Celoron, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo celebrated the grand opening of the $38 million Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in Western New York. The hotel is located on a nine-acre parcel that was once home to the Celoron Amusement Park, which closed in 1962. The design of the hotel pays homage to the history of the village, including the amusement park and comedy great Lucille Ball, who was born in the community.
“This administration is focused on growing the region’s tourism economy, supporting projects like the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel and the new highly acclaimed National Comedy Center, and fostering job creation to build a stronger economy for all of Western New York,” governor Cuomo said. “I thank the hard-working men and women who helped build this beautiful hotel from the ground up, and look forward to welcoming more visitors to the Empire State as a result of these efforts.”
A Western New York Regional Economic Development grant of $1.9 million was awarded to support the project. In addition, NYS Homes and Community Renewal provided a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Award to assist with furniture, fixtures, and equipment, and to support the creation of 81 jobs, 68 of which will benefit low to moderate income workers. The project will also benefit from a variety of development incentives through the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency.
The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, located at 10 Dunham Ave., features 135 luxury guest rooms and suites, many with patios and views of Chautauqua Lake. Other features include: Dining at Lake House Tap & Grille with a large patio overlooking the lake; indoor and outdoor pools; fitness center; and 350-person capacity ballroom and conference center for weddings, business meetings, and special events.
With the opening of the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, Hart Hotels Inc. and Krog Group have completed one of the largest private sector fueled, tourism-based developments to take place in Chautauqua County.
The property also has a lakeside Carousel Bar that pays tribute to the grand carousels of yesteryear. The bar is connected by footbridge to Sunset Island offering an unparalleled setting for wedding ceremonies, private receptions, and performances.
The hotel’s opening is perfectly timed to accommodate visitors from the new National Comedy Center in Jamestown, another New York State supported project, which opened to rave reviews in August.
The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is Krog’s and Hart’s third and largest hotel in New York State. In 2008, the 104-room Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel opened and was recently voted by USA Today as the best waterfront hotel in the country. In 2014, Krog Group and Hart Hotels opened the 105-room 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton, New York, along the St. Lawrence River.
David Hart, president and CEO of Buffalo-based Hart Hotels, Inc., said, “We are thrilled to open Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, the third New York State hotel in our Harbor Hotel Collection, and bring world-class, waterfront accommodations and state-of-the-art conference facilities to the region. As we’ve seen in other markets, our hotel guests will also patronize local attractions, shops, and restaurants creating significant synergistic economic activity. We thank New York state for helping make this project a reality and for investing in the future of Chautauqua County and its residents.”
President, CEO and commissioner of Empire State Development Howard Zemsky said, “This deluxe hotel will encourage even more people to discover all the Chautauqua region has to offer visitors, from the beautiful lake to the new one-of-a-kind National Comedy Center in Jamestown and everywhere in-between.”
Western New York Regional Economic Development Council co-chair and president of SolEpoxy Inc., Jeff Belt said, “The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is an absolute game changer for a region that is utilizing assets such as the waterfront, the National Comedy Center and Chautauqua Institution to grow its tourism economy.”
Western New York Regional Economic Development Council co-chair and president of State University of New York at Fredonia, Dr. Virginia Horvath said, “The REDC is pleased to support this new upscale resort that is bringing jobs and tourism dollars to the region. We welcome the first guests and encourage them to explore all the region has to offer.”
Chautauqua County executive George Borrello said, “This 40-million-dollar world-class waterfront resort on Chautauqua Lake is the single largest hospitality development in the history of our county. My thanks to the Hart Hotel Group and the Krog Group for their investment in Chautauqua County. I also wish to thank the governor and Empire State Development for their continued support of this and many other vital economic development projects.”
Mayor Scott Schrecengost said, “The Village of Celoron has been working tirelessly for many years to revitalize its waterfront. With the help of funding from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund we were able to complete a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan which identified a hotel as a use for this vacant waterfront parcel. It is with great pleasure that we see the implementation of one of the plan’s recommendations and welcome the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel to the Village of Celoron.”
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