Walworth, NY, took shape in 1829, carved from the older town of Ontario, on rolling high ground that’s actually the highest terrain in Wayne County. Those uplands, with their sandy loam, drew early farm families and set a course that still shows up in everyday life here. The headcount today sits around 9,373 residents, based on recent estimates, and the place is known for fruit-growing, small parks that get real use, and—surprise to many—nationally noted mineral specimens pulled from the local stone.
Farming isn’t just a memory; it’s a week-by-week routine. G & S Orchards keeps a lively schedule of u-pick seasons and farm-stand sales, and it anchors many families’ summer and fall plans. You’ll see cars turning in for berries in early summer and apples later on, proof that “buy local” isn’t just a slogan here. Thornbee Farm is a family-run certified organic farm that grows fruits, vegetables, apples, peaches, blueberries, pears, and lavender. They also keep bees (over 22 hives), make maple syrup, produce honey, and sell seasonal treats like homemade ice cream, beeswax candles, and baked goods in their carriage-style market barn.
Another thread runs underneath our feet. The Dolomite Products quarry supplies crushed stone to the region, but among rock collectors it’s famous for clear fluorite crystals found in pockets of Lockport Dolomite. From time to time, the company has hosted public collecting days, and the word spreads far beyond county lines when that happens. It’s a niche thing, sure, but it means this small place shows up on mineral forums and in specimen labels the world over.
Town life centers on Ginegaw Park, with its lodge, fields, and walking loop. On many Tuesdays in season, the front entrance fills with the farmers’ market—produce, baked goods, maple, even local syrups and jams—so you don’t have to drive far to stock a pantry. In winter, the hill draws sleds; in warm months, there’s nearly always a game underway.
We don’t tell the story of this community without tipping a hat to Bessie Mabel Seely, who grew up here and, in 1903, became the first woman to graduate from Syracuse University’s College of Law. The College still honors her name with an annual award, a neat link between local history and a larger stage. It’s the kind of fact that doesn’t come up daily, but it sticks once you’ve heard it.
Food-wise, folks have strong opinions. Salvatore’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria runs a location right in town with a big dining room and game-day TVs; wings and pies are the go-to on busy nights. When you want a sit-down meal with a view, the Gananda Pub at Blue Heron Hills—open to the public—serves burgers and pub fare with water just off the patio; it’s nearby and popular with golfers and non-golfers alike.
If you’re looking for “what to do,” the calendar delivers. The Lions Club’s Festival in the Park, running since 1989, brings a parade, a classic-car cruise-in, food, kids’ activities, music, and fireworks across a summer weekend. Come October, the Gananda Rotary’s Haunted Hayride sets up with evening rides that mix student volunteers and spooky scenes; it’s a long-running, ticketed tradition that people plan for. And if you like small, low-key stops, the Walworth Historical Society keeps a museum on Academy Street, opened on set afternoons or by appointment, where scrapbooks and photos connect today’s roads to yesterday’s families.
At Patriot Wildlife, we know this landscape well, and we help folks keep homes and buildings in good shape when wildlife tries to move in. If you’re hearing scratching, finding droppings, or spotting chewed gaps anywhere in Walworth, contact us. We’ll take a look, explain what we see, and get a plan in place that works for you.
