Community Info
If you find yourself at mile 220 on the Canal you’ll want to spend some time In Lyons. In 2014 Lyon’s hosted boaters from 34 states, Canada, and even hosted visitors from 4 countries outside of North America.
Lyons is the capital of Wayne County. It was once considered the Peppermint Oil capital of the world. The village is filled with historical buildings and architecture. Six properties within the village are listed on the NYS and National Register of Historic Places. It’s also a “Main street USA” designated village.
As is the case with many communities along the canal Lyons opens its doors to boaters. There are docking opportunities on both the North and South sides of the Canal with electric on both sides. Docking, electric, water, wi-fi, and showers are all free. The bath rooms are located just up the stairs on the North wall at the firehouse. There is 24 hour video surveillance as well.
GPS Location for Lyons is Latitude 43°03’41.47” Longitude 76°59”34.32”W Every Saturday from June through October Lyons hosts a farmers market, and on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 they have live music in the park. The town web site is www.lyonsny.com and they can be reached at (315) 946-4531
Like many other communities along the Canal, Lyons has a team of greeters who are there to make sure that you have everything you need during your stay This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lyons celebrates three major festivals. Peppermint Days is celebrated at the end of the third week in July. Pumpkin Palooza, a one day event is celebrated during the third weekend in October and Winter Wonderland which is celebrated during the month of December.
Thunder over the Erie is one of the best and longest fireworks displays in upstate NY. It begins at dark on the Saturday of the Peppermint Days celebration. Boaters are welcome to fill the Canal during the fireworks. The route 14 bridge crossing the Canal is closed to traffic during the fireworks and filled with spectators.
Millers Marina is about ½ mile west of Lock 27 and if you’re looking for additional information check out the Canal Cruising Guide that the NYS Canal Corporation publishes or order Skipper Bob’s guide to Cruising the New York Canal System. Both publications are always on my fly bridge when traveling the Canal
http://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/cruisingguide.html
History of Lyons
The Town of Lyon’s was created from the town of Sodus on March 1st. 1811. It originally included what is now the town of Acadia, which was taken off in 1825. Lyons consists of just over 21,660 acres of a moderately rolling surface broken by sand ridges. In the southern part of the town, Ganargua Creek, or Mud Creek as it is also known, and the Canandaigua Outlet join to form the Clyde River. Lyons is the county seat of Wayne County.
Originally called “The Forks”, Lyons was renamed by Charles Williamson, land agent for the Pultney Estate. Looking down on “The Forks” he renamed the settlement Lyons because the junction of Ganargua Creek and the Canandaigua Outlet reminded him of the town of Lyon in France where the Rhone and Saone Rivers meet.
The first settlers came to what is now Wayne County in May of 1789. William and Nicholas Stansell, brother-in-law, John Featherly, wives and children made up this party of twelve original settlers. They arrived on the site that is now the village of Lyons. They came by bateau up the Mohawk River and other streams until they reached the junction of the Ganargua Creek and Canandaigua Outlet. Here they made their home.
The Erie Canal was pivotal in the development of both the town and village of Lyons. The Canal reached Wayne County in 1820-1821. Because of the Canal, the population of Lyons doubled from 450 in 1824 to 900 in 1825. New roads and buildings were constructed, wages rose and real estate values increased.
Lyon was known for being the home of one of the most successful and prestigious businesses in the world. The H.G. Hotchkiss International Prize Medal Essential Oil Company was founded by Hiram Gilbert Hotchkiss in 1839 in Phelps, New York. By 1841 the business has moved to Lyons to be nearer the Erie Canal.
It was found that Hotchkiss oil was purer than any other oil available. The oil sold for more per pound than any other, and the Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company became the largest of its kind in the world. It was said that travelers on the Erie Canal could always tell when they were nearing Lyons – they could smell the peppermint.
The H.G. Hotchkiss Company was sold in 1982 to an Indiana company, which continued to operate in Lyons until 1990, when they moved back to Indiana. The long successfully history of the H.G. Hotchkiss Company made Lyons the peppermint capital of the world for many years.
News & Events
Lyons NY Peppermint Days
Peppermint Days, Lyons NY 2018 If you like parades, fireworks, concerts, food, car shows and small-town charm then you want to be in Lyons NY from July 13th – July 15th. 2018. Lyons celebrates its heritage as the Peppermint Capital of the world. In 1841 E.G. Hotchiss located his essential oils business to Lyons where […]
Cruising The Erie Canal From Lyons
Cruising the Erie Canal from Lyons On Saturday August 26 and Sunday, August 27, The Lyons Rotary and the Lyons Erie Canalway Greeters are sponsoring 3 Erie Canal Cruises. Passengers will travel aboard the 48 passenger Seneca Lake Reel Tours tour boat and will depart from the Lyons dock behind the fire Department Building. On […]
Bizarre Foods host in Lyons as part of a Travel Channel show focusing on Canal History
Andrew Zimmern co-creator and host of the Travel Channel’s show “Bizarre Foods” stopped by Lyons NY recently as part of a two-week trip around Wayne County as they film segments for an episode of Bizarre Foods around the Erie Canal. When Bill Sweitzer from the NYS Canal Corporation was asked by the producers of the […]
Lyons NY reports in on the first boat to dock in the community this year
Captain William B. Everitt stands aboard On Purpose at the dock in Lyons on Thursday evening, May 18th. William was moving On Purpose from South Florida to the Cosmos Yacht Charters Enterprises located in Georgian Bay.
Canal Clean Sweep Lyons NY
Each year prior to the opening of the Erie Canal for the Navigation Season communities around the Canal Corridor celebrate the canal by planning a weekend of events that focus on the cleaning up or improving the areas around the Canal. 2017 begins the celebration of the 200th year of the canal and with the […]
