Visitors Tips

Plan Ahead

  • We recommend tour reservations at all times.
  • Reservations are required for July, August, weekends in September and October and Thanksgiving weekend; they will guarantee that we can accommodate your visit.
  • If there are several people in your party, reserve at least 2 weeks in advance to avoid disappointment.
  • Sunday in the Country and Twilight Tours often sell out. Reserve as early as possible to guarantee a spot.
  • Consider planning your visit in April, May, or November, when tours are more leisurely. In the early spring, the birds are singing sweetly. In November, the sun bathes Graycliff in gold hues.
  • Tours are extremely limited during the winter months, and are held weather permitting. Please call for tour times and reservations for Yuletide Tours, and for Master Architectural Tours in January, February and March.

On the Day of Your Visit

  • Allow enough time for travel—but don’t over do it! We are located about 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo, or 30 minutes from East Aurora, but at some times road construction will slow your progress. Please call us on your cellphone (716-947-9217) if you are running late, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
  • Picnicking is not permitted on the Homegrounds of Graycliff, but it is permitted in grassy areas adjoining our parking lot.
  • Allow enough time on-site for your tour and experiencing our Pavilion Visitor Center where you will find our museum store and special exhibits. We recommend that you plan to stay with us for at least an hour and a half for basic tours.
  • Come prepared for the weather. Wear comfortable attire suitable for the weather. A portion of your tour will take place out of doors.
  • Expect considerable walking. Please wear comfortable walking shoes! No high heels are permitted at Graycliff due to already completed restoration.
  • Graycliff’s rooms are open for you to walk through with your guide. However, the hallways and doorways are narrow. Large or bulky items such as camera bags, bookbags, or oversized handbags present a hazard to our historic furnishings, collections and woodwork. We will ask that you lock these items in the trunk of your car before your tour. To protect the house, our staff reserves the right to check any oversized items at the front door.
  • Graycliff is a carry-in/carry–out facility. To encourage recycling and reduce odor from waste, we ask that you take you trash with you
  • Pets, other than service animals, are not permitted at Graycliff. Please use caution if you choose to leave pets in your vehicle as this can have adverse affects, especially on hot summer days. Provide as much protection as possible by parking in shades areas and providing ventilation and water. When walking your pets in the parking lot areas, please be sure to use a leash and be courteous of other visitors by cleaning up after your pet.

Tips for Families

  • Graycliff’s tours are not suitable for children under age ten.
  • Older children and young adults may be enthusiastic visitors, or may find the experience beyond their years and interests. You know your own children best; please make your plans accordingly. There is no childcare available for children not taking a tour.
  • Children think Graycliff is cool, with the lake, the cantilevered balconies, fossils, and natural landscape. But please remind them that it is also an historic landmark. Prior to coming, explain that while we want them to love the place, there will be restrictions on what they can touch, fiddle with and sit down on.
  • There are no public restrooms in the house itself, so make sure children take care of business at the Pavilion Visitors Center before starting the tour.