Clayton (New York)

The original residents of this area were Algonquian and Onondaga native tribes, which were followed by Iroquois and by French explorers. US permanent settlement in the area began in the early to mid 1800s, years after the end of the War of 1812 which had been waged at points as local as Sackets Harbor and Gananoque. By 1873, the Clayton Division of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (RW&O, later part of the New York Central) was carrying passengers and freight to Clayton's station and ferry terminal (now Frink Park) from New York City and Boston. At one point, five hotels on different islands were served by steamships based in Clayton. New York's millionaires used the 1000 Islands as their summer playground, building opulent structures such as Singer Castle and Boldt Castle (bankrolled by Singer sewing machine and Waldorf-Astoria hotel barons, respectively). Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in attendance for the 1938 opening of a magnificent international bridge across the St. Lawrence River, which landed at the midpoint of the (then under construction) 1000 Islands Parkway in Canada.
The last passenger train ran in 1951; the tracks to Clayton were removed after the last freight train in 1972. Frink Park now serves as a public venue for performances. Tour boats to Boldt Castle and the 1000 Islands depart seasonally from both Alexandria Bay and Clayton. An international car ferry runs seasonally from Wolfe Island (Ontario) to Cape Vincent.

From Watertown and Syracuse, Interstate 81 northbound leads to the 1000 Islands bridge at Fishers Landing, between Clayton and Alexandria Bay. NY 12 follows the river east-west from Morristown to Clayton; NY 12E continues to Cape Vincent.
The region is accessible by cruising on small craft from the Great Lakes or the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The closest scheduled bus and air service is in Watertown (ART). The closest Amtrak station is in Syracuse.

By boat

• French Creek Marina

  phone: +1 315 686-3621
  address: 250 Wahl St, Clayton
  Marina and campground, launching ramp, pump-out and fuel, air refill for diving tanks (frenchcreekmarina.net).

• Islander Marina and Lodge

  phone: +1 315 686-5574
  address: 500 Theresa St, Clayton
  Marina with seven-room lodge, short-term docking $2/foot per night, under common ownership with adjacent French Bay Marina (frenchbay.com).

• Martin's Marina

  phone: +1 315 654-3104
  address: 28491 County Route 6, Mud Bay, Cape Vincent
  Campground, marina with boat launch ramps.

• Thousand Islands Art Center

  phone: +1 315 686-4123
  address: 314 John St, Clayton

• Thousand Islands Museum

  phone: +1 315 686-5794
  address: 312 James St, Clayton

• Antique Boat Museum

  phone: +1 315 686-4104
  address: 750 Mary Street, Clayton

• Cedar Point State Park

  phone: +1 315 654-2522
  address: 36661 Cedar Point State Park Dr

• Clayton Island Tours

  phone: +1 315 686-4820
  address: 39621 Chateau Lane, Clayton
  Boldt Castle, Rock Island and river tours.

• Clayton Opera House

  phone: +1 315 686-2200
  address: 405 Riverside Dr, Clayton

• TI Fishing Charters

  phone: +1 315 952-6574
  address: 5108 Audrey Drive, North Syracuse
  Charters depart from Alexandria Bay and Wellesley Island.

• Uncle Sam Boat Tours

  phone: +1 315 482-2611
  address: 45 James St, Alexandria Bay

Events

• 1000 Islands Clayton Spring Boat Show

  address: Cerow Recreation Park Arena, 615 East Line Road, Clayton
  First weekend in April.

• Bill Johnston Pirate Days

  address: Route 12, Alexandria Bay
  Ten-day festival, usually second week of August. Entertainment and historic re-enactments, dress as a pirate, a revolutionary or a native. Commemorates the 1838 hijacking, looting and burning of the Sir Robert Peel, a British-Canadian side wheel passenger steamer built in Brockville in 1837. The wrecked ship remains at the bottom of the St. Lawrence (44° 18' 2.4012" N, -75° 59' 10.5612" W) under 125 feet of water.

