The Beat

Ellicottville, NY – With an eye on the future, Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY is planning construction a 6-passenger chairlift starting in the summer of 2022, with completion of the lift in September 2023. The new lift will replace the Mardi Gras Express, a 4 passenger high speed lift built in 1996 that runs up through the heart of the resort. According to Holiday Valley’s President and General Manager, Dennis Eshbaugh, “The Holiday Valley lift system has been recognized by our guests as one of the best in the East. The Yodeler Quad Express lift built in 2021 raised the bar. The Mardi Gras 6-pack will give skiers and snowboarders an exciting new experience, with quicker access to the top of the mountain.”…

Ellicottville, NY (November 30, 2021) – Holiday Valley’s President, Dennis Eshbaugh announced today their 64^th winter season will begin on Friday, December 3^rd, weather permitting. Hours are from 9AM to 4:30 PM with 4 lifts open: Yodeler, Mardi Gras, Tannenbaum and Creekside and approximately 6 trails. Limited services and beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain will be available. Night skiing will start on December 10.

Chautauqua County, N.Y. – Chautauqua County is preparing for great summer season. Many attractions and experiences are reopening and are creating new and exciting ways for you to enjoy Chautauqua this summer.

Lake Erie Wine Country is hosting a new event – Red, White & BBQ

Lake Erie Wine Country is home to 23 wineries throughout Chautauqua County and Pennsylvania. This summer they are introducing a new event featuring patriotic pairings and summer favorites to help you impress your guests at your upcoming Fourth of July gathering.

Visit Two Hotels & Get a Portable Mini-Cooler Stuffed with Goodies for the Drive

Buffalo, NY (April 6, 2021) – The Harbor Hotel Collection features the Empire State Road Trip designed to showcase three of New York State’s most popular regions and all the fun stops in between. Formerly housebound couples, families and friends, will enjoy a one-of-a-kind mini-vacation that includes outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, alfresco dining, and stays at AAA Four Diamond waterfront hotels: Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on Chautauqua Lake, Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, located on Seneca Lake within the Finger Lakes, and 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River. All hotels have adopted enhanced cleaning procedures and protocols per CDC guidelines for safety.

National Comedy Center’s Archival and Preservation Department to be Named in Reiner’s Honor

Jamestown, NY – March 19, 2021 – The National Comedy Center, the United States’ official cultural institution dedicated to the art form of comedy, announced today that it will become the home of comedy legend Carl Reiner’s archives. The Reiner family is donating the archives to the Center, where rare creative papers, scripts and artifacts spanning Reiner’s seven-decade career in comedy as a writer, director, producer, author and performer will be preserved.

Building Closed for Repairs

Jamestown, NY – December 7, 2020 – The Roger Tory Peterson Institute experienced a fire on December 3, at approximately 10:25 a.m.

The fire occurred in the attic, likely due to a faulty light fixture. There were no visitors in the museum at the time. All staff and maintenance personnel exited safely. The sprinkler system extinguished the fire quickly, resulting in minimal fire and smoke damage. Jamestown Fire Department arrived promptly to assist.

Ellicottville, NY. (Dec. 7, 2020) -- Thanks to Mother Nature’s cold temperatures and snowmaking technology, Dennis Eshbaugh, the President and General Manager of Holiday Valley Resort announced today that the 2020-21 winter season will begin on Thursday morning, December 10th, 2020.

This most recent run of snowmaking has taken place since Saturday on over 12 of Holiday Valley’s 60 slopes, with up to 245 snowguns running simultaneously. As of 11:00 AM Monday morning, over 144 acre feet of snow has been made. (An acre foot of snow equals one acre covered by a foot of snow). In order to open the slopes, the newly made snow needs to “cure” for a period of time, then be spread over the slope by grooming machines to make a smooth skiing surface.

Lewis Black to Host “Lewis Black Friday” Online Store Celebration 

Jamestown, NY – November 24, 2020 – The National Comedy Center, the nation’s official cultural institution and museum dedicated to the art of comedy, today launched a new national hub for comedy-themed products and gifts called The Comedy Shop (ComedyShop.com). The Comedy Shop, which exists both online and at its physical brick-and-mortar location in Jamestown, NY, celebrates the legacies of comedy’s most iconic brands with a broad array of gifts and exclusive products that will bring smiles and laughter to anyone who loves to laugh. All proceeds from sales at The Comedy Shop support the non-profit mission and operations of the National Comedy Center and its museums.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House was named the 2020 WNY Arts Organization of the Year in the 7th annual Arts Services Initiative of WNY (ASI) Spark Awards competition. The awards are presented annually by the ASI to honor outstanding artists and cultural organizations in five counties of western NY, and were presented in a virtual ceremony which live streamed on YouTube Monday, Nov. 16.

The Opera House was recognized for “enhancing the cultural landscape of Chautauqua County since its grand reopening in November 1994 and creating a niche for itself as a year-round presenter of varied and quality entertainment amidst a thriving arts community.”…

Ellicottville, NY -- Holiday Valley Resort has announced plans to construct a new chairlift in 2021. The new lift is a state of the art high speed detachable quad chairlift that will replace the fixed grip Yodeler Quad, built in 2001. The new lift will be supplied by Doppelmayr USA, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Including installation, the cost of the new Yodeler High Speed Quad is $4 million. 

As compared to the existing lift, the chairs travel uphill at a much faster rate, but they detach from the cable and go slower for loading and unloading, making it much easier for skiers to get on and off the lift. Holiday Valley currently has 3 other detachable chairlifts; Mardi Gras, Tannenbaum and Morning Star.