Many people wonder what goes on at Chautauqua during the winter and how our team stays busy. You might be surprised by how much happens in preparation for your return each summer. Here’s a brief look at what’s happening while you’re away from your home away from home.

During the winter months, capital projects across the grounds have continued despite snow and cold temperatures. The most visible progress has been at the Greene Family Commons project (formerly Bellinger Hall), where the steel frame was recently assembled, revealing the form of the new entry hall and dining center. The addition will enhance the experience for students who spend their summers at Chautauqua.

Construction has also continued at the nearby Roe Green Theater Complex, where interior framing and drywall are now being installed for new spaces that will house Chautauqua Theater Company. The project includes a new black box theater — the first new performing arts venue at Chautauqua since Lenna Hall was dedicated in July 1993.

In the fall, two new swing sets were installed at existing playgrounds — one behind the Tennis Center at the Turner Community Center and the other in Miller Park adjacent to Timothy’s Playground.

The Institution is currently soliciting bids for restoration of the Smith Memorial Library roof after receiving a grant from New York state through the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. Repairs are also underway on several structural members of the Athenaeum Hotel porch, with additional work planned before the hotel reopens this spring.

Other work across the grounds has primarily focused on interior projects, including replacement of the boiler at the Bookstore and Chautauqua Post Office facility. Smaller projects have included interior painting, furniture design and purchases to support programming and office staff, as well as routine winter maintenance across facilities.

The Institution also completed environmentally sustainable designs for a stormwater management system along Elm Lane, which received grant funding from Chautauqua County. The project is expected to begin once matching funds are secured.

To add to the excitement, there are a few upcoming waterfront projects in the planning phase for the 2026 summer season. These include an addition to the Bryant Dock providing additional on-campus boat mooring opportunities, and installation of new safety “No-Wake Zone” buoys from the club areas down to the Sailing Center. The safety buoys are the result of a generous donation from a dedicated Chautauquan (Thank You!).

Strategic projects that are currently in the “idea phase” include analyzing options to create additional on-campus patron housing that may include multi-family, single-family and rooming house options. You may also recall that we developed a masterplan for the Athenaeum Hotel that included many different possibilities for preservation and improvement of this historic structure. We are currently developing ideas for an early phase of Athenaeum work that may include needed reconstruction of the porch structure, some roof replacements, exterior painting, structural rehabilitations, and other building preservation work. As I said, these strategic projects are only in the early idea phase; we will provide additional information if these project considerations advance.

Our dedicated grounds team has spent many days, nights, weekends and holidays with on-going snow removal this year. We have received nearly 16 feet of snow so far this winter! This snowfall is somewhat normal for us, but the sub-freezing temperatures have persisted longer than normal. The snow and ice accumulations have provided wonderful opportunities for on-campus winter activities including sledding, sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, and ice fishing, complementing the snow-mobile activities and downhill skiing in the surrounding region.

Our talented trades professionals are continuously working on various maintenance and repair projects required every year to keep all of our environmental systems functioning efficiently and addressing work-orders that were requested throughout the year to improve the built-environments as we prepare for our 2026 season.

Even our gardens team is active, maintaining equipment and tools, addressing tree planting and trimming work, making plans and placing orders for varieties of plants, flowers and trees that will be placed in the spring to keep Chautauqua’s gardens and grounds beautiful.

Our housekeeping professionals are very busy with deep-cleaning and polishing work, while maintaining their equipment and searching for the best opportunities to purchase supplies that will be used during our busy spring, summer and autumn season.

In addition to the hard work of Chautauqua employees, there are also several private properties that are having significant work done throughout the winter in preparation for the return of property owners for the summer.

Chautauqua’s venues may be quiet through the winter, but incredible activity continues here throughout the year to help make your season a wonderful experience. We miss you and look forward to seeing you again soon!

Written by Ryan Bougton and John Shedd