Whitaker Park

Whitaker Park Information

About Whitaker Park

Daniel Whitaker, a man of distinguished New England lineage, who was born at Trenton, N.Y., April 14, 1818, and came to Martinsburg with his father Clemmence, in 1835 acquired the Charles Lee Martin mansion. After purchasing the mansion, he accumulated a farm of 550 acres. On April 10, 1849, he married Ruth Ann Powell of Trenton. He was an outstanding citizen of Lewis County and for many years a director and President of Lewis County Agricultural Society.

He died June 23, 1887 and the mansion went to his daughter, Mary Alice. He did many things for Martinsburg village. One of these was the building of a beautiful stone bridge over the Roaring Brook that passes through the municipality. He planted trees along the highway and improved the Town Hall at his own expense.

In his will, he placed a provision that if his daughter died without children, the house and broad acres should go to the Town, but he imposed the condition that the Town should build and maintain stone bridges, convert a large and picturesque section of the farm into a sort of public park and maintain it. This the Town Board did not do, although it attempted to assert itself as residuary legatee after his death with the result that Miss Whitaker took the case to the courts and won the old mansion and a large part of the farm for herself.

In the beautiful gorges on the property, the Whitakers had, themselves, maintained a public recreation ground with fireplaces and benches for general enjoyment and was long frequented by many people. This was left to the Town by Miss Whitaker on her death in 1927, in her fathers name.

Registration Info

For information on camping or to make a pavilion reservation please call Steven Hirschey at  (315)286-6487.   NO reservations are needed for campsites. 

  • Cost is $10.00 for a TENT site and $15.00 RV site and only one RV per site per night.
  • We also sell fire wood at the park for the campers.
  • Hot showers are available for $.25 cents for a 2 1/2 mins.
  • Running water that is Village water.
Rules

ALL VISITORS ARE REQUESTED TO REGISTER.
ALL OVERNIGHT CAMPERS MUST REGISTER.

  • Speed limit is 15 MPH except in picnic areas where it is 5 MPH.
  • No All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) in the picnic area, or anywhere, after 9:00 P.M.
  • All ATV’s using the Park must be in designated areas and must have a stock exhaust system.
  • No parties after 9:00 P.M. unless registered camper or with special permission.
  • Quiet time will be maintained between 11 PM and 7 AM
  • No littering.
  • No cutting trees.
  • Owners must clean up after themselves and their animals. Dogs or other pets may not be chained to trees but must be separately staked. Dogs must have a current license and be on a lease at all times.
  • No more than six people at one site (camping only).
  • Persons violating rules may be issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Martinsburg Court and asked to leave for the rest of the season. Such appearance ticket may be issued by any Law Enforcement Official, Park Attendant or other person so designated by the Town Board. The Town Court shall have the ability to issue a fine for violations, which fine shall not be less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars for each offense.

Pictures of Campsites