Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the completion of an $800,000 expansion and enhancement project at Triple R Camping Resort in Franklinville, Cattaraugus County. Headlining the improvements at the resort is the creation of a new spray pad water park called the LeeKee Lagoon. The project was supported by a $106,812 Market New York capital grant from I LOVE NY/New York State's Division of Tourism, awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
“New York's tourism industry creates jobs, stimulates spending and economic growth, and is vital to building back the state's economy,” said Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi. "The new LeeKee Lagoon at the Triple R Camping Resort in Franklinville gives visitors another great reason to explore the Chautauqua-Allegheny vacation region and enjoy all the activities and attractions the area has to offer. I LOVE NY looks forward to promoting the new spray pad as the latest amenity for visitors to consider when planning a memory-making New York State getaway."
The LeeKee Lagoon at Triple R Camping resort is a truly unique spray pad and interactive play center with water features such as water cannons, water curtains, tipping bucket, 4 lane racing slide and more - tailoring to the 12 and under crowd. Patrons of the campground can also enjoy other recent additions including a hot tub oasis and cabanas, which complement the existing on-site swimming pool. The 39-acre campground is located on a 69-acre site and offers more than 200 campsites, cabin rentals, RV site rentals and amenities including volleyball, basketball, gem mining, shuffleboard, horseshoes, jump pad and multiple playgrounds - to name a few.
Triple R Camping Resort President John Tinelli said, “The addition of the LeeKee Lagoon and Hot Tub Oasis is not just an enhancement to our park, its is the first ever spray pad in Cattaraugus county. This project has already created increased tourism in Franklinville. We now have visitors from Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and as far away as Texas coming to our town and helping to increase business like never before. The project has also boosted sales for other local businesses, as well as ours. We offer a special thanks to everyone at Empire State Development for helping us accomplish such an amazing project for tourism in Western NY. This team is obviously dedicated to putting Market NY Grant funds to work for NY and small business.”
Owners John and Jennifer Tinelli bought Triple R Campground on Bryant Hill Road nine years ago. Since then, the owners have seen about 30 percent growth each year. The Tinelli’s believe that the new attractions will help generate an additional 10,000 or more new reservations each year. Interest in camping had been growing steadily prior to the pandemic but saw aggressive growth across the U.S. last year as more people sought local, outdoor experiences that provided room for social distancing. The 2021 North American Camping Report shows that more than 86 million U.S. households consider themselves campers, and 48 million of those households took at least one camping trip in 2020 – up more than six million from 2019.
Located about 50 miles south of Buffalo in the foothills of the Allegany Mountains, Franklinville provide visitors with a wealth of outdoor experiences, including golf, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, paddle boarding and kayaking, while dozens of nearby shops and restaurants offer small-town charm. For more information on your next New York State vacation, please visit www.iloveny.com.
Senator George Borrello said, "Triple R. Camping Resort draws visitors from around the country. This water park enhances Triple R's draw as a tourist destination, exposing more people to the natural wonders and beauty of Cattaraugus County. It makes a great camping experience better and will boost business across the region. Thank you to Empire State Development and the state Division of Tourism for supporting this project."
Assembly Member Joseph Giglio said, “The expansion and enhancements at Triple R Campground, using funds available through ESD’s Market New York Grant, provide unique activities for visitors. These improvements will allow visitors of all ages to fully experience the natural beauty of our region while enjoying amenities available at Triple R Campground. Tourism is a key to jumpstarting our regional economy, especially in the height of the summer travel season. Local businesses support one another as travelers explore other attractions and activities, dining opportunities, shopping, and more. The positive effects of this investment are incredible for Franklinville and surrounding communities.”
Franklinville Town Supervisor Bob Breton said, “I congratulate the Tinelli family on the grand opening of the new water park at their Franklinville campground. Every tourist attraction that is added in the area benefits all the local businesses looking to cater to new and returning visitors. This project gives people yet another reason to enjoy all our beautiful region has to offer.”
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Hochul’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
