New York State is home to some of the most spectacular parks in the country and those parks (we all know which ones they are) sometimes overshadow some of the small parks that are quite remarkable in their own way. Mexico Point State Park and Boat Launch is not only a unique destination but a truly beautiful one as well.
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Dog-Friendly – Yes
Terrain – Rocky Beach, Dirt paths (lots of roots)
Stroller-Friendly – No
Casey Cottage
From the parking lot, visitors can clearly see the stone walls and fireplace in the park’s center. These walls, surrounded by tall, old trees and covered in ivy, add dramatic allure to the park. When we visited, a wedding party used the setting for pictures. These stone walls are what remains of a Summer resort called the Mexico Point Club House.
Follow the stonewall through the park, and you come upon an old cottage. This cottage was designed by Dr. William Casey, who transformed it into a medieval manor from the old carriage house of the Mexico Point Club with the help of his friend Severin Bischof. The inside of the cottage is really quite remarkable. The building is available for rent for small-scale events such as business or club meetings, rehearsal dinners, small weddings, and family gatherings.
If you wander around the outside of the cottage, you can see that each stained glass window is not only ornate but completely unique. In fact, there are 18 completely different windows shaped in narrow medieval shields.
Interestingly, the cottage is believed to be haunted. Visitors have experienced the sound of faint organ music, seen objects and furniture move, have things, like keys, vanish and later appear someplace else. Some people have reported seeing a ghost of a young girl standing under a nearby tree, hearing the cries of “help” from the lake, or even the sensation of being touched. Ghost hunts can be arranged by reservation by calling (315) 963-8216.
Beach
There is a swimming beach at this park that is really gorgeous and has a dazzling view of Lake Ontario. The swim beach is open from 11 am to 7 pm every day when lifeguards are on duty. This is a great place to take the kids on a summer day to enjoy a picnic and a swim.
Hiking
If you look to your right as you pull into the parking area, you will see a trail and a marker for Spy Island. This is a pretty hike that is a little less than a mile, and it leads out to a small island at the river. The trail runs partially along the Little Salmon River, and this area is frequented by fishermen, as the fishing here is usually quite good.
On the island, there is a grave marker for Silas Towne. A man who distinguished himself with his bravery by overhearing the British discussing their plans to attack Fort Stanwix while on Spy Island. He was able to forewarn the Americans of the impending attack, and the Fort was saved.
State Boat Launch
Across the River is a large boat launch that gives boaters almost direct access to Lake Ontario. There is picnicking available here as well.
Fee: $7 – Fee charged 4/1 to 11/1 (Collected via automated pay station)
$18 – Overnight Parking
Dog Beach
One of the best parts of this park is the dog beach. Past the cottage, there is a short trail to a beach on the other side of the park, a beach just for dogs. Owners can bring their dogs (leashed, of course) to play on the beach and frolic in the waves of Lake Ontario. Please be considerate and be sure to clean up after your dogs.
Wintertime at Mexico Point
This isn’t a park that comes to mind right away for winter fun, but it is a great place to get away from the crowd. When we visited, there wasn’t a soul around; we had the entire place to ourselves. This is an excellent place to use snowshoes, as the snow can get fairly deep here. There were no flattened paths when we were here, so we were trudging through the snow. It was during the trudging that the light bulb went off that this would have been a great place to use our snowshoes.
The sunsets here are fantastic, even in the winter. It was a stormy night, and the clouds were just incredible. If you looking for a quiet winter retreat, this is it.
Getting to Mexico Point State Park
Address: 120 Mexico Point Dr., Mexico