More than a century after a generous land donation helped create Buttermilk Falls State Park, a small but important piece of its neighboring landscape is being returned to public use. The Open Space Institute has acquired a four-acre property between the park’s existing entrance and Route 13 in Tompkins County for $1.3 million, purchasing it from the Margaret M. Rumsey Trust, as per their website. The organisation plans to transfer the land to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as an addition to Buttermilk Falls State Park. The property includes a former bed-and-breakfast and sits at the foot of the gorge that gave the park its name. Once transferred, it could support a redesigned park gateway with reconfigured parking, improved traffic circulation, better wayfinding, housing for staff, and a new trailhead. For a park that welcomes nearly 400,000 visitors each year, the acquisition represents an opportunity to make access safer, smoother, and more welcoming. Read more about it here, as per Open Space Institute:
A park born from a family gift
Buttermilk Falls State Park traces its origins to 1924, when Hugh E. Rumsey and his partner, Robert H. Treman, divided a larger family property. Mr. and Mrs. Treman then donated the gorge and surrounding hillside to New York State, creating Buttermilk Falls State Park. The park now covers more than 800 acres and includes waterfalls, gorge trails, a swimming area, picnic grounds, woodlands, and open spaces.The newly acquired homestead has a direct connection to that history. Dave Rumsey, speaking for the Margaret M. Rumsey Trust, said the Federal-style brick house was built around 1825 at the foot of Buttermilk Falls. It was originally part of a larger farm that included Buttermilk Creek and its gorge, where cows watered long before Margaret Rumsey worked as a lifeguard.Margaret Rumsey later converted the brick house into the Buttermilk Falls Bed and Breakfast in 1983. She operated it until a few years before her death in 2021. The Rumsey family said they believe Margaret would be pleased to see the homestead, where she raised her sons and welcomed guests, transitioned for use alongside the park she loved.
Why the four acres matter
The property may be small, but its location makes it valuable. It lies between the park’s current entrance and Route 13, a busy corridor that can create congestion and access challenges during busy periods. The Open Space Institute says the site is expected to become a future trailhead and parking area, expanding existing park improvements and easing pressure during peak visitation times.The acquisition also creates room for better traffic flow and clearer visitor navigation. With more people visiting New York’s state parks each year, the organization says thoughtful improvements are needed to help people connect with nature without overwhelming the places they come to enjoy. The four acres preserve an opportunity to expand parking capacity while improving the overall visitor experience.The former bed-and-breakfast could eventually serve another practical purpose. OSI says the structure may house AmeriCorps service members who support Buttermilk Falls State Park and other parks across the Finger Lakes region. During OSI’s ownership, the organization will maintain all structures on the property and work with state parks officials to assess future needs.
Connecting a growing trail network
The land acquisition is also part of a larger effort to connect parks and trails across the Finger Lakes. Buttermilk Falls State Park is a key anchor in long-term plans for multi-use trails and public transportation, including the in-development Black Diamond Trail expansion. That project is intended to ultimately connect Taughannock Falls State Park, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, and Robert H. Treman State Park.More than eight miles of rail trail have already been built by state and local partners, with additional connections underway. OSI says the new property preserves an important opportunity to expand access to that broader recreational network. A new trailhead could make it easier for visitors to move between parks, explore longer routes, and reach the region’s natural attractions without relying solely on cars.The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has identified conservation of the property as a high priority for the Finger Lakes region. Executive Deputy Commissioner Tom Alworth said the future addition of the parcel is an example of how New York is expanding outdoor recreation, improving visitor access, and protecting the environment for both visitors and neighbors.
Protecting land and expanding access
The Open Space Institute has been working on land conservation since 1974 and says it has helped protect more than 2.5 million acres of at-risk and environmentally sensitive land across the eastern United States. Its work supports clean air and water, wildlife habitat, recreation, and community resilience against extreme weather. The Buttermilk Falls acquisition fits that broader mission by protecting land while also improving public access.OSI President and CEO Erik Kulleseid said the organisation is helping ensure that New York’s state parks can meet the changing needs of the people who use them. He described the acquisition as creating new possibilities for thoughtful improvements that will help visitors better connect with nature.The site will remain closed to the public while OSI owns it, but its future role could be significant. A place that once welcomed overnight guests as a family-run bed-and-breakfast may soon help welcome hundreds of thousands of annual visitors to one of New York’s most beloved state parks. In that sense, the Rumsey family homestead is continuing a legacy that began in 1924, when a donated gorge became a public park.