Things to Do in Ellicottville, New York
The best things to do in Ellicottville, New York, are skiing or ziplining at Holiday Valley, walking Griffis Sculpture Park and an evening in the walkable village. Ellicottville is a town of 1,317 people in Cattaraugus County, and the village at its center had 284 residents in 2020.
The Seneca name for the place means “where they used to hold councils.” The village was the Cattaraugus County seat until 1868, when it moved to Little Valley. The town is named for Joseph Ellicott, the Holland Land Company’s chief land agent. Since Holiday Valley and HoliMont opened, it has turned into Western New York’s ski town, with many part-timers from Canada.
Holiday Valley
Established in 1957 just south of the village, Holiday Valley has 58 trails across 290 acres, 13 lifts and about 750 feet of vertical. It’s the reason most winter visitors come, and the resort stays busy in summer and fall too.
★ Good to know Lodging, dining and lift tickets are all booked through the resort site, and holiday weekends fill early.
Sky High Adventure Park and the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster
In warmer months, Holiday Valley’s aerial park strings 13 courses of swaying logs, bridges and ziplines through the trees. A ticket buys a three-hour session, enough for three or four courses. The Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster runs next to it.
★ Good to know Climbers must be 7 or older and wear sneakers; book ahead for weekends.
Griffis Sculpture Park
Artist Larry Griffis Jr. started this park in 1966, and it’s considered the first sculpture park in the United States. More than 250 works by over 100 artists stand across 425 acres of fields and woods, including oversized insects, animals and figures in welded steel and bronze. About 10 miles of trails link them.
★ Good to know It’s open May through October and sits north of the village near East Otto, so plan it as a short drive.
Ellicottville’s village streets
The village packs more than 20 shops and about two dozen bars and restaurants into a few walkable blocks at the crossing of Routes 219 and 242. Restrictive zoning keeps national chains out of the center, so almost everything is locally owned.
★ Good to know The chamber runs festivals through the year, including a big Fall Festival in mid-October and a Beer & Wine Festival in November.
Ellicottville Brewing Company
The town’s brewpub at 28 Monroe Street is the anchor of the village’s food scene, with house beers and a full menu. It’s one of four Ellicottville Brewing restaurants in the region.
★ Good to know It gets packed on ski weekends, so eat early or late.
Nannen Arboretum
This eight-acre arboretum at 28 Parkside Drive, behind the town center, dates to 1976. It holds more than 250 species of trees, shrubs, flowers and herbs, and it’s free and open to the public.
★ Good to know It’s an easy short walk for a slow morning before the slopes or trails.
Double Black Diamond Golf Course
Holiday Valley’s 18-hole, par-70 course winds over the resort’s lower slopes once the snow melts. It’s the main summer draw for golfers in the village.
★ Good to know Book tee times through the resort site.
Also in town
The Winery of Ellicottville pours at 14 Monroe Street, Ellicottville Distillery makes spirits on Robbins Road, and 64,800-acre Allegany State Park lies south past Salamanca.
Is Ellicottville worth visiting in summer?
Yes. Holiday Valley runs its Sky High aerial park, mountain coaster and golf course in warmer months, and Griffis Sculpture Park is open May through October.
How big is Holiday Valley?
It has 58 trails on 290 acres, 13 lifts and about 750 feet of vertical, according to its Wikipedia entry. It opened in 1957.
How far is Ellicottville from Buffalo?
It’s a straight shot south on US 219, roughly an hour and 15 minutes from Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Where else should I go in New York?
For a lakeside Adirondack ski town, try Lake Placid. See all our small towns in New York.
Where to find them
- Holiday Valley 6557 Holiday Valley Rd., Ellicottville, NY 14731 Website Directions
- Sky High Adventure Park and the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster 6773 Holiday Valley Rd., Ellicottville, NY 14731 Website Directions
- Griffis Sculpture Park 6902 Mill Valley Road, East Otto, NY 14729 Website Directions
- Ellicottville's village streets Monroe St. and Washington St., Ellicottville, NY 14731 Website Directions
- Ellicottville Brewing Company 28 Monroe St., Ellicottville, NY 14731 Website Directions
- Nannen Arboretum 28 Parkside Dr., Ellicottville, NY 14731 Website Directions
- Double Black Diamond Golf Course 6557 Holiday Valley Rd., Ellicottville, NY 14731 Website Directions
Plan your trip: for events and current visitor info in Ellicottville, see Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce →
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