Maple in the Mountains 2016!

Start to Thaw Out in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York with the Annual Maple Weekends March 19-20th and April 2-3rd, 2016.

Cattaraugus County has many tree-lined hills covered with Maple Trees.  This makes March and April one of most favorite times of year!  Why you ask?  Maple Season!  Time for some sweet syrupy goodness!  With all these beautiful Maple trees around, you can bet that we have some of the best tasting Maple syrup around and Maple Farms that range from family size to full on, year 'round productions!   All of New York State shares in this splendid time of year when the world around us starts to thaw out and the sap starts to flow!  Therefore, we devote two weekends each year to our Maple Farms.  You can tour one of the participating Farms, try samples, join in fun activities or just purchase some of this liquid goodness!  So how does warming up with a hot pile of pancakes sound to ease the cold of winter?

March is the beginning of a season of tradition, where local Maple Farms begin to tap the trees in hopes of some sweet sap flowing down into their buckets.  The time period between winter and spring is best for collection, with temperatures around 40 degrees being ideal.  Nowadays, trees are tapped with cordless drills and small plastic spouts are placed to run the sap into a hanging bucket.  But technology is ever changing the ways people do anything, and has exploded into this process as well.  Some Maple Farms have intricate webs of tubing, going straight from the tree to the tank, with vacuums to draw out that delicious sap.  Each Farm uses the same basic idea to get the sap but have different techniques and processing systems to bring syrup to your table.   

During the Maple in the Mountains weekends of March 19-20 and April 2-3, from 10am-4pm each day, some of our Maple Farms open their Sugarhouses, set out the samples and invite all to share their love of one of the sweetest products Mother Nature produces.  This activity is great for families and is kid friendly, running from 10am-4pm each day, March 19-20 and April 2-3.  So lose those Winter Blues by heading outdoors, learning about your surroundings and thaw out with Maple Weekends! 

Sprague's Maple Farm in Portville will offer wagon rides to their authentic old-fashioned Sugar Shack where they have delicious samples waiting for you to try!  Have you ever tasted Maple Wine?  Learn a little about the various grades of syrup, sample the different ranges, eat a maple donut or just stand next to evaporator and take in the smell of boiling sap.  You will be sniffing your coat the rest of the week!   Starting out as a hobby over 30 years ago, this huge farm now boasts a Restaurant serving all your maple favorites as well as free range turkey dinners.   Maple is used in most every dish that is served making anything you order sweet and savory! 

Visit Wright Farms in Farmersville to see how they are able to manage 8000 taps.  Five generations of Wright's have worked to maintain the tradition of producing maple syrup and maple products on the farm since 1840.  In fact, one of those generations was inducted into the American Maple Museum's Hall of Fame in 1978 for his contributions to the maple industry.  Besides syrup, they make Maple Cream which can be used as a topping for pancakes, waffles, french toast, hot cereal, fresh fruit, ice cream and more! 

Stop by Boberg's Maple in Delevan, known for their Maple Cream, for a tasty treat!  Their process is more traditional with older equipment adding to the charm of the Farm.  Warm up to this family owned and operated business.  Samples are available. 

The Pancake House at Moore's in Freedom still serves up "all you can eat" pancakes from January to mid April, and their unique restaurant is filled with a selection of antiques, including a washing machine, sleds, tools, chinaware, knickknacks and other memorabilia.  This year they are offering wagon rides to the Sugar Shack, samples and fun!  Discover why you will be travelling back to this Pancake House over and over again throughout their season!

Maple Glen Sugar House in Gowanda, about 40 miles south of Buffalo, recently remodeled their Sugarhouse.  You can come in during Maple Weekends and see the evaporator at work, sample some goodies, and learn about their farm that started out 20 years ago and now takes care of over 4,000 taps!  In the past they have had horse drawn wagon rides, tours and demonstrations as well as other food you can buy!  See what surprises they have for you this year. 

Whatever Farm you decide to go to, admission is FREE and all are more than happy to welcome you to their Sugar House with a sweet warm aroma of maple syrup being heated.  Each Farm takes pride in their product and are happy to be doing what they are.  Come to Cattaraugus County and embrace our agricultural side.... your stomach will thank you!  

Two weekends not enough?  Then keep a heads up for the Franklinville's WNY Maple Festival April 24-25.  Two days of pancake eating, craft items, a parade, and live demonstrations.