Bemus Point Stow Ferry

What a cool experience. The ferry was quick and very professional. It is run completely for free by volunteers. If you take the trip consider a donation to help with up keep for future generations. Currently the main bridge over the lake is being replaced and the ferry made our trip quicker and way more fun!

A living piece of history! Started in 1811 as a log raft to haul farm animals across the narrows of Chautauqua Lake, the ferry continues to operate over 200 years later. Although it now takes the form of a ferry that runs with a Cummins motor along cables that run under the surface of the water, it still carries cars, bikers, and pedestrians along the same route. And after a few years on dry land receiving much needed repairs, the ferry has been upgraded thanks to the donations and efforts of those who wish to see it run for decades to come! My family has been visiting Chautauqua before my cousins and I were even born, and I can remember riding it as a kid. An an era when so much has become modernized, impersonal, and done online, it's reassuring to know such things are preserved for future generations. You can experience what travel was like before highways and bridges. This quick ride between Bemus Point and Stow provides a great view of busy Bemus Bay, and all the boat traffic surrounding it. It's conveniently located near plenty of shops and restaurants, making it a must while sightseeing nearby. Please visit and make a donation so thousands can continue to appreciate Chautauqua, New York's, and America's unique past. Today's visit was a part of pirate-themed Lake Days weekend, so the ferry and many attractions in Bemus Point were decorated to celebrate the festivities.

I got to ride this when I was on my bike trip and loved it. A few minutes of enjoying the water and seeing how this town used to run before that eyesore of an interstate bridge was put up. It's run by donations, so do yourself a favor and experience this awesome little ferry!

Love the history lesson and operate on tips to help keep the ferry operating. Some state or township help from what I understand. It's what I gathered from the conversation we had with the ferry man. Super fun pair.

The ride across lake Chautauqua is as much fun today as it was for me 47yrs ago. The operator was very nice and best of all the ride is free. I