A Finger Lakes tourism business that had hoped to expand its operations into Steuben County has shut down operations, leaving the future of a 2.9-mile section of the Bath and Hammondsport Rail Corridor in question.
Finger Lakes Rail Riders recently announced the permanent closure of the business, which offered rail bike adventures in Yates County. According to a WARN notice filing, the closure of Finger Lakes on Wheels LLC impacted 85 workers.
“We tried to fill our customers’ experiences with fun, adventure and a few laughs with our bad jokes,” the business posted on social media. “We can’t thank you enough for returning kindness to us in spades. We wish you all happiness and good health in the future and maybe we will meet again!”
In 2025, Finger Lakes Rail Riders signed an early entry agreement with the Steuben County IDA allowing the Penn Yan company to do its due diligence and investigate expanding its operation to a 2.9-mile section of the Bath and Hammondsport rail corridor.
Jamie Johnson, Executive Director of the Steuben County IDA, said the IDA Board chose not to pursue a relationship with Finger Lakes Rail Riders due to liability concerns over the proposed operations.
“The board found there were concerns over having an operation that has individuals on that rail line and that was the primary concern that the board had moving forward, was one of liability,” Johnson said. “The board could not get beyond that. There were also some concerns over the viability of the operation, but the primary reason was liability.”
Johnson said the Steuben County IDA has engaged with the Town of Urbana about the future of the Bath and Hammondsport Rail Corridor, which has set unused for decades, and future potential recreational use.
Town of Urbana Grants Administrator David Oliver said the town has long worked along with the Steuben County IDA to find someone to utilize that section of the rail as a tourism destination.
“We are still working to find someone to use that rail,” Oliver said.
Repairs for rail corridor are now on hold
The IDA previously was awarded grant funding to stabilize several miles of the rail in Steuben County, allowing a tourism development group to eventually use the section for rail bike operations.
The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded a $200,000 grant to help fund the project, while the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency committed another $200,000, bringing the total to $400,000.
However, that work is now on hold pending further discussions with the Town of Urbana, Johnson said.
Johnson said the proposed section of the Bath and Hammondsport Rail Corridor runs from behind the Steuben County IDA office on Route 54 to Fish Hatchery Road, ending near Pleasant Valley Winery and Mercury Aircraft in Hammondsport. Johnson said while this portion of the railway is still considered active, it has not been regularly used since the 1990s.
The ARC funding would allow the Steuben County IDA to stabilize the railbed, control erosion, and improve access, U.S Congressman Nick Langworthy said when the funding was announced. After the repairs are completed and the scenic route stabilized and preserved for future use, the IDA could lease the corridor to a local recreation operator for use as a tourist attraction.
“Repairing this railway will generate new economic opportunities by attracting visitors, boosting local revenue, and supporting job growth,” Langworthy said previously. “It’s a smart, forward-looking investment in Steuben County’s economy and infrastructure.”
For the moment, though, the rail will remain unchanged. Finger Lakes Rail Riders officials could not be reached for comment on this story.
This article originally appeared on The Leader: What’s next for Bath Hammondsport Rail Corridor after business closes
Reporting by Jeff Smith, Corning Leader / The Leader
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Smith, Corning Leader | USA TODAY Network
