Watkins Glen State Park - Watkins Glen, NY

South Entrance Pavilion.

State parks are rustic and underutilized for weddings for a number of very valid reasons, but I thought that maybe I should give them a chance.

This is one of those moments that I have to say my future husband was really spot on. He was totally pulling for Watkins Glen back in February and I had my nose in the air. Well honey, you were right.

Watkins Glen State Park is right in Watkins Glen NY. No really, I mean just before you hit Seneca lake there's the state park entrance. It is a park known for the gorge walk and stairs, gorgeous hikes, and super family friendly camping.

The most frustrating thing about the park is the NY website for state parks. There is very basic and limited information on the site about renting the pavilions and two pictures, tops, which when you're a) almost two hours away and b) trying to figure out a wedding reception, two pictures are not helpful.

What the website lacks, the park rangers make up for. I called before they closed on a weeknight (6pm in August) and Christina was super helpful. She went through the cost of the South Entrance Pavilion and how we'd go about getting it rented in our names and suggested that I stop by and fill it out over the weekend.

Things to know:

State parks in NY only book 11 months out from the date you want. Since we were originally looking at July 4th weekend, it only just opened up for rental.

State park pavilions book up crazy fast. They are awesome choices for family picnics and get togethers because hey, it's a park. There are things to do. Nature! Water! Inexpensive!

For the south pavilion, there are three electrical outlets that I could see. It's about as dingy as one might expect a park pavilion to be. It comes with two fridge/freezer combos, (really awesome) fireplaces on either end, electrical, and downstairs there are 'comfort stations' open to everyone in the park - even if you book the pavilion, expect it to be used by others in the park. The bathrooms (comfort stations) are not awesome. Peeling paint, the smell of ... well. Park bathrooms, very old and very dirty. Ladies, this is not where you're going to get ready for your big entrance.

The pavilion is at the end of the entrance, the road loops around in front of it. There is parking near by, which is also parking for the state park pool which is also close by. The pavilion itself is open on the front and enclosed on three sides.

There is a small, narrow balcony off the back but it is showing the signs of time and state budgets, so please do not reenact Romeo and Juliet from there.

All those things considered, it has got a lot of character and space. You can easily get 100 guests in the full pavilion (they rent it out center and ends, or you can rent the whole thing. We'd go for the whole kit and kaboodle). It would be easy enough to decorate with a ladder as there are steel and wood rafters with old hanging lanterns. There are also hooks and eyes above the open entrances from a previous wedding (seen on pinterest in fact) where they hung curtains and kind of classed it up a bit.

It comes with picnic tables as well. I'd want to move those out or into one of the side rooms and not use them as well, climbing over a bench to sit down is not in my plans for a wedding but it obviously worked for other couples so make it yours.

Ceremony: there is a large area at the base of the hill behind the pavilion that is flat and lovely that has been used for ceremonies in the past. It is really lovely, near a pond but not so near that you have bugs competing for your attention. My biggest problem with this is that for the mobily challenged guests, this ceremony site is not going to work. It is definitely not a spot where you'd be wearing heels unless you were keen on breaking your leg or your neck. Or both.

But. For the couples who are into cowboy boots, converse, flip flops, this could definitely work.

Summary: 

Cost: $ 225.00 per day for the whole pavillion. Does not include exclusive use of the bathrooms below.

Inquiry: Best by phone. They will mail a rental agreement to you or you can stop by the park office and get one.

Response: less than 24 hours

Follow Up: We drove out, got the pictures and are still considering it. It would be an entirely different affair and where we would save on rental fee, we'd incur other costs.

Other notes: Super rustic. Not for the meek of heart getting to the field below. Can only rent out 11 months in advance. Watkins Glen hosts a huge racing event the second weekend of August every year - the whole town books so be aware of that.