FAQs on Visiting Chautauqua Institution

• What is Chautauqua Institution?

  Located in southwestern New York state, Chautauqua Institution delivers a nine-week summer season packed with programming around four pillars: the arts, religion, education, and recreation. More than 100,000 people attend events at Chautauqua Institution each year.

  A dramatic lakeside setting and the beauty of its National Historic Landmark architecture make Chautauqua Institution a thriving community where visitors come to find intellectual and spiritual growth and renewal. It is a summer center, removed from the day-to-day world, where some of the leading thinkers of our time come to speak to the concerns and issues of today in the Chautauqua Amphitheater; a place where music, dance, opera, theater, and the visual arts create the "Chautauqua Mix."

  Founded in 1874, Chautauqua Institution contains every era of American architecture dating to the late 19^th century.

• How do I visit Chautauqua Institution?

  You can visit Chautauqua Institution year-round.

  A gate pass is required during the nine-week summer season. A Chautauqua Institution gate pass provides admission to the grounds, all Amphitheater events and many other lectures, concerts, and more. Admission is free for children 12 and under, and Sunday admission is free for all at Chautauqua Institution.

  The gates are open the rest of the year, and admission is free. Locations such as the Book Store, Library, and Post Office are open year-round. Some hotels and vacation rentals are open year-round, and some restaurants and shops at Chautauqua Institution are open outside of the summer season. The Athenaeum Hotel is open from spring through fall.

• How do I book tickets for cultural events at Chautauqua Institution?

  Purchase Chautauqua Institution tickets online, by phone at 716.357.6250 or at the Main Gate Welcome Center.

• Are there shuttle and transportation services to and from Chautauqua Institution?

  Yes, companies such as Buffalo Airport Shuttle, CHQ Black Car Transportation, and Chautauqua Limousine Service offer shuttle services or private transportation from the Buffalo airport to Chautauqua Institution and back.

• Is Chautauqua Institution walkable?

  Chautauqua Institution is very walkable, particularly during the nine week summer season when vehicle traffic is extremely limited.

• Is Chautauqua Institution family-friendly?

  Chautauqua Institution is family-friendly with numerous activities for children, including day camps, recreation opportunities, entertainment, classes, and more.

  Chautauqua Institution is a walkable community with very little vehicle traffic, making it perfect for children to get around on their bicycles or for parents to push strollers.

  Admission to the Chautauqua Institution grounds is always free for children 12 and younger. That means you can bring your children and grandchildren to experience a stellar lineup of concerts and shows.

  Considered the longest running summer day camp in the United States, Chautauqua Boys’ and Girls’ Club embraces both tradition and the latest trends in youth education and engagement.

• Where can I find guided tours of Chautauqua Institution?

  Purchase tickets for a narrated bus tour at the Chautauqua Institution Main Gate Welcome Center daily during the summer. An experienced guide tells the fascinating story of Chautauqua Institution. Learn more.

• Can I rent a bike at Chautauqua Institution?

  Yes. Jamestown Cycle Shop offers bike rentals at Chautauqua Institution during the summer season.

• Are there farmers markets at Chautauqua Institution?

  Chautauqua Institution is home to multiple farmers markets during the nine week summer season. One market operates on Massey Avenue mornings from Monday-Saturday. A second market on Bestor Plaza takes place on Tuesdays.

• Where can I rent a boat at Chautauqua Institution?

  You can rent a pontoon boat, kayak, canoe, stand up paddleboard, or paddleboat from the Chautauqua Institution Sports Club. Rent a sailboat from the John R. Turney Sailing Center.

• Where can I stay at Chautauqua Institution?

  Several accommodation options are available at Chautauqua Institution, all of which are privately owned with the exception of the Athenaeum Hotel and Greene Family Commons dormitory. There are six classes of places to stay: single-family homes, condominiums, apartments, hotels and inns, historic inns and rooms, and denominational houses.

  The 152-room Athenaeum Hotel is a favorite for first-time Chautauquans. You can purchase your gate and parking passes along with your hotel stay and also dine at the in-house Heirloom Restaurant. The Athenaeum also offers in-season and offseason packages for those looking to experience Chautauqua Institution outside of the nine-week summer programming.

  Each of the hotels, inns, and homes on the grounds are as unique as the Institution itself with beautiful architecture, picturesque porches, and a variety of amenities to make your stay comfortable while you enjoy Chautauqua's lectures, concerts, and recreation just a short walk away.

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• Is there a golf course at Chautauqua Institution?

  Yes. Located just across the street from Chautauqua Institution, the Chautauqua Golf Club is one of only two 36-hole courses between Cleveland and Rochester. Additionally, the Golf Learning Center at Chautauqua Golf Club provides instruction and practice holes.

• What are some good day trip options for visitors staying in Chautauqua Institution?

