Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
Since 1963
What is your primary product or service?
Environmental Education and Stewardship of our 1,000 acre preserve.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
We have been providing exceptional environmental education programs in the community for 50 years.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
Teatown Lake Reservation’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
We are located at 1600 Spring Valley Rd. in Ossining, NY
Provide detailed directions to your location
Conveniently located 3 minutes west of the Taconic State Parkway’s Route 134 exit. Click here for a map.
Teatown Lake Reservation is located in northeast Westchester County, New York. Our preserve spans three Towns: Yorktown, Cortlandt and New Castle.
Drive from: Approximate driving times (passenger vehicle):
White Plains 20 minutes
Putnam County & Northeast Westchester 20 minutes
New York City 50 minutes
Danbury, CT 40 minutes
New Jersey & Rockland (Tappan Zee Bridge) 30-45 minutes
FROM WHITE PLAINS
To Nature Center
Take 287 (Cross Westchester Parkway) heading west to Exit 3, Sprain Brook Parkway North. Follow Sprain Brook Parkway North and continue straight as it becomes the Taconic State Parkway North. Follow the Taconic Parkway North and exit at Route 134/Ossining. Turn left off the exit onto Route 134. Drive for approximately ¼ mile and turn right onto Spring Valley Rd. Drive for about 1 mile bearing left at the fork/Teatown sign. The Nature Center will be on your right over the crest of the hill. The main parking lot is on your right immediately after the Nature Center.
To Cliffdale
Follow above directions. Once on Spring Valley Rd, turn right at the fork/Teatown sign onto Blinn Rd. Follow Blinn Rd (which becomes Apple Bee Farm Rd.) to the end and turn left onto Quaker Ridge Rd. After approximately 1 mile take first left onto Teatown Rd. Travel past the farm buildings and past the red house. At approximately 0.8 mile, turn left into the Cliffdale Visitor’s Parking Area.
FROM PUTNAM COUNTY AND NORTHEAST WESTCHESTER
To Nature Center
From western Putnam County, take Route 9 South to the Route 9/9A split just south of the Croton-Harmon train station. Bear left at the split towards RT 9A and Briarcliff Manor. At the first traffic light, turn left onto Route 134, heading east. Follow Route 134 for approximately 2 miles (passing the firehouse on your right) and turn left onto Spring Valley Rd. Drive for about 1 mile bearing left at the fork/Teatown sign. The Nature Center will be on your right over the crest of the hill. The main parking lot is on your right immediately after the Nature Center.
From eastern Putnam and northeast Westchester, Take the Taconic Parkway South and exit at Route 134West/Ossining.Turn right off the exit onto route 134. