By Carol Fisher-Linn
Visit an historic Indian fortress and walk ON a prehistoric ocean floor. One of the great natural wonders in the United States – right here in Olean!
A visit to Rock City Park leaves one wondering about the history of this prehistoric place. It has been archeological confirmed that the formations are 315 million years old. Wikipedia provides this information regarding the Seneca Nation Indians who first lived on those lands: “The dating of an oral tradition mentioning a solar eclipse yields 1142 AD as the year for the Seneca joining the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee). Recent archeological evidence indicates their territory eventually extended to the Allegheny River in present-day NYS and northwestern Pennsylvania, after the Iroquois destroyed both the native Wenrohronon and Erie nations in the 17th century. Unfortunately, the Seneca, most of whom sided with the British, lost control of most of their lands after the Revolutionary War.
Moving ahead from the 1600’s to 1802, this area remained inhabited by wolves, bears and wildlife, with only tree blazes marking paths left by the Indian tribes offering any evidence of human presence. In the History of Olean, we meet two gentlemen surnamed Hoops and Heuston from the Holland Land Company who purchased 20,000 acres of land (then subsequently returned to Ebenezer F. Norton) known as Olean Point, renamed Olean, due to its nearness to the oil spring at Cuba, N.Y. where the Indians had discovered oil (oleum in Latin). The Natives were the very first to use the gooey substance that bubbled to the ground which became the U.S. oil industry.
The settlement of Olean began in 1808. By 1890 owners of a trolley company (WNY/PA Traction Company) were running electric trolleys from Bradford to Olean. They saw an opportunity for a park at the top of Rock City Hill and purchased the land. All it took was the means to get there and visitors came by the thousands since early transportation was limited to horse and buggy, then eventually by car in the mid to later 1920’s. Along with the fabulous Bon Air Hotel and dance pavilion, visitors enjoyed the merry-go-round and explored the wonders of this geological wonderland. Life was great until other forms of entertainment (and transportation) took visitors elsewhere. Oh, yes, (a side note) the area was a great place for Capone and his gang to hang out, giving Olean the nickname, “Little Chicago.”
Ownership changed a few times and, finally in 2001, Cindy and Dale Smith, who had spent years enjoying the park with their family, were serendipitously presented with an opportunity to purchase it. The Smiths own and operate the incredible, almost Disneyland- for-hardware-aficionados Worth Smith hardware stores whose main store is in Olean. One day a woman bought some hardware items and paid with a Rock City Park check. Cindy Smith was at the register and commented about how much they loved the park. The woman’s response: “It’s for sale. Want to buy it?” That simple. And, of course, they did and found themselves owning what some people call the Eighth Wonder of the World.
25 years later the elder Smiths passed on managing both the hardware stores and the park to their son and his wife, Nate and Theresa Smith. 2026 is their opening salvo at Rock City, and it is starting with a bang. Opening May 1, prices remain unchanged. As seen on their Facebook page, on Saturday, May 16 (10am-4pm) they are hosting the First Annual Stone Age Demolition (register and more information at www.DiscGolfScene), a pop-up pitch-and-putt fundraiser for disabled vet James Eschrich’s family. Another piece of good news is the 20-to-30-site campground on the grounds that is already in process. It will be open to “primitive” camping (tents, RV’s) this year until the installation of electricity and water in the future. Indoors, visitors can enjoy a virtual tour, the fluorescent rock room, the museum, Bigfoot at the gift shop, and refreshments. Outdoors, you’ll be enthralled by 17 different rock formations – some a hundred feet high – like Anvil rock, Half Sphinx, Face in the rock, etc. Climb the original (steep) Indian Stairs the Senecas used as a lookout point. It’s now your turn to enjoy the view.
Leashed dogs are allowed. Carry baggies for waste cleanup. Handicapped, gender-neutral bathrooms are available indoors as well as porta-potties outside. Closed during inclement weather. Hours are daily 9-5 to October 31. Find them on Facebook or visit rockcitypark.com. 505 NY Rt.16 S., Olean, NY, 716-373-7790. Ah, go on, hug a rock.