  If you are on vacation in Chautauqua Institution and want to venture out to the surrounding areas for a few hours or a day, you will find numerous unique options to fit your interests.

  Bring your kids or grandkids to Midway State Park:
  Located on the shores of beautiful Chautauqua Lake, Midway State Park is a summertime family treasure. Originally established in 1898 as a trolley park, Midway is one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the nation. Patrons can take a nostalgic ride on the vintage carousel, play a game of mini golf, take a spin on the tilt-a-whirl and ride the go-karts or watch their children enjoy themselves on the many kiddie rides. And, while some may prefer to relax while enjoying an old fashioned candy apple or cotton candy, others can test their skills at classic midway games, or stretch their legs on the playground.

  Explore five nearby lakes:

  Venture beyond Chautauqua Institution to find the rest of what Chautauqua Lake has to offer. Cruise the lake’s 17 miles to discover numerous public docking points plus the beautiful Long Point State Park, or take a historic boat tour. Check out the lakeside villages of Bemus Point, Lakewood and Celoron, where you will find a lighthouse, Lucille Ball statues and the beautiful Chautauqua Harbor Hotel.

  Windswept shores, beaches, and dramatic cliffs define Chautauqua County’s northern Lake Erie border. Lake Erie and its tributaries, known as Steelhead Alley, harbor abundant walleye, bass, and trout fisheries, and are also home to popular migration flyways. Don't miss lighthouses in Dunkirk and Barcelona, or the Boardwalk Marketplace in the summer.

  Several smaller lakes surround Chautauqua, including Findley Lake to the southwest, plus Bear and Cassadaga Lakes to the north. There isn’t a single part of Chautauqua County that is more than 20 minutes from open water.

  Stretch your legs at some of the best hiking trails in western New York:

  Hike from the Pennsylvania border to Chautauqua Gorge State Forest on the 24-mile Westside Overland Trail system or explore hardwood forests along the 19-mile Eastside Overland Trail. Magnificent views atop Chautauqua County’s hills are not to be missed, especially the panoramic view of Lake Erie from the Luensman Overview Park. Erlandson Overview Park marks the highest accessible elevation point in the county, and on clear days it is possible to spot Chautauqua Lake from above. Hike through abandoned rail corridors on more than 17 miles of Rails to Trails, plan a family-friendly visit to the Audubon Community Nature Center or stand in awe of giant 60-foot-tall rock formations at Panama Rocks Scenic Park.

  Embark on summer or winter adventures at Peek'n Peak Resort:

  Summer: Play a round at Peek'n Peak's Upper Golf Course, and try the exciting Peak Mountain Adventures activities, including the Aerial Adventure Ropes Course, Giant Zipline, and more. Peek’n Putt mini golf is also open in the summer, and guests can admire the ski slopes and surrounding countryside with a scenic chairlift ride. Try out two brand-new professional Sand Volleyball courts, a Paintball Arena, and Cornhole Courts.

  Winter: The Peak is the best place to learn to ski or snowboard or simply improve on your existing skills, whether you are a first-timer or seasoned on the slopes. The resort is home to 26 slopes serviced by 8 chairlifts, as well as Terrain Parks, Snow Tubing, Lunar Lights Nighttime Tubing, and a renowned Snowsports School and Peek’n Kids lesson programs.

  Tour wineries, breweries and distilleries:

  Lake Erie Wine Country, a 50-mile wine trail featuring 23 wineries, stretches from Chautauqua County into Pennsylvania. Nearby breweries and distilleries include Southern Tier Brewing and Distilling in Lakewood, and Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing in Westfield. Other breweries include Wicked Warren's in Jamestown and Big Inlet Brewing in Mayville, among others.

  Visit the city of Jamestown:

  Explore some of the best cultural attractions and museums in western New York in Jamestown. From comedy to history, nature and entertainment, you will find a combination of learning and fun that makes for a perfect overnight trip or weekend getaway.

  Visit the National Comedy Center and Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Museum for a day of laughter.

  Discover the life and legacy of Robert H. Jackson – Supreme Court Justice, Chief U.S. Prosecutor at Nuremberg, and Chautauqua County native – at the Robert H. Jackson Center.

  Learn about what makes Jamestown great at the Fenton History Center. Housed in the 1863 mansion of New York State's 22nd Governor, Reuben E. Fenton, the museum features numerous exhibitions including Made in Jamestown: How Furniture Built a City, Lucille Ball: Not the Girl Next Door, the Military Room, the Lookout Tower, and many others.

  Visit the Roger Tory Peterson Institute to explore a beautiful museum with nature art exhibitions, walk 2.5 miles of trails on a 27-acre preserve, and discover the largest collection of Roger Tory Peterson’s original artwork, films, slides and papers. Peterson, the premier artist-naturalist of his time, connected people with nature as never before. The father of the modern field guide, Peterson’s artwork offered a way for readers to discover the beauty and wonder of nature.