Letchworth State Park
One of the most consistently remarkable things about visiting parks is that they serve as a reminder of the forethought and generosity of those who set aside these tracts of nature for the benefit of future generations. As Warren Buffett said, “someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Letchworth State Park in Castile, New York, is an example of the forethought of someone a long time ago.
Middle Falls as viewed from Glen Iris Inn
William Pryor Letchworth was a well-known and well-regarded businessman in late 18th and early 19th century New York. In 1858, while on a train from New York City to his home back in Buffalo, the train crossed the Genesee River. As the story goes, “The area was recovering from years of logging which had scarred the slopes along the river. Before he climbed down from the bridge he was convinced that he should do something to help restore the area to a haven of beauty so that they could come here with family and friend to refresh their souls.” (Lombardo, 2018) He acquired 200 acres, and eventually grew his land holdings along the Genesee River to approximately 1000 acres, naming the estate Glen Iris. The serene land became threatened in 1898 by the Genesee River Company, which sought to establish a hydroelectric dam on the River. In 1906, he chose to donate his Glen Iris estate to New York State to establish a park in order to protect the land from future development.
We entered the park from the south gate and drove the roughly 15-mile road winding through the park. There were plenty of scenic overlooks to pull over and admire the views. Often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East” it was easy to see why with the significant cliffs along the Genesee River which tower 600 feet above the river in some spots.
A couple miles into the park, we found both the Glen Iris Inn, a fully restored manor house that provides overnight accommodations along with a full service restaurant. The view behind the Glen Iris Inn is rivaled only by the sound – Middle Falls, which stands a staggered 107 feet tall, is located behind the inn and slightly down the hill. We walked down to get a closer look, and listen to the falls and we were struck not only by the sounds and sights, but also how slippery things got from the spray even 100 feet away! As we wound our way up the park road, we encountered the most impressive spot – Seh-Ga-Hun-Da “The Vale of the Three Falls.” From this spot, we could see both the Upper Falls, standing at impressive 70 feet tall, which is upriver from Middle Falls, but is to its south. Around the bend from Seh-Ga-Hun-Da is the Lower Falls, which is constantly changing in shape and size due to the softer shales composing its bed.
Upper and Lower Falls as viewed from Seh-Ga-Hun-Da
This adventure made it abundantly clear why USA Today chose Letchworth State Park as the Best State Park in 2015. Boasting more than 60 miles of hiking trails, more than 15 miles of auto touring, countless scenic overlooks, picnic areas, and seasonal activities such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and snowmobiling, I’d be hard pressed to find an activity I couldn’t do in this park.
The legacy left by Letchworth illustrates the importance of philanthropy as a practice – he sought to preserve the pristine beauty of this place so that it could be protected and enjoyed by future generations. Just the same, as we donate to causes close to our hearts’ to improve the lives and environments of future generations, he did with the preservation of this land. Whether it is a charitable donation through a gift of cash, stock, qualifying charitable distribution from a retirement account, a beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy or a bequest in an estate plan – we have myriad ways to make a difference in our communities, even if we do not have 1000 pristine acres to donate.
