Overview
Ellicottville is a village in the Southern Tier of New York. It is famous for its ski resorts, Holiday Valley and HoliMont, the former has been ranked the number 4 ski resort in the Eastern United States.
2 sights · 3 things to do · 6 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Ellicottville
Nannen Arboretum
The 8-acre (3-hectare) site, open year-round, is a sanctuary for hundreds of trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, herbs and nature walks. It also includes a Japanese meditation garden, a pond with a fish, and 2 wonderful lo…
Griffis Sculpture Park
The oldest sculpture park in the country (founded in 1966) is a 400-acre (160-hectare) outdoor museum with over 250 sculptures that can be discovered along the trails that wind through the woods.
Holiday Valley
Rated the number 4 resort in the east by readers of Ski magazine , this is the larger of the two resorts, and has full snowmaking capabilities to stay operational throughout the winter. In the summer, "the valley" boasts…
Sky High Adventure Park
An aerial obstacle course set in the woods between ski slopes. With a comprehensive safety harness system and a wide range of difficulties, visitors with different skill levels can all challenge themselves. Obstacles inv…
HoliMont
Open to the public Monday through Friday, in order to ski here on the weekends, you must be a member. This is the largest privately owned ski club in North America. For weekend skiing, head over to Holiday Valley.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 19°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Sep and Oct. (climate data from nearby Buffalo)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BFD Bradford Regional Airport, Bradford — 33 mi away. Directions
- BUF Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Buffalo — 46 mi away (major hub). Directions
US 219 runs north from I-86, and south from Buffalo. NY242 runs into the village.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Griffis Sculpture Park, Nannen Arboretum, Holiday Valley
- Lunch Balloons Restaurant & Nightclub
- Afternoon Sky High Adventure Park, HoliMont
- Dinner Barn Restaurant
- Evening Ellicottville Brewing Company
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
US 219 runs north from I-86, and south from Buffalo. NY242 runs into the village.
The closest airport is in Buffalo, as is the closest Amtrak station. However, driving to Buffalo is not hard at all: take the 219 north to the end of the road at the New York State Thruway (I-90), then get off at Exit 53 (I-190 north). Downtown Buffalo is five minutes past the exit.
Fullington Trailways, an intercity bus provider, runs once daily through the village, northbound from Pennsylvania during lunch hour, and southbound from Buffalo during early afternoon. The Seneca Allegany Casino also operates a shuttle between Salamanca and Ellicottville on weekends, several times a day.
Get around
Within the village of Ellicottville (downtown), you do not need a car, as the village is very compact and everybody walks. Everything you want to see or do is on or near Washington Street, the main thoroughfare. However, if you are going from town to the ski resorts, you will need a car. Holiday Valley is about a mile (2 km) from the village on US 219, and HoliMont is on NY 242 before you enter the village.
See
See Nannen Arboretum
The 8-acre (3-hectare) site, open year-round, is a sanctuary for hundreds of trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, herbs and nature walks. It also includes a Japanese meditation garden, a pond with a fish, and 2 wonderful locations for wedding ceremonies and outdoor educational events at the Chapman Nature Sanctuary and the Northrup Nature Hall. Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted.
Do
Skiing and snowboarding are what a vast majority of visitors to Ellicottville come to do. The two ski resorts are:
Do Holiday Valley
Rated the number 4 resort in the east by readers of Ski magazine , this is the larger of the two resorts, and has full snowmaking capabilities to stay operational throughout the winter. In the summer, "the valley" boasts an 18-hole golf course. Holiday Valley also includes the Holiday Valley Tubing Co., for snow tubing.
Do Sky High Adventure Park
An aerial obstacle course set in the woods between ski slopes. With a comprehensive safety harness system and a wide range of difficulties, visitors with different skill levels can all challenge themselves. Obstacles involve balancing, reaching, crawling, jumping, climbing, and ziplining between tree-mounted platforms. It's not for the faint of heart; be willing to take risks, but also know your limits. Nearby is the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster, where you decide how slow or fast you descend along the steel track.
Besides the ski resorts, there are many other things to do in Ellicottville:
- In the fall, check out the Nightmare Hay Rides , and in the summer check out the Ellicottville Rodeo. 6319 Sommerville Valley Rd, outside the village.
- Ellicottville Village Park, Just off Maples Rd behind the Legion, +1 716 699-2240. Fully equipped park with picnic shelter, tennis, soccer, baseball, inline skating, washroom and changing facilities.
Buy
Funky Washington Street has a surprisingly huge selection for a small village- Check out some of the shops:
Shop Alexandra
Eclectic collection of jewelry, gifts, pottery, books, cards, stationery, party ware and toys for all ages. Create an atmosphere with An array of scented candles, incense and aromatic bath and beauty treatments.
Shop Betsy's Consignments
Patterned after Aspen's best consignment shop. Betsy's has high-end items for men, women and children.
Shop Gado-Gado
Unique women’s & children’s clothing, handpainted textiles, accessories, antiques, silver & beaded jewelry, handcrafted candles and lighting, unusual home furnishings, incense, World Music.
Shop The Purple Doorknob
Both the regular doorknob and the giant one on this shop's signage are indeed purple. Inside is an array of socks in hundreds of different designs and styles. Nothing else – just socks, most of them with novelty prints. But they also have utilitarian socks, like the Darn Tough brand for all those skiers or hikers who come through Ellicottville.
