Ontario Beach Park (Charlotte Beach)

Location - Rochester, Monroe County Maps - Google Map, Google Earth, Bird's Eye GPS - N 43.25838 / W 77.60861 Directions - Where the Genesee River meets Lake Ontario in the northwest quadrant of Rochester. Take Lake Ave. all the way to the lake where there is a large parking lot on the right. Park there and to the north is the park. Or use Google Directions.

Description & History On any given day at Ontario Beach Park you'll find numerous folks enjoying its breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Ontario. When the weather is decent, hundreds will come out to enjoy one of the region's most popular parks. If the beach is open for swimming, Rochesterians will flock to its sandy shores. Unfortunately, the beach is rarely open. Contamination keeps it closed for many days throughout year, and despite the popularity of what the locals call "Charlotte Beach," little headway has been made to clean up the water. What it once was. Walking through the park today it's hard to imagine that this very spot was once dubbed the "Coney Island of the West." Ever since the New York Central RR built the first line leading to the beach in 1852, it has been a popular day trip for area residents. Years later trains and ferries would take multiple trips to the small village of Charlotte, bringing up to 5,000 visitors a day to the beach. Cottages soon began popping up along the beach and adjacent river and soon everyone was eager to spend more time near the lake. In 1874 the Cottage Hotel was built on the lakefront, allowing hundreds to stay on site and enjoy the beach for extended periods. The railroad invested heavily in this popular destination, starting with the construction of a whitewash boardwalk in 1884. The Lake Ontario Beach Improvement Co. leased the surrounding land, constructed attractions and operated the area around the beach as an amusement park. Featuring favorites like a bandstand, ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousel, toboggan slide (right into Lake Ontario), and Virginia Reel. By far the most popular attraction: the clean, sparkling beach was open to bathers on a daily basis. Admission to the park was free, but the steamer ride to get there would cost at least 5 cents (roughly $1 today). The railroad industry was thriving. Sideshows lined the midway. For a mere penny, patrons could take a peek at a "wonder of the world" or try a new technology. One unique display was a "Japanese Village," filled with interesting items from the other side of the world, complete with a beautiful Japanese-style garden. Stunt shows were a frequent occurrence, with tight rope walkers and car jumps giving people something to talk about. The concessions too were popular, with all the traditional carnival food available. Some of the snacks sold became Rochester staples throughout the years. Rochester's electric trolley system was extended to to the park, taking customers away from the railway. A 10 cent admission was then implemented at the park gate with free admission for rail customers. Crowds continued to flood in, reaching tens of thousands, while entrepreneurs surrounded the park with businesses. Bars, cheap hotels, makeshift casinos and other risqué services spring up in the village. Charlotte was beginning to gain a reputation in the 1890's for being a wild and rowdy place, something the residents blamed on the visitors from the big city. Modern times. Attempts were made to clean up the area, with laws being passed to ban gambling, alcohol sales and even "recreation" on Sundays, but the park continued to be a hotspot throughout the 20's, competing fiercely with Seabreeze Park on the eastern side of the river. The decline and eventual dissolution of the park was probably due to several reasons. The Great Depression hit the park hard, closing many attractions and surrounding businesses.  Financial problems and changes in the rail industry made the park a less lucrative business for the New York Central Rail. Probably the greatest contributor to the amusement park's decline was when the booming City of Rochester annexed the village and took control of the park in 1916. Rochester's bustling industries and overtaxed water treatment facilities dumped excessive amounts of waste into the Genesee River, which lead to a severe drop in water quality at the beach. Eventually the amusement park transitioned to a community park, retaining little of what it once was. Today the pier, bathhouse, boardwalk, bandstand, a few concessions, and the classic Dentzel Carousel remain today. A recent revival of the park, sparked by the arrival (and hindered by the subsequent failure) of Rochester's Fast Ferry to Toronto, brought us refurbished pathways, boardwalks and pavilions, a brand new port, and several shops and eateries. But what was once the biggest attraction, the beach, is rarely open for swimming. Poor pollution management and water treatment leaves it closed for the much of the season. The park today. People continue to come to the park in droves to walk the boardwalk and pier. Although the smell of the lake's  green sludge will hit you head on when you first approach the beach, once you get further out, it's nothing but beautiful scenery. This is a favorite location of many residents for fishing, bird watching and  gazing at the setting sun. You'll always find a young couple  sitting at the end of the pier, gazing at the orange horizon. One could even spend a whole day just observing the various boats and ships coming and going out of the harbor. Another favorite is activity is to ride The Duchess, the original 1905 Dentzel carousel from the amusement park.. This recently restored masterpiece is one of only 14 operating antique menageries in the country, and one of a few that still lie in their original location. Its three rows of horses (33), rabbits (3), cats (3), ostriches (3), pigs (3), mules (2), chariots (2), a lion, tiger, giraffe, goat, and deer all dance around to the the original music from park's heyday (synthesized for modern times of course). Gazebos spot the boardwalk, and large pavilions are scattered about: catering to small or large gatherings which are frequent throughout warm weather. Recently, the Roger Robach Community Center (the former bathhouse) has been renovated to feature a large banquet hall. It also features walled-in basketball and open volleyball courts. Summer brings musical performances to the park, not unlike those of the past. Crowds will gather around the bandstand, setting up their own chairs or blankets to sit and enjoy a performance as they picnic. Classical, Big Band and Jazz often fill the the air Wednesday nights throughout the summer and early autumn. Call 865-3320 for more info. Throughout the year the City of Rochester will host various events and parties at the park. The Rochester Harbor and Carousel Festival in June features local food crafts and musical performances, while the Lakeside Winter Celebration in February gives people a chance to compete in winter games, build snow sculptures, enjoy sleigh rides and take the polar plunge into the cold waters of Lake Ontario. Call 428-7655 for more info on park festivities. Several restaurants, shops and bars surround the park, offering excellent food with both indoor and outdoor seating. A local favorite is Abbott's Frozen Custard. Settling his travelling ice cream business on the corner of Lake and Beach Avenue, directly across from the park, in 1926 Arthur Abbott built this landmark of Rochester cuisine. Even on the colder days of the summer, people will line up for a classic sundae. Since this premiere shop, Abbotts has opened franchises in numerous upstate locations, one in Connecticut, two in Florida and even two all the way in Japan.

