Allegany State Park - Red House Area's Administration Building

Bob and I visited Allegany State Park near Salamanca, New York, this past Sunday. We visit the park frequently, as it is within an hour's drive from our house. As I mentioned in Sunday's blog post, my blog posts this week will showcase photographs from all of our visits to Allegany State Park. The subject of today's blog post is the state park's Administration Building.

The Tudor-Style Administration Building, which is located in the Red House area, sits atop a hill overlooking Red House Lake. According to the writer of Mon@rch Nature Blog, the construction of the administration building began on October 24, 1927 and wasn't completed until late 1928.

Construction of the Administration Building
(Photograph obtained at Mon@rch Nature Blog)

Administration Building in 1928
(Photograph obtained at Mon@arch Nature Blog)

The Administration Building houses the Red House Rental Offices, the New York State Park Police Station, the park museum, the Red House Gift Shop, the Red House Restaurant and the Allegany Regional Offices for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP). The rental office, gift shop, museum and police station are located on the main level of the building. The restaurant, Allegany Regional Offices of NYSOPRHP, and park offices are located on the upper level of the building.

What follows are photographs of the Red House Area Administration Building that I have taken.

Wintertime View of Administration Building (Jan 2009)

Administration Building sits atop a hill (Nov 2009)


Red House Lake
View from rear of Administration Building (Nov 2009)

Administration Building (Nov 2009)
Rear View

Entrance to Red House Gift Shop (Nov 2009)

Red House Restaurant (Oct 2008)

We have enjoyed several lunches at this restaurant. We've ordered a variety of sandwiches from the menu. We have never been disappointed with our selections, and the service has always been excellent.

Until Sunday, I had not set foot on the hill behind the Administration Building. I found two items of interest on that hill.

Weather Station (Nov 2009)

This weather station is located on hillside behind Administration Building (The equipment show, from left to right, is a rain gauge, max/min thermometers, and a barometer.)

Heart-shaped Wood Carving (Nov 2009)
Located on hillside behind Administration Building

The weather station and heart-shaped wood carving were located at the beginning of a trail that leads up, away from the Administration Building. Perhaps on a future visit to Allegany State Park, we can hike the trail and find other items of interest.

Allegany State Park - Red House Lake

Yesterday, Bob and I visited Allegany State Park near Salamanca, New York. We visit the park frequently, as it is within an hour's drive from our house. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog post, my blog posts this week will showcase photographs from all of our visits to Allegany State Park. The subject of today's blog post is Red House Lake.

Red House Lake is a man-made lake. The 1.8-mile shoreline is mainly undeveloped and consists primarily of mowed fields with some wooded areas. Roads and a bike path encircle the entire lake.

Red House Lake (Jul 2007)

There is a small boat launch at the northwest corner of the lake. This photograph was taken at that boat launch.

Red House Lake (Jul 2007)

Paddle boats, bicycle boats, rowboats and canoes can be rented for use on the lake. I would like to one day rent a paddle boat and get out ON the lake.

Red House Lake (Oct 2008)

Red House Lake (Jan 2009)

Now for photographs of Red House Lake from yesterday's visit to Allegany State Park ...

Red House Lake (Nov 2009)

Red House Lake (Nov 2009)

I LOVE the reflections on the lake in this photograph!

Allegany State Park - Thunder Rocks

This weekend was gorgeous. There was lots of sunshine with blue skies and warm temperatures. Here in Northwestern Pennsylvania, I believe we might just be experiencing Indian Summer. The weatherman is forecasting similar weather the rest of this week. Get out and enjoy it, as you are able! That's exactly what Bob and I did today. We got out and enjoyed the warm, sunny day at a state park not far from our home.

Today's destination was Allegany State Park near Salamanca, New York. Allegany State Park is New York's largest state park and is known for its natural beauty. The park is divided into two sections: the Red House area and the Quaker Run area. The Red House Area is the northern half of Allegany State Park. Its attractions include Stone Tower, the Summit Fire Tower, Red House Lake, the Thomas L. Kelly Covered Bridge, and the Tudor-style Administration Building. The Quaker Run area is the southern half of the park. Its attractions include Quaker Lake, Science Lake, the Mount Tuscarora Fire Tower, the Quaker Amphitheater, Bear Caves and Thunder Rocks.

Allegany State Park is a frequent destination for Bob and me, as the park is only an hour's drive from our house. With the exception of one weekend camping trip several years ago, our visits to the park last only a few hours. We visit various attractions, which I photograph, and eat lunch at the Red House Restaurant located in the Administration Building. I would like very much to spend a weekend, once again, at Allegany State Park. Perhaps next summer or fall...

In each of my blog posts this week I will share with you photographs of Allegany State Park, both from today's visit as well as from past visits. Thunder Rocks is the subject of today's blog post. We discovered Thunder Rocks in October 2008. We visited Thunder Rocks for the second time today.

Thunder Rocks is a massive rock outcropping (Oct 2008).

The flat rock at the top right-hand side of this photograph reminds me of a diving board (Nov 2009).

Bob at Thunder Rocks (Nov 2009)

The favorite pastime at Thunder Rocks is rock climbing, which Bob did last year. This year, though, Bob stayed off the rocks as he didn't wear footwear suitable for climbing.

Bob, rock climbing at Thunder Rocks (Oct 2008)

Postcard from Hell

Stacey and Mike spent this past Halloween in Hell, Michigan. We received a postcard earlier this week, postmarked "Hell". I checked out the website for Hell, Michigan. It looks like an interesting place to visit.

Photoshop Elements Playtime

As I was browsing through photographs today, I came across two photographs that Bob and I had taken of each other during a motorcycle ride in May of this year. As I looked at the two photographs I thought how nice it would have been had we been photographed together. Photoshop Elements makes that possible.

I selected Bob, using Photoshop Elements' quick selection tool. I, then, used the move tool and dragged Bob out of his photograph and into my photograph. Viola! Bob and I, together, on Lake Erie!

Click on collage to make it larger.

Did You Hear About ...

This deer appears as though he is smiling. Perhaps he just told a joke.

Did you hear about the pigeon who wanted to buy a famous London landmark?
He put a deposit on Big Ben.

Puffy White Clouds Set Against a Brilliant Blue Sky

As I type this, I watch the clouds move left to right across my window. The movement is hypnotizing. The sky is such a brilliant blue color. It appears to be a warm day. Looks, though, can be deceiving. The temperature is a chilly 45 degrees. I found a poem on the Internet that fits my photograph aptly.

White Clouds
© Gene Tagle

High flying fleet of billowy boats,
Quietly cruising celestial seas.

Windblown wads in whimsical shapes,
Gracefully riding the heavenly breeze.

White-robed Bedouins bound to the sky,
Wandering aimlessly out of my view.

Would that my cares could be as the clouds,
Lifted, wafted, lost in the blue.