| Watkins Glen is located at the southern end of Seneca Lake. It is known principally for its spectacular State Park and the Watkins Glen International Racing Circuit. Timespell, a laser light and sound show, is presented in the State Park. The Glen Vintage Auto Museum is nearby. Near the park is the last remaining salt derrick in New York State. It commemorates the area’s salt industry. Warren W. Clute Memorial Park along the lake has campgrounds, picnic areas, and a variety of outdoors-recreational facilities.
The Sugar Hill Recreation Area, which is linked to the Finger Lakes Trail, is located west of Watkins Glen. Nearby Waneta and Lamoka Lakes are known as good fishing lakes for muskellunge. The area around the two lakes was the site of the ancient Lamoka culture, which predates the Iroquois Confederation.
There were a few settlers in the area as early as 1788, but settlement really began in 1794 when Dr. Samuel Watkins founded the village. He built a gristmill and a sawmill at the site of the main entrance to the State Park, and in the early 1800s, dug a flume tunnel in the cliff through which water flowed to the gristmill. The flume tunnel can still be seen from Sentry Bridge.
Excerpt from Persons, Places and Things In the Finger Lakes Region
by Emerson Klees
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