Celebrate Thacher Park’s centennial on Saturday

The 350 acres of parkland donated by Emma Treadwell Thacher a century ago has grown to now include 2,400 acres open to the public on the edge of the Helderberg escarpment.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of John Boyd Thacher State Park, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, together with the Friends of Thacher State Park, has planned a day of celebration and festivities at the park on Saturday, Sept. 13.

On Sept. 14, 1914, Emma Treadwell Thacher joined Governor Martin Glynn and over 1,000 other attendees to formally dedicate 350 acres of the Helderberg Escarpment in memory of her late husband, John Boyd Thacher.

The park now includes 25 miles of trails for hiking, skiing, biking, and snowmobiling; nine picnic pavilions; the historic Indian Ladder Trail; the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, built with a donation from Fred and Martha Schroeder; and the campground on the shores of Thompson’s Lake. The park continues to draw people from around the world to study the Helderbergs’ unique and significant geological features.

“The Friends of Thacher State Park are delighted to be a part of this wonderful event,” said John Kilroy, president of the Friends of Thacher State Park, in a release from the Office of Parks. “Through our funding efforts, bus-loads of school children have been able to come to the park for educational programs and recreation.  This was part of the vision of Emma Treadwell Thacher in donating the original parcel of land as a resource for the people of New York State.  We will continue to ensure that school children will be able to come to the park for education and enjoyment into the park's second century.”

The Centennial Celebration on Saturday will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. This free event will feature a variety of activities, including a show on live birds of prey, guided hikes to Tory and Hailes caves, live music from Oobleck and Hair of the Dog, and kids’ activities and outdoor workshops conducted by L.L. Bean.

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