SODUS, N.Y. — A state park in Sodus is slowly eroding into Lake Ontario, creating a hazard for campers at Camp Beechwood.
News10NBC’s Kristi Blake visited the park and found cracks in the ground where it is beginning to give way. The town and state Department of Environmental Conservation are aware of the erosion, and officials are warning people to stay away from the edge.
A lone chimney stands at Beechwood State Park, a remnant of a building that once overlooked Lake Ontario before erosion forced its removal. Park caretaker Sal Vittozzi pulled the building down about five years ago because the bluff is falling into the lake.
The park, originally built in the 1920s as a Girl Scout camp, sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Ontario. The state took over the property in 1996 after a bankruptcy. Vittozzi was hired by the town eight years ago to restore the abandoned site. Vittozzi stepped in eight years ago and said he immediately noticed the erosion.
“The first year I was here, we lost about ten feet, and the edge of the bluff started moving in closer towards the building. The two sitting logs that were in front of the building went in that first year,” Vittozzi said. “So I noticed almost right away.”
The erosion has been relentless. In the first year Vittozzi worked at the park, about 10 feet of the bluff disappeared. Two sitting logs in front of a building went into the water that same year.
A chimney that once stood inside a building called the Pixie Playhouse now sits exposed near the edge. The building had to be moved away from the chimney about five years ago, but the chimney was left because of its historical significance. Now the chimney is close to falling into the lake.
“A week ago we had a few more trees here than we do now,” Vittozzi said.
Vittozzi said the erosion is a natural process, but concerning. He pointed to a pavilion installed in 2022 that sits increasingly close to the crumbling edge.
“I’m really concerned about this new pavilion that we put in back in 2022,” Vittozzi said. “The edge of the bluff just keeps getting closer and closer. And if we have a continued wet season here, we’re going to have to move this thing right away.”
The saturated soil, combined with waves crashing into the bluff and wind loosening tree roots, has accelerated the erosion. Vittozzi said he has lost about 30 trees across the park in the past two and a half months.
Over the last eight years, 80 feet of land has fallen and it’s only getting worse. Vittozzi took Blake on a tour of the camp and what he’s fixed up.
“When I first took over at the park here, we had 64 buildings on property,” Vittozzi said. “A lot of them were damaged beyond repair. So we ended up taking out about 25 buildings.”
Several people were at the park walking their dogs, taking pictures and setting up camp. The park is getting ready for its busy season.
The park spans nearly 300 acres. Vittozzi says 30 other trees have come down around the park because everything is so wet.
Vittozzi has reached out to the DEC to see if anything more can be done. He said the town plans to add more signage and put up a small fence, but there is little else that can stop the natural process.
“I wish there was more that myself and the town could do to really end this, but you know, it’s natural, and we just gotta watch and be careful,” Vittozzi said.
Despite the erosion, the park remains popular. On summer weekends, about 20 to 30 campers visit. During the week, the number drops to about 5 to 10.
“It’s really a hidden gem out here,” Vittozzi said.
Vittozzi had his own landscaping business in Long Island before taking the job. He saw an ad in the Wayne County Times looking for someone to manage the property. He had all the tools ready and was hired after an interview.
“It’s an amazing place,” he said.
When he first arrived, the park had 64 buildings on the property. Many were damaged beyond repair, leading to the removal of about 25 structures. The team opened up fields by cutting everything back and focused on saving what they could.
“Anything that we could save, we did save,” he said.
The restoration work included fixing hay frames and lean-tos, installing new roofs, and adding mulch beds around the grounds.
Vittozzi is hoping to bring the Scouts back to the camp, saying he has several Eagle Scout projects happening now. The camp also hopes to expand in the future with new trails.
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