A Weekend in Tioga County

As a tour operator and member of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, I was invited to the Tioga County Group Familiarization Tour in June.  My husband and I met our gracious hosts from the Tioga County Tourism Office at the Owego Treadway Inn, a well-appointed hotel with a full restaurant and bar, joining the group at noon on Friday.  For the next 28 hours we were treated to attractions highlighting the history, commerce and tourist attractions of the county, as well as their future plans for development.

We were welcomed at the Pumpelly House, a 1902 Georgian-style home re-imagined as an upscale B&B, for an elegant lunch. The proprietors also offer its spacious Carriage House, in-ground pool, and seasonal gardens next to the river for special events.

Our next stop was the Tioga County Historical Society and Museum, whose current exhibit features Lincoln memorabilia.  From there we moved on to shopping opportunities in the village center.  Owego, strategically located on the Susquehanna River, was established in 1800, and its historic River Row includes the Cellar Restaurant, where we dined in a porch room overlooking the river.  The recently remodeled restaurant features cosmopolitan dishes made from fresh ingredients, and easily accommodates groups.

Our final destination Friday was Tioga Downs, the county’s largest attraction, which offers harness racing, lottery games and live entertainment.  We enjoyed a dessert and wine reception in a private room with a balcony overlooking the track, and then tried our hands at the machines.

Saturday morning we breakfasted with Scott McDonald, Director of the Waterman Conservation Education Center in Apalachin, NY, which promotes conservation and outdoor recreational activities.  Scott brought along Redman, a 20-yr-old red-tail hawk, who was rescued years ago, found to be blind in one eye, and now lives at the Hiawatha Island preserve, part of the Waterman Center.  What a magnificent creature, and what a treat to see him up close!

We journeyed to the Billings-Bement Farmstead, a living history museum, where the blacksmith and woodworker brought us into their shops, and costumed docents cooked sausage and potato pies over an open hearth.

Next we visited Side Hill Acres, a working dairy goat farm in Candor, where we got close to the goats and enjoyed the “udderly delicious” cheeses and fudge in their gift shop.

We enjoyed a buffet lunch at the spacious Tank Restaurant in Waverly, and made our final stop at the Merrill Estate Historical Collection.  The hour we spent there wasn’t nearly enough to take in Don and Carol Merrill’s massive collection of artifacts from their town.  From vintage cars to music boxes, the couple has made collecting Waverly memorabilia their life’s work.

We returned to Ithaca tired, but with happy memories of our weekend in Tioga County, another unique destination in the Finger Lakes!