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Cooperstown Haunts
Motorcoach Group Itinerary
Cooperstown & Otsego County makes a great place for small group getaways as well as motorcoach bus tours. While tour options can be tailored to suit each group"s needs, our "Cooperstown Haunts" itinerary is perfect for visitors interested in the spookier side of Cooperstown.
Please note: Tour organizers must contact these sites directly when developing their group itinerary to ensure parties can be accommodated, and to identify nearby parking options. Most attractions have varying seasonal hours. For motorcoach groups, it is best to visit between the months of September and May to avoid long lines and higher rates. Also note that Glimmerglass Festival performances are only offered on set dates.
DAY ONE
Arrival & Welcome Lunch
Enjoy a warm welcome to Cooperstown & the Otsego County area with lunch at one of the region's motorcoach-friendly and top dining options.
From points South, we suggest:
Brooks" House of Bar-B-Q (1.5 – 2 hours)
Home of the largest indoor charcoal barbecue pit in the East, this family-run New York dining institution is known for outstanding chicken, ribs, beef, steak, and pulled pork. Lighter fare includes hearty soups, salads, and vegetarian options. Groups of 30 - 90 guests can reserve the Roost Banquet Room, with spacious seating separate from the main restaurant. Off-site catering and takeaway options are also available. Free, on-site parking.
From points North, we suggest:
Upstate Bar and Grill
And then...
Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum (1-3 hours)
Tour the ghostly galleries of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This one-hour group tour begins in the famed Bullpen Theater, where baseball"s relationship to ghosts and horror is explained, followed by a guided gallery walk to learn about America"s most haunted baseball fields, then on to the Plaque Gallery where apparitions of some of baseball"s biggest heroes have been sighted. Haunted group tours are available by pre-arrangement. Drop off in the designated area in front of the Hall of Fame and bus parks in the Yellow Trolley Lot if not having lunch at Toscana, across the street.
Contact: June Dolhun, Sales Manager, JDolhun@baseballhall.org, (607) 547-0250
Main Street Shopping and Nearby Attractions and dinner on own(as time allows)*
If you choose to stick together as a large group, call the businesses in advance to book.
For a popular group "free time" option, allow them some on-their-own time on Cooperstown's Main Street. With accolades from Architectural Digest and MSN.com for its small-town charm, there"s plenty to discover in this one-stoplight town. The Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum, Cooperstown Bat Company, and Doubleday Baseball Field are perfect for baseball fans, and art galleries, specialty retail, and coffee shops offer a perfect place to peel away for a relaxing break.
Hotel Check-In
The Otesaga Resort Hotel (1-2 hours)
Situated in a picturesque lakeside setting, The Otesaga Resort Hotel provides elegant, luxury accommodations amid the best of Cooperstown. Built in 1909, the property occupies 700 feet of lakefront on the southern shore of Lake Otsego, the famed "Glimmerglass" of James Fenimore Cooper"s novels. Selected as a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Otesaga is reminiscent of a genteel era, when a gracious welcome was the standard. Drop off near the Hawkeye Grill Entrance on the left side facing front. Free bus parking to the far left of the lot.
*The bus could check into the Hotel and drop off luggage while the group is in the Village.
Contact: Ksenia Hanlon – Sales Manager, KHanlon@Otesaga.com, (607) 544 -2582
Evening
Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours (1-1.5 hours)
Explore the beauty and charm of Cooperstown with a spooky twist! Celebrating its 15th season, the Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost tour offers groups entertaining tales and true ghost stories from the past. Stops at graveyards, haunted homes, Otsego Lake, and even the National Baseball Hall of Fame, provide a thrilling and enthralling way to learn about the history and ghostly legends of Cooperstown. *This is a walking tour.
Drop off at Pioneer Park, located at the corner of Main Street and Pioneer Street (if not walking from Main Street already), and bus parks in the Yellow Trolley Lot.
Contact: Bruce Markusen, bmarkusen@stny.rr.com, (607) 547 - 8070
DAY TWO
Hyde Hall (1-2 hours)
A National Historic Landmark, Hyde Hall has a well-documented history of paranormal activity dating back some 200 years, when the Clarke family called this architectural gem their summer home. Today, visitors report hearing knocking, footsteps, distant music, and have even seen fully-body apparitions. Guided ghost tours for groups 20+ are available by pre-arrangement from May – October (note: Hyde Hall is not heated late in the season). Featured on Ghost Hunters. Free, on-site parking.
Contact: Jonathon Maney, JohnAborn@HydeHall.org, (607) 547-5098, ext. 4
Concession Lunch at The Glimmerglass Festival before a matinee performance: To Be Announced
Be sure to ask about special group tour availability.
Contact: Sean Sansevere – Group Sales, SSansevere@Glimmerflass.org, (607) 547 – 0700 x241
Fly Creek Cider Mill (1.5 hours)
Step back in time and watch the 160-year old Fly Creek Cider Mill press fresh, sweet cider during the autumn peak harvest season. Groups can enjoy a self-guided tour to learn about the Mill"s production and history with ties to Johnny Appleseed, and receive a voucher for the popular Mill Store Marketplace featuring locally-made products, a commemorative wine glass, or a tasty treat from the Snack Barn & Bakery. Drop off and free bus parking is across the street in the lot.
Contact: Bill Michaels, Vice President, bill@flycreekcidermill.com, (607) 547-9692, or click here.
Evening
"Things That Go Bump in the Night" Tour at The Farmers" Museum (1-1.5 hours)
This lantern-lit tour of the shadowy grounds of The Farmers" Museum, gives groups the haunting details of the mysteries and ghostly happenings of this historic 19th century living museum village. From the young ghost who roams the Bump Tavern to the curious sounds from the Blacksmith Shop, this tour is inspired by Louis C. Jones"s Things That Go Bump in the Night, a record of haunted history in New York State. Drop guests off at the museum entrance and bus parks at the Yellow Trolley Lot.
Contact: Anne Tandle, Group Sales, A.Tandle@FenimoreArt.org, (607) 547-1495
Upstate Bar & Grill (1.5-3 hours)
Enjoy a casual group meal at one of Central New York"s best gastropubs. A partnership between a chef, an entrepreneur, and a brewer, Upstate Bar & Grill delivers on a shared vision of bringing a taste of the gastropub experience to Cooperstown. Twenty-four beers on tap compliment a chef-inspired menu that takes advantage of the region"s bounty. Private group and banquet dining options are available in advance. Drop-off at front and bus parks around the back or in Blue Lot.
Contact: Art Boden, General Manager, nypcooperstown@yahoo.com, (607) 282-4525
DAY THREE
Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad
Climb aboard a historic diesel train or locomotive with Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad, offering groups scenic rides along rails dating back to the 1860s. Group options include regular and special event rides ranging from the popular Blues Express to fall foliage, train robbery, and holiday train tours. Group charters are also available, providing tailored experiences with a selection of catered food and beverage options. 2019 marked the CCVR's 150th Anniversary!
Contact: Wendy York, General Manager, wendy@lrhs.com, (607) 432-2429
Tour and Lunch at The Fenimore Museum
On the shores of Otsego Lake on land once owned by American novelist James Fenimore Cooper, the Fenimore Art Museum houses renowned collections of American folk and fine art, and American Indian art and artifacts. From April – December, group tours can be pre-arranged for 15 or more visitors, with boxed or buffet lunch options available at the Fenimore Café, offering visitors spectacular Glimmerglass lake views. Drop guests off at the entrance and park the bus at the Yellow Trolley Lot.
Contact: Katie Cole, Group Sales, k.cole@fenimoreart.org, (607) 547-1495