New eats and events are kicking off summer tourism in the Thousand Islands

May 23—Cory C. Fram says it's not just a new hotel or Boldt Castle that can make a summer tourism season successful in the north country.

Fram, director of the Thousands Islands International Tourism Council, is convinced that new restaurants, businesses and cultural events can also have an impact on the busy summer tourism season.

"When you have restaurants and businesses and cultural events coming on line, it gives visitors more reasons to come to the north country," he said. "They have more to do."

The Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off the summer tourism season.

And visitors have new places to go, sites to see and things to experience this season.

New restaurants have opened in Cape Vincent and the French Bay Marina. Last week, an artisan market was launched in Clayton. After years of delays, a historic restaurant in Henderson Harbor will finally make its debut this summer.

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce also is planning a hot air balloon festival in July.

Last year, Thousand Islands tourism operators gave high marks for the 2023 season after enduring a couple difficult years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fram hopes that success will continue for this summer, predicting "marginal growth."

"I am optimistic for the coming year," he said.

The prospects look good, he said. Gas prices are recently going down and inflation and the economy are improving. It depends on whether the north country experiences good weather and what water levels are like for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

But water communities received state funding for projects to prevent the flooding that occurred in 2017 an 2019, he said.

Here's a look at what will be new for the summer tourism season.

Restaurateur Mike Hazelwood picked Cape Vincent for his latest offering, opening Channel Marker 243 on South Market Street two months ago.

He's excited about adding the full service restaurant and bar in the Cape to The Wood Boat Brewery that he already owns in Clayton and The Boat Tasting Room in Lake Placid.

"Cape Vincent is absolutely beautiful," he said.

The name of the restaurant is derived from the navigational marker in front of the property, Hazelwood said.

Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Channel Marker 243 serves a menu of burgers, salads and entrees. It also features covered outdoor seating.

With its brown sandstone exterior, the former Telley's restaurant went through "some refreshening" before opening in mid-March.

On a sunny spring day, Hazelwood expressed his optimism for what the tourism season will bring.

"It's going to be a good summer," he said.

This weekend, Sackets Harbor is getting a jump on the Memorial Day holiday with its annual village-wide yard sale on Saturday.

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., residents will display all kinds of items that they no longer want in yards throughout Sackets.

Perhaps the quaint village's biggest contribution to the north country summer season is its completion of a $4 million redo of its downtown waterfront.

The boat launch and park were lost for the entire summer last year.

But Market Square Park has come back better than ever this season, undergoing an expansion and major improvements, Mayor Alex Morgia said.

To avoid past flooding in 2017 and 2019, the park was elevated.

Boaters might be the happiest with the improvements, he said, with the number of boat slips increasing to 16 and the new boat launches that make it easier to get vessels into the water.

The Sentinel Bandstand at the park also was upgraded. There were other improvements, as well.

Financing for the project was through a $3 million state grant from the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative, or REDI program.

In historic Clayton, the Boat Yard at French Bay opened full time on Thursday for the Memorial Day weekend. The restaurant and bar opened its doors about a month ago, Fram said.

Last week, the 1000 Islands Artisans and Delicacies opened in the center of the village's downtown, where more than 40 vendors will show off their crafts, art and edibles. A "bagelry" also will open soon.

Pam Buker is patterning the place after similar businesses she's seen in Florida. She just wanted to have somewhere that artists and vendors can show off their talents.

She has 33 years of experience as the manager of the Shurfine grocery store in the village. Her husband owned a convenience store for three years.

Buker believes the business is a welcome addition to the booming village.

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is working on hosting a hot air balloon festivl at Zenda Farm Preserve for the last weekend of July.

It's been many years since the Thousand Islands has hosted a balloon festival. Fram remembered when Alexandria Bay hosted one about 20 years ago.

The chamber plans to make an announcement next week about the event.

"We're still working on the details," said Tricia Bannister, the chamber's executive director.

For years, Clayton Island Tours has offered north country visitors sightseeing cruises that meander through U.S. and Canadian waters along the St. Lawrence River.

This season, the boat tour company is adding a five-hour tour for what is billed as the "ultimate" cruise that weaves through the islands on a 25-mile excursion.

For the past two summers, owner Steve Vollmer has hoped to open the historic Gill House, a 200-year-old restaurant in Henderson Harbor. But issues with a town new sewer system caused delays.

Now Vollmer is just about guaranteeing that the restaurant will finally open by July Fourth.

The property's expanded septic system will be compatible with the new sewer system, he said.

"We've been given the green light," he said.

Vollmer, a Syracuse native and part-time Henderson resident, is still putting together his staff of about 25.

Rick Zaborny, who has 35 years of experience with a Syracuse restaurant, will be the head chef.

Built in 1813, the restaurant was once the home of Great Lakes shipping captain John S. Warner. The Gill House last operated in 2015.