06/29/2026
We're finishing up our four-night hosted stay at Jellystone Park Western New York for Pic-A-Fest ‘26 (a big thanks to the park, Island Hospitality Management, and Sun Outdoors for hosting).
This was our first time at this park and I need to start this review with a mea culpa. I was admittedly not very familiar with the layout and topography of the park and didn't research it enough. I did not reserve a golf cart. I should have. It is not a huge park, but it isn't small either and it's built on the side of a rolling hill - at some points fairly steep - with amenities at the top, middle, and bottom. We definitely got a work out and I would certainly recommend a cart if you aren't a fan of walking up and down hills.
Jellystone Western New York just opened a brand-new splash pad in place of their old one and from conversations with seasonals and frequent guests, it seems to be a big improvement. While some people may feel that having the splash pad in a separate location from the park's twin heated pools is a drawback, we loved that it was self-enclosed because our four-year-old could have a little freedom playing on it without us worrying about her falling into a pool she isn't ready to swim in yet. They also run some activities at the splash pad and their ice cream stand, snack bar, and boating and floating obstacle pond are all right next to it so it's very much a hub of the park.
Another hub is at the entrance at the top of the hill where you'll find check-in, a 24/7 arcade, the camp store, a 9-hole mini golf, two pools with 3-to-5 foot depth, a small playground, gem mining, and the rec center. The rec center is open long hours and you can come in and purchase ceramics to paint, candles to make, shirts to tie dye, etc, as long as someone is at the counter. This is a nice perk as some Jellystone locations limit these things to designated activity times.
The activity staff here were always kind and enthusiastic and never seemed flustered. Jellystone Western New York's wagon rides are a little different from some other Jellystone “HEY” rides. They have about six or so wagon songs they always sing and break for the occasional ENERGY CHECK where everyone screams as loud as they can. Our four-year-old loved this and preferred the songs to the usual yelling HEY! at bystanders at some other locations. We enjoyed the activities we attended, though we would have liked to have had Candy Bar Bingo - one of our favorites - last more than four games and have a little more pizzazz.
Not far past the splash pad is a giant wooden playground straight out of the 90s. It is awesome both as a nostalgia trip and as a creative place for kids to play. I saw a comment stating there were plans to rebuild it - I hope it is done similar to what is there as it is a fantastic place for kids to play.
Down at the bottom of the campground is the third hub- first you'll reach their play field where a lot of outdoor activities are held. Then you'll see a full court basketball court, beach volleyball, two gaga pits, a jump pad, an inflatable slide, an inflatable obstacle course, and laser tag. At the very bottom is a large fishing pond and a third playground that seems designed for slightly older kids. This layout means that no matter where you are in the campground, there is always something to do fairly close by. On the other hand, it also means there isn't necessarily one particularly most convenient part of the campground to stay in - it all comes down to personal preference.
We stayed in one of the Elite Premium Two-Bedroom Cabins with Loft toward the top of the campground. We liked the cabin, especially since the loft is somewhat tucked in and having a separate bunk bedroom instead of the typical hall bunks found in many loft cabins meant there were actually three distinct sleeping areas with full or moderate privacy - somewhat of a rarity in Jellystone cabins. The cabin also had its own dedicated wifi with strong speeds and smart TVs in the living room, loft, and larger bedroom. There is ample covered deck space with a gas fireplace on the deck as well in addition to the traditional fire pit at the site. One drawback to the cabin was that a previous guest had not put much effort into cleaning up, having left trash in the fire pit and grill, putting back a baking sheet without cleaning it, and leaving medicine behind in a cabinet. Still, I would definitely recommend this cabin type to those staying at this park.
This park is owned by Sun Outdoors and managed by Island Hospitality. Corporate-owned parks with a high number of amenities tend to have less of a seasonals presence than some other Jellystones, but this park is an exception. There are a good number of seasonals here and that means the campground has a culture, which gives it a feel of a smaller, privately owned park. The campground itself is also mature, with tall trees, which gives it that “campground” presentation instead of looking like a cleared out rv park.
All told, I can definitely see why this park is popular with many campers from this area and why there are so many long-time returning guests. It has charm and some great traditions and an atmosphere that both buzzes with activity and allows for moments of relaxation.
I'll be putting together a cabin tour video and a video tour of the campground in the coming days, so keep an eye out for those!
