Time for the Beach

If you haven't made it out to one of Western New York's many fine beaches with public access to Lake Erie, now is the time. Buffalo actually has the sunniest and driest summers of any major city in the Northeast, so why not enjoy one of Buffalo's greatest assets, our waterfront. Here are a couple options to get you started.

Bennett Beach

Old Lake Shore Rd Derby NY

Considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Western New York, Bennett Beach is located past Hamburg into Derby on Old lake Shore Road. About a 40 minute drive from the city, this is a hot spot for locals trying to get away on the weekends and enjoy some Western New York beauty.

Bennett has everything you need for a day in the sun. You can plan on wind surfing, fishing, swimming, sunbathing and boating. The beach has a family atmosphere that everyone can enjoy, just make sure to bring your sunscreen! Lifeguards are on duty daily from 11-7pm.

Wendt Beach Park

7676 Old Lake Shore Road | Derby, NY 14047

Wendt Beach Park is a 170-acre lake front estate and was used as the Henry W. Wendt, Jr. family's summer residence, which they later renamed the "The Ridgewood."

The grounds present a panorama of cropped lawns and colorful flower gardens with occasional benches, and a picket fence. Structures reflect an earlier era of affluence: a log cabin, once a playhouse and a guest house; a caretaker's cottage; a garage with chauffeur's quarters; stables; now public restrooms; the pump house, where water brought in from Lake Erie was stored in a large tank and pumped through pipes to outside spigots for watering the gardens.

The interior of the main house is a remembrance of beautiful hardwood floors, a spiral staircase, and railings of dark wood, window seats and bay windows, which many of which overlook the lake and beach areas.

“We’ve hired 14 lifeguards to ensure the safety of swimmers at Wendt and Bennett beaches on a daily basis,” said Parks Commissioner Jim Hornung.  “The County beaches will be groomed nearly every day this year.  I’d like to thank County Executive Collins and Legislator Dixon for ensuring my department has the funding it needs to provide this quality service to area residents.”