By Kate Bartlett
Panama Rocks Park, located at 11 Rock Hill Road in Panama, just 15 minutes from Chautauqua Lake, recently launched added a new experience to their roster: glamping. This experiential stay offers the connection to nature while offering a bit more amenities with insta-worthy accommodations inside a luxurious Belle Tent.
Glamp sites are fully furnished and include comfortable beds (with mattresses from Jamestown Mattress), futons, dresser, side tables, patio chairs and table, mini-fridge, fan, zero-gravity chairs, picnic table, fire-pit with cooking grate, firewood, fire starter, and lighter. “Camping is a great way to connect with nature,” says Jonathan. “But we realize that some amenities enhance our guests experience and ultimately make their stay more enjoyable.” The site provides linens, pillows, towels, and extra blankets as well as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash as well as access to their newly remodeled bath house. The shared amenities shed provides a coffee maker, microwave, tea kettle, toaster, an extra communal fridge, and extra electrical outlets and table space that allows guests to set up a crock pots (or other units) overnight.
As the properties are open early spring and into the fall season, glamp sites will soon offer small heating units as an add-on. “We prove warm, comfortable bedding, but we realize some nights are much cooler and some guests would be more comfortable with a heater,” says Jonathan. The sites are located on 35-40 acres towards the back of the property, offering a bit more seclusion and privacy from the main park.
The park currently holds 6 glamp sights with the hopes of adding more throughout the years. “We started small and manageable in order to do it right, “says Jonathan Weston, one of the family owners and operators of the park. “We’ve been listening to the feedback and are pleased with the response thus far. Most guests have nothing but positive comments, and we’ve listened to our guests’ suggestions and made a few adjustments along the way.”
In addition to glamping, Panama Rocks also offers camping. Both include admission to the park and are open May-October. Campsites are for tents only (no campers or RVs at this time) and offer a fire pit and as well as access to the bath house and amenities shed, which has a coffee pot, tea kettle, microwave, toaster, electrical outlets, and a shared refrigerator.
Panama Rocks has been family owned and operated since 1885 and operated by the Weston Family since 1979. They take great pride in all Panama Rocks has to offer! Panama Rocks Scenic Park has been voted #1 Ranked Trail in New York State and #1 Rated Attraction in Chautauqua County.
The rock formations at Panama are a unique outcrop of 300-million-year-old quartz conglomerate sedimentary rock that extend about half a mile and reach upwards of 60 feet tall. The forest at Panama Rocks is recognized and included in The Sierra Club’s Guide to the Ancient Forests of the Northeast and is home to 800+ year old hemlocks, and other species of venerable trees, including ash, beech, black cherry, elm, red maple, and sugar maple.
Jonathan invites readers out to the park to experience it’s unique charm. “Come connect with nature and enjoy our unique corner of the great outdoors here in Chautauqua County. Whether you spend a few hours, a night, or a weekend with us, you’ll find our park is like no other!”
Panama Rocks also offers axe-throwing and various festivals throughout the season. Camping and Glamping site are still available for booking for the remainder of fall season, with up to 30% fall discounted rates available. For more information visit https://www.panamarocks.com/ and follow on social media at @PanamaRocksPark on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.