Empire Winery cupola has a home!

PENN YAN -- The Cupola that sat atop the Empire State Winery so many years ago, finally knows where it will be spending the rest of its life… in Angler Boat Park in the Village of Penn Yan. Wait… what? If you find yourself asking, “Where the heck is that?” you are not alone.

Angler Boat Park is located between the Liberty St. Bridge and the Boat Launch site, in the Village of Penn Yan. While the Penn Yan Boat Company enjoyed a more famous legacy, the Angler Boat Company was once a thriving business on the shore of the Outlet in the village. The Trustees of the Village of Penn Yan, after many years of consideration, agreed to let the Cupola be placed on this site near the water, yet protected from potential seasonal damage from the lake.

Marsha Devine, Board Member of the Cupola Restoration Project, is thrilled with this progress.

“This is wonderful news! We appreciate the Village Trustee support for the Cupola Project. We are looking forward to approval from the New York State Parks and Rec department, getting the utility lines verified for site preparation, and working out a lease agreement with the Village.” “This is huge! A critical piece of the puzzle for us,” said Board Member Mary Worth. “With this piece in place, we can now start the fundraising process. Everyone’s first question to us has been ‘Where is it going to be?’. Now, we have an answer, and we are thrilled with the site! It will become a great educational tool for students and tourists alike, all within walking distance of Main Street.”

Coming on the heels of the commitment to site location from the village, the Yates County Legislature voted to issue a letter of support for the project at its Jan. 9 meeting.

Steve Knapp, President of the Cupola Restoration Project, feels great relief. “Any grant process we have looked at wants to know if our town supports the project. With the letters of support from the Village of Penn Yan and the County, we are in great shape to begin fundraising in earnest. This is wonderful!”

Follow the progress on Facebook on the “Saving the Empire State Winery Cupola” page.

Donations may be sent to: The Cupola Project P.O. Box 676 Penn Yan, NY 14527 Timeline

• 1896 – Empire State Winery built

• 1990 – The building was razed to the outage of many, but the Cupola and cornerstone were preserved.

• 2013 – Land, upon which the cupola sat, is purchased by Chris Iversen to build Hampton Inn.

• 2017 – Steve Knapp forms “Cupola Restoration Project Penn Yan, LLC” Iversen transfers ownership of Cupola to the corporation.

• 2022 – In December, the Village of Penn Yan Trustees give site approval for Cupola home.

• 2023 – In January, Yates County Legislature writes letter of support for the project.

For many years, Wayne Wagner, the former owner of the land where the Empire State Winery sat, held onto the Cupola in the hope that it would one day be restored and become a living piece of history. He hoped that whoever bought the land would take on the project. That buyer, Chris Iversen, needed to move the Cupola off the land to make way for The Hampton Inn. With a great deal of help from the Penn Yan Lions Club, the Cupola was reinforced, prepped, and moved to the Fireman’s Field. When Steve Knapp, who had been working on this project as head researcher and Chief cheerleader for several years, formed the corporation, Iversen was able to transfer ownership to the Cupola Restoration Project of Penn Yan, LLC, officially. Closing out 2022, The Village Trustees of Penn Yan, have given contingent approval of the permanent site of the Cupola to be in Angler Boat Park, along the Outlet Trail in the Village of Penn Yan.

Empire Winery cupola has a home!

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