Cascade Park was tourist attraction built by the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway in the gorge of the Cattaraugus Creek just south of Springville, NY. It was a popular getaway for visitors from Buffalo and around the region to enjoy the views of the cliffs, waterfalls, and the bridge carrying the railroad over the gorge. Today it is the site of the Springville Country Club.
History
In 1898 the BR&P constructed a new bridge over the Cattaraugus Creek gorge and the following year the BR&P purchased 150 acres along the banks of the creek. The railroad spent $10,00 to remove trees, plant grass, build pathways and construct buildings to make it a pleasurable place for travelers to spend their time. As cars replaced trains as the preferred way to travel the park became less popular until, in 1921, it was sold to build the Springville Country Club.
The line between Buffalo and Ashford was built in 1883 by the Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad and was later operated by the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway, and the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. Passenger service on the line ended on 15 October 1955 when the B&O ended its Buffalo – Pittsburgh service. Freight service dwindled over the years and different sections of line were abandoned and removed over the years. As of 2024 only two short segments of the line were still in use – from Buffalo south to Orchard Park and from Ashford north to West Valley.
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