Past Incidents

Chautauqua Volunteer Fire Department officials have declared a small structural fire at the Cambridge Inn, 9 Roberts, on the Institution grounds to be extinguished. Fire investigators are now on the scene. Any damage appears contained to the indoors of the structure.

Residents and patrons should continue to avoid traveling via vehicle in the Bestor Plaza area and by foot in the vicinity of Roberts and South Terrace until emergency vehicles and equipment are cleared.

The Athenaeum Hotel phone system is experiencing an outage following this morning's severe thunderstorms. Please email athenaeum@chq.org rather than call if you have any matters to conduct with the hotel. At this time there is no estimate on when service will be restored.

Residents and patrons are advised that researchers from SUNY Fredonia will be conducting drone flights along the Chautauqua shoreline with the permission of Chautauqua Institution on Friday, July 23, throughout the day, weather permitting. The drone pilot is licensed for this work and will time the flights so they do not interfere with Institution activities at Boys’ and Girls’ Club and other areas that require schedule restrictions. Drone flights on the Institution grounds are only authorized following written permission from Chautauqua Institution.

In addition to docks damage due to heavy rains throughout Chautauqua County over the past few days, there are areas on Chautauqua Institution’s waterfront that are flooded. Patrons are asked to avoid these areas until the water recedes.

Due to sustained rainfall in recent days, patrons of lawn seating at the Performance Pavilion on Pratt for this evening's performance of Hansel & Gretel are advised to wear appropriate footwear and bring chairs rather than plan to sit on the ground. Navigating pathways to all seating at the Pavilion, particularly for those using mobility scooters, may be difficult due to ground conditions.

Children’s Beach is closed today, July 11, due to rain with the potential for thunderstorms.

Given today’s weather forecast that includes periodic thundershowers, Children’s Beach will remain closed today, July 8.

There is a gas line that was broken by construction crews this morning at the new Mandolin Ridge development being constructed across the highway from Chautauqua Institution on Rte. 33. Currently, National Fuel is telling us that there is nothing to worry about and that the odor is not dangerous. We will continue to monitor the situation and let you know if anything further develops. Thank you.

The National Weather Service, National Lightning Safety Institute and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association are three of several groups that recommend evacuation of indoor pools when the threat of lightning exists. At the urging of the Chautauqua County Health Dept, we adhere to a policy of closing the Turner pool and C.I.’s beaches whenever we first hear thunder or see lightning. The pool/beach remain closed until we have a period of 30 minutes without hearing thunder or seeing lightning again.

At present, the Turner pool is closed. Given today’s weather forecast that includes high temperatures in the low 60’s and periodic thundershowers, Children’s Beach will remain closed today, July 2.