• Great NY State Food & Wine Festival

  address: Frink Park and Cerow Recreation Park Arena
  Mid June, weekend (Fri-Sun). “Made in New York” food & wine products from across the state, candy and cheeses, nuts, sauces, herbs & spices, maple syrup, apple cider, cookies and ice cream. Held simultaneously with Seaway Splash and Sailing Seaway Clayton.

• 1000 Islands Winery

  phone: +1 315 482-9306
  address: 43298 Seaway Ave, Alexandria Bay

• Clayton Farmers Market

  phone: +1 315 686-3771
  address: Frink Park, Riverside Dr, Clayton
  Farm produce, baked goods and homemade items.

• Coyote Moon Vineyards

  phone: +1 315 686-5600
  address: 17371 East Line Rd, Clayton
  Vineyard open daily except Christmas. Wine & Craft Beer Lounge at 524 Riverside Road, Clayton (686-4030) operates seasonally.

• Aubrey's Inn

  phone: +1 315 654-3754
  address: 126 S James St, Cape Vincent, NY 13618

• Blue Heron Restaurant

  phone: +1 315 649-2240
  address: 12050 NY Route 12E, Chaumont
  Bar and restaurant.

• Captain Jack's

  phone: +1 315 654-3333
  address: 361 Club St Cape Vincent, NY 13618

• Clipper Inn

  phone: +1 315 686-3842
  address: 126 State Street, Clayton
  Seasonal restaurant (and motel) with seafood, Mediterranean, Asian and vegetarian dishes.

• Valley Peetza

  phone: +1 315 686-1200
  Fresh dough pizza, chicken wings, salad. Clayton (955 State St, 686-1200) and Chaumont (11329 Circle Dr, 649-2420).

• O'Brien's Restaurant and Bar

  phone: +1 315-686-1110
  address: 226 Webb St, Clayton

• Roxy Hotel

  phone: +1 315 654-2456
  address: 111 East Broadway, Cape Vincent
  Monaghan's Irish Pub, food and drink year round, outdoor patio, lake and river view. Sixteen-room hotel, five two-bedroom townhouse apartments.

• 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel

  phone: +1 315 686-1100
  address: 200 Riverside Drive, Clayton
  Indoor pool, jacuzzi, fitness centre, 105 rooms, Seaway Grille steak and seafood restaurant, 1000 Islands Bar, seasonal riverside patio.

• Bonnie Castle Resort and Marina

  phone: +1 315 482-4511
  address: 31 Holland St, Alexandria Bay

• Capt. Thompson’s Resort

  phone: +1 315 482-9961
  address: 45 James Street, Alexandria Bay
  68-room waterfront motel. The same proprietors operate the Captain's Inn and suites seasonally.

• Edgewood Resort

  phone: +1 315 482-9923
  address: Edgewood Park Road, Alexandria Bay
  100-room waterfront hotel, dining and banquet facilities, marina.

• Fair Wind Motel and Cottages

  phone: +1 315 686-5251
  address: 38201 State Rt 12E, Clayton

• K's Motel

  phone: +1 315 686-3380
  address: 1043 State St, Clayton
  Motel and cottages, river view.

• Lanz's

  phone: +1 315 686-5690
  address: 40033 NYS Route 12, Clayton
  Motel, cottages and campground, outdoor pool. Seasonal (May-mid Oct).

• Riveredge Resort

  phone: +1 315 482-9917
  address: 17 Holland St, Alexandria Bay
  Conference centre, Holland Street Bistro, tiki bar, transient and seasonal dockage, wi-fi.

• West Winds Motel & Cottages

  phone: +1 315 686-3352
  address: 38267 NYS Route 12E, Clayton
  Seasonal (May-Sept).

• Hawn Memorial Library

  phone: +1 315 686-3762
  address: 220 John Street, Clayton
  Small local library with wi-fi and Internet computers.

• Thousand Islands
• Sackets Harbor