Sturgeon Point Marina – Town of Evans

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Location / Directions / Maps

Location: On the east end of Lake Erie; off of Rt 5; west of the village of Angola and hamlet of Derby; town of Evans; Erie County; New York.

Maps: Google map; Topographic; Interactive map

GPS Coordinates:

Navigational beacon near the beach: N 42.69122 / W 79.04765
Boat Launch: N 42.69158 / W 79.04529
Entrance: N 42.68985 / W 79.04658

Directions: From Buffalo (north): Take the Buffalo Skyway and Rt 5 south through Lackawanna and Hamburg, along Lake Erie for 18 miles. Right after passing Jerusalem Corners Cemetery and the First Church of Evans on your left, turn right onto Sturgeon Point Rd and follow that to the marina.

From Erie/Dunkirk (south): You can follow Rt 5 (Lakeshore Rd.) east to the town of Evans and north of Angola. Turn left onto Sturgeon Point Rd and follow that to the marina.

Use Google Maps.

Parking: There are several small parking lots around the marina, but a lot of spaces are for trailers. The best place to park for visitors in cars, is to head around the left side and park near the picnic area.

A boat and jetski on Lake Erie with the City of Buffalo visible on the horizon.

Weather

ANGOLA WEATHER

Buffalo can be seen in the distance from the beach at the Sturgeon Point Marina

Information / Accessibility / Accommodations

Seasons/Hours: Open from May through October; daylight hours.

Admission: Free to visit. $10 for daily launch pass.

Best time to visit: Summer.

Time: About 30 minutes to walk around.

Handicap accessibility: Some of the paths are. A few parking spots are available. You can go a little bit out onto the pier. The snack bar and picnic areas are accessible.

Pets: Not allowed.

Swimming: No lifeguard. The water here is nothing you would want to swim in.

Boat launch: Yes. A concrete ramp with 2 lanes.

Accommodations: Restroom; beach (no swimming); fully-equipped marina with 217 slips; snack bar with hot dogs and ice cream; picnic area; scenic views; boat launch; shop with ice and bait; nature trail.

A small boat exiting Sturgeon Point Marina and setting off into Lake Erie.

Description

The town of Evans runs this full-service marina at Sturgeon Point, 8 miles north of Angola. The marina and boat launch are complemented by beautiful scenery, a pedestrian pier, picnic areas, and a nearby nature trail. There is a sandy beach along the west side of the property, but when we visited in summer of 2013, it was littered with junk and the water was choked with algae, and reeked of sewage. It’s because of the horrible water quality at the point, we really can’t recommend a visit to the beach here, but if you are in the area, you can stop by for a hot dog or some ice cream and walk the pier out into the lake for a nice photo opportunity. If you are looking for a nice clean beach with swimming, head further south for Wendt Beach Park or Bennett Beach Park.

Lake Earie beach at the Sturgeon Point Marina

History

The marina is built on the former estate of George N. Pierce and his family, who ran the George N. Pierce Co., founded in 1878 in Buffalo, NY. Initially, the company made bird cages, refrigerators, and ice chests, before venturing into manufacturing children’s tricycles, which achieved resounding success. By 1892, it transitioned to exclusively producing bicycles. In 1894, Pierce built a resort-style, Adirondack-style summer home on this site. The property was later sold by the family and became the Sturgeon Point Lodge, a private inn and tavern, changing hands several times before being acquired by the town for storage. The home was destroyed by fire in 1982.

Pierce’s company introduced its first automobiles, the “Motorette” (priced at $950) and “The Pierce Arrow” (priced at $4,000), with the latter becoming one of the most expensive automobiles produced in the US at the time. In 1907, the company divided, forming “The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Co.” for automobile manufacturing, which was moved to a state-of-the-art factory on Elmwood Ave in Buffalo. Pierce passed away in 1910, and the bicycle business was sold to Emblem Manufacturing of Angola, NY. The Studebaker Corporation acquired controlling shares of Pierce-Arrow in 1928, and despite financial difficulties leading to bankruptcy in 1938, the Pierce-Arrow Factory in Buffalo continued production until its closure.

Advertisement for George Pierce bicycles.

Hiking / Walking Trails

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: A few hundred feet along the pier.

Markings: None.

Description: From the parking area, head down to the pier. That’s all there is to this place.

Map: Check out our interactive map.

The entrance to Sturgeon Point Marina, Town of Evans

Sturgeon Point Marina Interactive Map

Fishing

Fishing is allowed at the marina. Fish Lake Erie from the breakwall/pier.

Interesting Stuff

New York State Route 5

Beginning at the Pennsylvania state line in the town of Ripley, State Route 5 spans 370 miles west to east across New York, passing through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady, ending up in Albany. Along the way it overlaps with State Route 20, leading to the common name of both routes as simply “5 & 20.” Several small towns and cities, as well as countless curiosities, eateries, and historic sites can be experienced along its path.

Sturgeon Point Nature Trail

In 2010, the county transferred ownership of 52 acres of undeveloped lakefront property, north of the marina, to the town of Evans. This wooded area has always been an unofficial place to hike, and in 2013 the town began carving out a wider trail and covering it with mulch. A parking area and gazebo have also been added.

Across the Lake

Swimmers and paddlers who want a short run across Lake Erie, usually start at Sturgeon Point and head north to Point Abino, Canada for a total of 10 miles.