Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce

We would like to welcome our latest member to the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce, Tri-County Medicine.

Tri-County Medicine is located at 1 School Street, Gowanda NY 14070.  Contact number is 716-241-7067.

Welcome Tri-County Medicine!

PLEASE NOTE:  The Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce’s e-mail address has been changed to gowandachamber@yahoo.com 

Please update your address books!  Thank you!

Zoar Valley Fest 2013

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Adventure Sports

Zoar Valley and the surrounding area is one of the BEST-KEPT SECRETS in WNY

On May 11, the Gowanda area will be hosting the Zoar Valley Fest!

Location: behind Shop ‘n Save off Routes 39 and 62 (Buffalo Street) in Gowanda.

Camping is at the Firemen’s field on Route 39 across from the VFW Post, east of the viaduct near McDonalds. Cost is $20 for the weekend (Friday & Saturday); the Boy Scouts will be serving breakfast for a nominal cost starting at 8:00 AM Sunday morning. Reserve camping by calling 716-532-2834; you can also just show up without reservations and camp. The festival and campsite offer great opportunities to meet up with like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

Zoar Valley Fest posters are out to the public for our event. There is also an ad in the Explore NY booklet and on WGWE 105.9 fm radio station; along with press release’s and ads to local newspapers and their websites.

Just to sum up all the day’s events, here is a (tentative) list:

• 10-11 a.m. Vendor set-up
• 11 a.m. Creekside Park opens to public
  • o Train rides (Tickets may be purchased at the depot ONLY) Rides will be every hour on the hour until 4 p.m.
  • o Carriage Rides over the gorge (Misty Ridge Carriage Rides 716-532-5859 to buy and reserve a ride) Rides will be every hour and a half until 4 p.m. Ride lasts about 45 minutes.
  • o Backyard Bass and Fish Pond provided by the D.E.C. Learn to cast and reel in plastic fish in the grass to practice for the real thing- Gowanda has the best Steelhead fishing experience around! The Fish Pond is for the younger crowd where kids can “cast” to hook onto Velcro fish images.  Fun for the whole family!
  • o Watch and join the fun on the water in canoes, kayaks, and rafts. Want to try?  Just ask! No charge!
  • o Take your chance at a raffle full of outdoor related items. A 50/50 will also take place- no need to be present to win, winner will be notified Monday, May 13.
  • o Raft rides through Zoar Valley available
  • o Movie showing local waterways being ridden on by paddlers at the Gowanda Hollywood Theater
  • o Test your climbing skills and have some fun on the National Guard’s rockwall!
• Noon to 3 p.m.- Raft rides from train trestle to Creekside park (Donations accepted)
• 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.- Join the fun on the water and try out kayaking, canoeing or rafting.  No charge!
• 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.- Kayak, canoe and raft races starting from Gateway Park to Creekside Park through the last rapid- Cheer for them as they race down to Creekside.
• 4:30 p.m.- Register for the Crouse 5K race at the American Legion Post 409
• 6:30 p.m. Crouse 5K Race begins
• 7 p.m. Movie showing local waterways being ridden on by paddlers at the Gowanda Hollywood Theater

To sign-up for any of the above events or for more information on the above events for the Zoar Valley Fest, please contact the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-532-2834.

If you are a member of the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce and would like to continue your membership, annual dues are now being accepted.

If you would like to become a member of the chamber, please contact the chamber for more information at (716) 532-2834 or gowandachamber@yahoo.com

Gowanda is a village in New York in the United States and lies partly in Erie County and partly in Cattaraugus County. The population was 2,842 at the 2000 census. The name is a local native term meaning "almost surrounded by hills" or "beautiful place among the hills. The Village of Gowanda is partly in the Town of Collins in Erie County and the Town of Persia in Cattaraugus County.

Communities and locations in Gowanda

Chang Hu Park – A memorial park dedicated to the late Dr. Chang Hu who was influential in the town's planning and building process.

Gowanda Correctional Facility – A NYS Medium Security prison located right next to Collins Correctional Facility

Riverside Park – located along the Cattaraugus Creek in the heart of Gowanda which was revitialized into a historic park area.

Zoar Valley – A scenic valley formed by Cattaraugus Creek. Located in Gowanda, Zoar Valley features over 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of wilderness, hiking trails and waterfalls.

Featured in AAA's travel guide, Gowanda features the Hollywood Happening. Attendance of the 2008 Hollywood Happening was estimated to be around 22,000 people for the entire weekend.