Shop A Touch of Ellicottville
The one-stop shop for Ellicottville souvenirs, including T-shirts, bumper stickers, and a toy store in the back.
Shop Watson's Chocolates
A Buffalo-based chain of chocolate shops, Watson's offers the local specialty sponge candy as well as an array of other treats. This location also carries a small selection of Perry's Ice Cream in cones and dishes.
Because Ellicottville is known as the "Aspen of the East", there are many ski- and snowboard-specific shops. A good tip for those looking to buy new skis or snowboards is to wait till the end of the season. Prices are typically $200-300 lower than what they would be at the beginning and during the ski season. Typically, prices go down in mid-March, which means you can still get a couple of weeks in before the resorts close.
- The Boardroom, 6113 RT 219 S (next to Holiday Valley) +1 716 699-5620. The place to go for a snowboard in Ellicottville, as well as the only snowboard-specific shop. Right next to Holiday Valley. Very good service.
Shop Mud, Sweat n' Gears Ski and Snowboard
A shop and social gathering place in downtown Ellicottville.
Shop Red Door Ski Shop
Shop Apres
A ski, casual and sportswear boutique for all seasons. Browse through the assortment of jewelry, accessories, unique gifts, books and a lot more.
Eat
Eat Balloons Restaurant & Nightclub
Strangely bereft of actual balloons, this small restaurant still has a colorful spirit. It has two bars, an outdoor patio, and a stage (and dancefloor) for live music. The food is fairly standard casual fare (sandwiches, wings) but good quality and with some interesting twists. Several plant-based options available.
- Ellicottville Depot, 6094 Rt. 219 S (near Holiday Valley), +1 716 699-4744. Pizza & wings, movies, and souvenirs.
Eat Hoagies
Pizza, subs, & Mexican food.
- The Hearth Restaurant, on-site at Holiday Valley. +1 716 699-2010. Expensive, but good food. Overlooks the slopes.
Drink
- Coolings Ice Cream Cafe, 10a Washington St +1 716 699-8860. A quaint coffee and ice cream shop.
Drink Ellicottville Brewing Company
A micro-brewery of fabulous craft beers with a tremendous American cuisine menu. European style beer garden. No reservations accepted.
Drink Double Diamond
Great food & beer- come here to play pool and socialize.
- All of the above places have great food and should not be overlooked by families with children for a late-afternoon lunch or dinner.
Sleep
Stay Adams Corner B&B
Four bedroom bed & breakfast two blocks from the quaint village of Ellicottville. Offers you a choice of room types, simplicity or luxury. All rooms have TVs and a small refrigerator. Simplicity rooms each have double bed and share a bath. Luxury rooms, over garage, with private entrance, each have queen bed, whirlpool tub for two, bath with shower, and deck. They share a kitchenette. No pets, no children, double occupancy only.
Stay Black Dog Lodge B&B
Five minutes north of Ellicottville on Rte. 219. A country getaway on a beautiful hillside, invites visitors to country beauty and relaxation at its finest. The grounds surrounding the lodge feature a lovely stocked trout pond with paddle boats, wooded trails on over 60 secluded acres (25 hectares), for a romantic walk, a hearty summer hike or a winter snowshoeing trek. Each guest room is complete with a fireplace, ensuite baths and Jacuzzi style tubs, and all the amenities expected in a fine country lodge.
Stay Jefferson Inn B&B
In Ellicottville, the only bed & breakfast not on a highway is behind the Town Hall, where you can walk to the restaurants and shops. Click on the website for availability, pictures, and description of the many amenities. Chose either the romantic B&B or the efficiency units for families with pets or young children. AAA approved.
Stay Edelweiss Lodge
In Ellicottville, in the center of the Village- walking distance to all shops and restaurants. 3/4 miles (1 km) to Holiday Valley. Rooms, chalets. Pool summer and winter. Four tennis courts. Complimentary continental breakfast.
- The Inn at Holiday Valley, On-site at Holiday Valley. (716) 699-2336. A comfortably elegant Inn, on the golf course & ski slopes. Indoor/outdoor year round pool, spa, sauna & exercise room. Complimentary continental breakfast. Ski & golf packages available. On site meeting rooms.
Go next
- Allegany State Park is 15 minutes south of Ellicottville. This 65,000-acre (260-km2) park offers excellent facilities for camping, swimming, fishing, biking, hunting, cross country skiing and snowmobiling.
- Buffalo is about an hour's drive north of here.
- Niagara Falls is half an hour north past Buffalo.
- The Finger Lakes region of New York state is about a 2-hour drive to the east, and is the largest wine producing region in the US outside of California.
Nearby
Little Valley
City / town · 13 listings · 7 mi away
Salamanca
City / town · 6 listings · 8 mi away
Cattaraugus
City / town · 9 listings · 11 mi away
Franklinville
City / town · 20 listings · 12 mi away
Allegany State Park
Park · 29 listings · 16 mi away
Randolph
City / town · 10 listings · 17 mi away
Olean
City / town · 47 listings · 18 mi away
Cuba
City / town · 7 listings · 20 mi away
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