Sleepy farming village and summer hot spot
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7/16/2018
The Niagara County Village of Wilson is a sleepy one stop-light village and farming community of little change over the last couple decades. In 2018, the Town of Wilson celebrates its Bicentennial. Wilson lies on Lake Ontario 20 miles east of Niagara , 62 miles west of Rochester and 37 miles across the lake from Toronto. It's just blocks off Route 18 know as The Seaway Trail. It's surrounded by corn fields, apple & cherry orchards, and all punctuated by an occasional vineyard.
In contrast to its rural farming character, by summer Wilson turns into the home of vacationers and yachtsmen. Aside from the lake homes and the the residences of Sunset Island, most of the activity is centered around Wilson Harbor and its numerous yacht clubs, commercial marinas, and restaurants. Once maritime interests of a different variety prevailed here including boat building, fishing, farm produce distribution. In 1848 Wilson Harbor became a Port of Entry.?
The Village lies just a couple blocks south of route 18. The harbor is couple blocks north. Both can be missed traveling Route 18. The only clue is a small sign pointing to Wilson's business district and the new wooden marina sign opposite Brownies Drive-In that points one to the harbor marinas and Sunset Grill.??In addition to the villages many victorian homes lining the town side streets, you'll find what one might expect namely, an independent market, a pizzeria, one gas station / convenience store, a hardware store, a funeral parlor plus an assorted other half dozen businesses. The Village also has a surprisingly active library for a village its size. Visitors with a laptop might want to stop by to use their WiFi connection the library's computer access, fax, scan and copy services. ??Where today, there is one gas station, there was once four, one food market, there were three and even a movie theater! The bank reminiscent of the Bonny & Clyde era departed in 2014, the liquor store the year after my arrival in '04. There are a couple vintage bars the Firemens Pub and Jeans Bar & Grill which has has been for sale for over a decade. Just up the street is a typical small town luncheonette open for breakfast and lunch called "Down on Main Street" after the owners fondness of a song of the same name by Bob Seger. It's bright and lively and where the locals go. I go for lunch once a week for their BLT and cup of soup.??Still in town, we come to the ever popular and historic Wilson House Inn and Restaurant. It recently changed hands and was completely renovated. It's been Wilson's focal point and principal gathering spot for decades. The cobblestone structure was built in 1844 for Luther Wilson, the town's namesake, and was once a men's club with a bowling alley in the basement. It is one of the few places one can stay in Wilson with six newly renovated rooms, and it's dining room is open all year.??Another year-round and relatively new restaurant, just blocks out of town, is the Woodcock Brothers Brewery, at the old Cold Storage Building located across from the flea market grounds on Lake St. (Rt. 425). In addition to the brewery's bar, they have included a restaurant which by this writers standards (2017) is one of the best in Wilson. Their burgers, steaks and fish, are all tasty and cooked to perfection and cooked in their wood stoves.
Throughout summer there are many annual events scheduled by the Town and or Village of Wilson not generally associated with a town its size. Every summer starts with the Wilson Harbor Invitational Fishing Tournament. 2018's contest was the best since it's inception. Next on the calendar on Memorial Day is the Grand Scale Flee Market at the fair grounds by the Historic Railroad station. Vendors and visitors show up from all over Western NY & Canada. Then there is the 5K Salmon Run, and later in the summer a triathlon. Old car & hot rod enthusiasts "Cruise In" in late June. The Niagara County Motorcycle Club congregates for their annual Wilson rendezvous too. There is a Wine Tasting & Fair, usually the first weekend of August. featuring numerous Niagara County Vineyards. The premiere event, late August is "Field Day". Music, rides, games of chance attract visitors from far and wide. Be sure to check the Calendar of events on both the Village's Website. and the Towns Website.
The Town's biggest event is "Field Day" held the last weekend in August to raise money for the Volunteer Fire Dept. It's Wilson's major event and a place to rub shoulders with the locals. Field Day is duplicated by many of the regions neighboring villages. In each community's Field Day, neighboring towns "contribute" bands, floats, Classic Fire Trucks etc. for their parade. Essentially Field Day is a small town carnival with Wilson's being one of the largest with mini rides for the kids, games of chance, food stands featuring local fare. Every year early on during the event, I head down to the fire station for a gallon of their homemade chowder (chicken, corn and other local produce). It's fantastic, but they run out early. And yes, it can be frozen.
Just a couple miles west of the village on Route 18 you find Wilson-Tuscarora State Park. It's right on the lake and has many offerings, not the least of which is a regionally favorite sport called Disc Golf.
WILSON HARBOR
The Harbor is where the action is. Here you'll find Yacht Clubs, Marinas and the popular (seasonal) restaurants, namely the popular SUNSET GRILL, the harbors west side action spot.. It too has recently undergone major renovation including the addition of a catering hall. During summer it has live music on Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. The harbors action spot on the east side, is THE WILSON BOAT HOUSE. It too a fun spot with live music on the outside deck on Thursday through Sunday during summer. Both include large marinas and close from mid fall to mid spring.
The focal point of many of the establishments and homes that surround the harbor is the exclusive enclave of SUNSET ISLAND on the Harbors north side which is primarily accessible only by boat. (There is a service road through the state park). There are no winter residents here as the homes are second homes for folks who also come from around the state and Canada.
The harbor offers sailing and fishing charters plus Canoe and Kayaking which makes for lots of fun out on the lake (weather permitting) and up the creeks that feed into Wilson Harbor.
Lastly a visitor might enjoy "a taste" of the ever growing and popular Niagary County Wine Country Trail which now includes wineries in Wilson. also on a tourist itenerary should be a visit of Wilson's cobblestone homes, historic spots and Greenwood Memorial Park
Details and pictures can be found at WilsonOnTheLake.com
Sandy | Wilson, NY