BLENHEIM — Modernization efforts continue to unfold at the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) Blenheim-Gilboa (B-G) Visitors Center and the adjacent Lansing Manor, as officials approach the final phase of improvements that were first announced in 2019.
Many of the recreational commitments that were announced during the re-licensing of the B-G Power Project in 2019 have already been completed. Those commitments include improvements to the Upper Reservoir fishing access, amenities at fishing sites, parking expansion and fish habitat opportunities with constant level pond upgrades and fish attraction structures. At Mine Kill State Park, the improvements include bath house renovations and pool upgrades. There will be further announcements for improvements completed at Mine Kill State Park later this year.
Located along Route 30 in Blenheim, the Visitors Center facilities are popular community spaces that tell the history and science of electricity. While exact details about the renovations are still being finalized, NYPA officials confirmed that the work includes renovations and upgrades that would delay the Manor’s usual May opening and would impact the operations of the Visitors Center later this year
“We’re really excited about what the future holds for these community spaces,” said NYPA Director of Community Affairs Jessica Kirby. “People learn and engage with displays and materials in such a different way than they did before. We’re looking to upgrade exhibits in ways that allow visitors to really experience the past, present and future of the power generation here in New York state, while meeting modern safety, ADA and historic preservation requirements.”
Traditional programming at the B-G Visitors Center is expected to continue through mid- summer but will shift to Mine Kill State Park in late- summer. Kirby and NYPA’s Community Relations Manager Tara Rehberg said that NYPA is reaching out to those who regularly use the facilities for tours and other educational events.
All of NYPA’s popular free community events like the Antique Auto Show, on July 12, and the Wildlife Festival, on September 26, are still planned. Regular visitors center operations will still be ongoing as normal between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission through mid-summer. During the upgrade of the Visitors Center, tour guides will be available for off-site programming. For more information on upcoming events, visit https://www.nypa.gov/Communities/Visitors-Centers/Blenheim-Gilboa-visitors-center.
A Popular Community Space and Economic Engine
Local residents consider Blenheim-Gilboa (B-G) Visitors Center to be an important venue for regional festivals and a significant community partner in Schoharie County. Housed in a restored 19th-century dairy barn, the B-G Visitors Center features interactive STEM exhibits on the basics of electricity, its uses and the operation of the nearby Pumped Storage Power Project. Lansing Manor, an 1819 Federal-period manor house, is the former home of the second Chancellor of New York John Lansing Jr. It typically offers guided tours of its 10 rooms, which are filled with authentic 19th-century antiques and furnishings.
These unique spaces, as well as outdoor opportunities that include hiking trails, fishing and boating at the nearby Mine Kill State Park, help make the facilities a popular destination for both local groups and tourists. They are part of a larger local effort to provide free recreational assets to the local community through historic preservation and community outreach.
“The B-G Visitors Center and Lansing Manor is foundational to NYPA’s mission of education, accessibility and community engagement,” said Kirby. “Keeping the lights on is not just about buildings and technology. It’s about people, relationships and the kind of face-to-face learning that lets people see the possibility of a future rooted in our local past.”
Bringing 19th Century Landmarks Into the 21st Century
NYPA officials confirmed that they are in the final stages of selecting the contract for the B-G Visitors Center upgrades and finalizing specific project timelines. According to the project scope documents released last fall, renovations include updating STEM and interactive displays that use large touch screens and multimedia, redesigning floor layouts for improved visitor “flow” through the facility and installing modern infrastructure, such as elevators. Contractors are also being asked to upgrade lighting, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, structure and signage to reflect modern clean energy technologies. The bid period for the renovation work ended in December 2025.
Kirby emphasized that the upgrades have been in discussion for some time. The Center itself is a license requirement for operating the Power Project, with upgrades and renovations included in the 2019 relicense for the pumped storage project as recreational commitments.
An historic structures assessment is also being undertaken at Lansing Manor to guide preservation work that was committed to during the 2019 relicense. This assessment, and preservation work, will delay the normal May reopening of the historic home museum.
“We are looking forward to unveiling these improvements to our visitors and the community over the next few months,” said Kirby. “We remain committed to the historical and environmental stewardship of our facilities and these upgrades will be a great example of those commitments.”
Photos by Phil Kamrass, New York Power Authority (May 2025). Courtesy of NYPA.
