Kayaking, chartered boat tours, historic ferry crossings, waterfront golf, and a lakeside boat museum, all within a few blocks of each other in Bemus Point, NY.
Bemus Point sits at the midpoint of Lake Chautauqua in western New York, which puts a wide range of outdoor activities within easy reach. Whether you’re here for the water, the fishing, the golf, or just some time outside, the village has options across all seasons.
Rent a kayak or paddleboard from Bemus Bay Water Toys, take a private chartered cruise on One Fine Day, pick up gear or service at ROCK Marine, ride the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry across the lake, play a round at the Golf Club & Tap House, or explore the historic boat collection at The Lawson Center. All within a few blocks of each other.
Most people who spend time on the lake find it hard to leave. That’s part of what keeps visitors coming back year after year.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Peak season — all water activities, ferry, charters, golf, and museum fully operational. Book early.
Fall (Sep–Oct)
Gorgeous foliage, quieter lake, great fishing. Golf and some water sports continue through October.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Golf Club & Tap House open year-round. Ice fishing and snowshoeing for the adventurous.
Spring (Apr–May)
Lake comes back to life — early fishing, kayak season starts, venues begin reopening Memorial Day.
Bemus Bay Water Toys offers kayak, paddleboard, and water toy rentals right on the Bemus Point waterfront. A good starting point for getting out on Lake Chautauqua at your own pace.
A lakeside golf course and tap house on Main Street in Bemus Point, open year-round. Play a round, then stop in for something from the kitchen and a drink. A good spot for a morning round or a late-afternoon gathering.
One of the oldest continuously operating ferries in North America, the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry has been carrying passengers across Lake Chautauqua since the 1870s. It’s a short, scenic crossing between the villages of Bemus Point and Stow, and a well-known part of the Lake Chautauqua experience.
The Lawson Center is a nationally recognized small craft boat museum and community gathering space on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in Bemus Point. It holds a collection of historic wooden boats and small watercraft, open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
One Fine Day Boat Charter offers private lake cruises departing from Long Point State Park, available for sightseeing, special occasions, sunset cruises, and group outings. Contact Captain Paul directly for scheduling.
ROCK Marine carries marine products, handles boat sales, and provides on-the-water service for Lake Chautauqua boaters. Open May through October.
The official business directory and community guide for Bemus Point, NY — operated by the Bemus Point Business Association on the shores of Lake Chautauqua.
Bemus Point in October has something for every personality. 🍂
Solo.
Stop into Lake Life Café with your laptop and grab a cup of coffee.
Wander the village where every turn has sweeping lake views and peak foliage.
Grab a book from the Bemus Point Library.
Drive through the hills of Bemus Point when the color is at its best. Peak foliage is October 14th through 20th.
Family.
Take a slow morning and order the giant cinnamon roll at Bemus Point Inn.
Celebrate the Buffalo Bills with pizza from Coppola’s.
Have the whole family feed and learn about alpacas at Alpacaville on a Saturday.
Take a fall foliage walk through Long Point State Park. 🍂
Date.
Dinner for two.
Biking along Chautauqua Lake or the trails of Long Point State Park.
Fire table drinks at EBC.
Friends.
Tee time at Bemus Point Golf Club with a round of drinks after.
Shopping at Skillmans, Petals and Twigs, and the Musky Mall.
Gondola dining at Guppy’s.
📌Save this for your October Bemus Point weekend.
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This is the Lawson Center. And it is so much more than a boat museum. ⚓
Located right on Chautauqua Lake at 73 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point, the Lawson Center is a nationally recognized small craft boat museum with a collection of antique wooden boats, outboard motors, and photo displays dating back to the 1800s. The kind of place that makes you stop and realize how much history this lake actually holds.
But it is also one of the most unique event spaces on Chautauqua Lake. Waterfront views. A stunning interior.
Available for private parties, functions, and gatherings of all kinds. If you are planning an event and you want something that feels genuinely special and specific to this community, the Lawson Center deserves a look.
Kids love it too. The 1940s race boat simulator, the Junior Mate scavenger hunt, and the chance to take the helm of a real cruiser make it a family stop worth building into any Bemus Point visit.
