has become known as ‘The Home of American Road-Racing’.
The Finger Lakes region is known for its fine wineries and vineyards. Numerous wineries can be found along the length of Seneca Lake. The Watkins Glen International plays host to the annual Finger Lakes Wine Festival, bringing visitors from all over the country. The Seneca Lake Wine Association is based in Watkins Glen and they have created a ‘Wine Trail’ that will lead to 26 of the region’s top vineyards.
The Watkins Glen Waterfront Festival, held at the Seneca Harbor, has the rather unique distinction of having Cardboard Boat Regattas each year. Residents build cardboard boats, lined with duct tape and sealants, and pilot them around the harbor race course. Surprisingly, very few of the mariners actually sink and get wet!
Whether it’s wining and dining a person is seeking, hiking through the awesome gorge or shopping and boating, Watkins Glen, NY has it all.
