The Legacy of Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn

I love to celebrate the seasons and especially the harbingers of spring. Before the tree frogs sing and the ramps emerge, the maple trees are the first things to wake up from their winter slumber. This time of year is right when they start to push sap into their trunks and branches.

For 57 years Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn has limited their schedule to the period in which the maple sap runs. On average, their dining room is only open mid February through mid April. That is by far the shortest season for any restaurant in the region and perhaps the state.

Dave Hunt has made it a priority to visit Cartwright’s for their buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup for nearly 50 years, and has some fascinating family connections to that area.

Dave Hunt

I sat down briefly with him to learn more about why he’s been committed to visiting this Western New York staple for nearly five decades.

We talk about everything from the legacy of Hunt’s Hardware, to why he loves that annual trek to Cartwright’s.

If Dave’s words have you feeling inspired to visit Cartwright’s for the first time, know that during the week there’s usually a shorter wait. On weekends, the line for a line table can often be up to an hour long. When I visited this on a weekday mid morning, I was able to get right in with no wait at all.

You may also want to prepare to bring cash, because Cartwright’s doesn’t accept debit or credit.

More Maple Syrup

Beyond pancakes and waffles, maple syrup is also a locally produced sweetening agent for baking and cooking in general.

The Genesee Country Village & Museum will have their annual Maple Baking Contest on March 21, encouraging both sweet and savory entries. Our local living history museum (one of the largest in the country) has their annual Maple Sugar Festival the last two weekends of March. During those two weekends members of the NYS Maple Producer’s Association host special events.

For more information on those events, visit the Maple Weekend website.