📍 73 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY
📞 (716) 386-3355
🌐 thelawsoncenter.org
Have you been inside the Lawson Center?
Tell us your favorite part in the comments. 👇
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The stop that makes every fishing trip better. Since 1967. 🎣
Hogan’s Hut has been right before the bridge in Stow since 1967. Almost 60 years of being exactly what people need on their way through.
Bait and tackle. NYS fishing and hunting licenses. Self-serve gas and diesel. Green Mountain Coffee. Cold beer. Deli sandwiches. Breakfast sandwiches that people drive out of their way for. Daily lunch specials. So much more.
And if the catches coming out of Chautauqua Lake right now are any indication, the bait is working.
Whether you are a boater loading up before a full day on the lake, a hunter heading out early, or just someone who knows that Hogan’s Hut is the most efficient stop between the highway and wherever you are going on Chautauqua Lake, this place has been doing it right for nearly six decades.
Fall is here. The lake is still calling. And Hogan’s Hut is open every single day starting at 6 AM.
📍 3503 Old Bridge Rd, Stow, NY
📞 (716) 789-3831
What is your go-to order at Hogan’s Hut?
Tell us in the comments. 👇
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The fire table is on. The craft beer is cold. And Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua is still open. 🍺
Grab your Chautauqua Lake sweatshirt. Pull up a chair at the fire table on the patio. Order something from the fall menu and a small-batch craft brew made right here on Chautauqua Lake. Watch the lake go golden as the sun goes down.
That is an EBC evening in October. And there is nothing else quite like it in Bemus Point.
Families welcome on the covered patio. Kids menu. Dogs on leash in outdoor areas.
Open through October
📍57 Lakeside Drive
What is your go-to Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua order?
Tell us in the comments. 👇
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We are bringing it back. Fall edition. 🍂
Supporting a local maker instead of clicking add to cart.
A spontaneous fall walk with no destination and no timeline.
Dinner around a table with the people you love and no phone in sight.
Story time. The original screen-free morning.
This is what fall in Bemus Point feels like. And honestly it is exactly what we all needed to remember.
Share this with someone you want to slow down with this fall.
And drop your favorite Bemus Point fall memory in the comments. 👇
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Fall Fest 2026. What a weekend. 🍂
The streets of Bemus Point were lined with vendors, the village was full, and everyone met in the middle for one incredible weekend. Local makers and regional artisans brought handcrafted goods that you genuinely cannot find anywhere else. The restaurants were buzzing with fall specials. Live music carried through the village all weekend long. And the Classic Car Show brought a crowd all its own.
But what made this weekend truly something special was the people behind it.
To the Maple Grove Class of 2027 who showed up and worked the crosswalks all weekend long. You are the definition of what small town community looks like. Thank you. 🧡
To the Village of Bemus Point who made every corner of this village shine. It did not go unnoticed.
To every volunteer who gave their time and energy to make Fall Fest happen. This weekend does not exist without you.
To everyone who came out. Thank you for showing up and making Bemus Point what it is.
If you missed Fall Fest this year Bemus Point in the fall is still very much worth the trip. The foliage along Chautauqua Lake is just beginning to turn and peak color arrives in early to mid-October. There are accommodations available right in the village for a fall overnight you will not forget.
The season is just getting started. Come enjoy it. 🍂
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Such a fun Fall Fest weekend in Bemus Point!
Thank you to everyone who came out, shopped local, grabbed something good to eat, explored the Street Market and spent part of the weekend with us.
Now show us your camera roll. Tag @VisitBemusPoint in your Fall Fest photos so we can see your favorite moments and share some of the fun!
Summer is wrapping up. Fall is rolling in. And Bemus Point is celebrating right in the middle of it. 🍂
Fall Fest is officially open this weekend and the village is alive. Over 70 vendors lining the streets with handmade jewelry, original artwork, home decor, baked goods, and more. The restaurants are serving up fall specials. Pumpkin waffles, apple cider mimosas, jagerschnitzel, maple fluff cotton candy, fall cocktails, and seasonal craft beers.
Chautauqua Lake in September is something special.
Come down. Walk the village. Stay for a while. 🍂
Street Market is open 10AM-5PM Daily
Share with who you want to Meet in the Middle. 👇
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