Mount Morris Travel Guide

The Genesee River would flood many small towns in its spring run from the southern tier to Lake Ontario. To prevent the river from going on a rampage, a dam was built at Mount Morris, NY in the early 1950's at a cost of $25 million dollars. Billions of dollars have been saved in undamaged property down-stream from the dam in the last 55 years.

The dam is also a tourist sight. We have personnally been there several times in different seasons and the area takes on a different personality with each season. In the Spring, when the rains are filling the streams, the dam normally is more than half filled. In the Summer, when the southern streams are at their minimum, the only water in the dam is in the run-off sluices. In the fall, the tree colors at Mount Morris and across the river in Letchworth are spectacular. In the winter, geese and squirrels can be seen walking across the frozen river bed.

At the dam, you can walk out to the very edge of the wall rim, behind a protective fence and peer down into the chasm. (I usually hold one hand on the fence because the sight is a bit dizzying). A welcome cabin has been built at the dam site where you can see a model of the dam, a history of its construction and a video-tape about the floods and the Genesee river.
Periodically, boyscouts and special interest groups (like the Civil War Re-enactment groups) present events at the cabin.

See the web page for up-to-date information.

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This is a bit of class out in the rural area. Fine dining for those in proper dress (collared shirt and long pants) for dinner. Cloth table linens and napkins was an unexected touch of this lovely dining room. The low volume of customers provided a cozy atmosphere where conversation was easily carried on.
It is family owned and operated (since the 1960s) and they provide a freindly environment for evening dining. They have a juicy prime rib that has been slow roasted and sliced into large portions. The staff is friendly but not talkative. The service is fast and the servers watch to see when you need the next course to be served (drinks, soup/salad, entree, dessert).
The price is high but the ambience is worth it.

Mount Morris has developed as an aggregate of many individual communities with individual histories and political affiliations.

Some of these communities within the township of Mount Morris are:
Brooks Grove (named after General Brooks)... village on route 408
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d6398/cc834/
Deyuitga'oh ("where the valley widens")... Native American reservation at the dam site
Ridge... hamlet southwest of Mount Morris village on route 408
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d6398/cd9f9/
River Road Forks...
Tuscarora.... village southeast of Mount Morris
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d6398/cde79/
Union Corners... hamlet east of Mount Morris

Mount Morris is a quiet community with one main intersection (routes 408 and 36) where a few stores, a church, a restaurant and a gas station are. The major part of the city is farmlands that stretch out to the Letchworth State Park.
There is almost no crime in the area. It is a very safe tourist region with thousands of people stopping in the town as they go to and from the state park.

Use the same precautions you would use in your own home town, when you are in Mount Morris and youa re sure to have a safe visit.

Flint knapping (making a pointed tool from raw flint stone) is a craft that native Americans and the early settlers used proficiently. Every August, the Genesee Valley Knappers have a gathering at High Banks Recreation Area (Letchworth State Park) to show how it is done. There are native American encampments, knapping exhibits, black powder and rifle demonstrations and 19th century exhibits and persons "in character". It is a fun time for the kids to see how raw materials can be used to develop a society without damaging the environment.

The encampment is usually the last week of August (See website below for details).
The only cost is the price of parking in the park.

Fondest memory: Just drove through here on Greyhound a few days ago (August 13) and was not amazed by the town, but it was neat... commonly advenrtised in shop and restaurant windows were the letters A and C (AC) of course referring to and advertising the fact that that particular store or restaurant was equipped with air-conditioning. Neat town!