Accessibility Seasons/Hours: Year round. Pier closed in winter. Best time to visit: Summer and Fall Time: The park is open from 6 am to 11 pm. Parking: Park on the lot in front of the Port of Rochester or near Abbott's Frozen custard. There's parking for several hundred cars. Admission: Free. $1 to ride the carousel. Handicap accessibility: yes. Pets: yes, on leash, with proof of inoculation. Not allowed on the beach, in the water, or on the pier. Accommodations: Restrooms, changing rooms, lockers, playground, Banquet hall, 7 pavilions (call 585-256-4951 for reservations), snack bar, fishing access, public boat launch on the Genesee River, basketball and volleyball courts, soccer field, bocce ball courts, guarded swimming, restaurants, shops and a museum in the port building.

Trails - Easy Map: Official Park Map Markings - All trails are paved, except for the wooden boardwalk. Our recommended walk: Start out by grabbing an Abbott's frozen custard and head left towards the bathhouse. Follow the boardwalk along the beach towards the pier. Head up the pier and back and continue further to the port building where various restaurants and shops are.

Do not miss... The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is located on the bank of the Genesee River south of the park and seemingly too far away from both the river and the lake to do any good. Constructed in 1882 by the federal government, it was intended to signal the entrance to the Genesee River so boats may find their way to the popular river port Carthage Landing, the site of Norton's Falls. At the time of construction it was atop a small bluff and with the help of a V cut out of the surrounding trees, it did its job quite well. That is until piers surrounding the Genesee River outlet were built on the lake in 1829. Over the years, sediment built up around the piers, extending Charlotte Beach further into the lake and narrowing mouth of the river. That build-up seemingly pushed the lighthouse further away from both. In 1881 the lighthouse was decommissioned and the lantern and lens was moved to the west pier light. Today the Charlotte-Genesee Historical Society operates it as a museum and gift shop. Map The eastern pier, although not as popular, is accessible from the other side of the river. To get there take St. Paul Blvd to the public parking lot on Parkview Terrace. The eastern pier offers a less crowded environment and better views of the shores to the east.

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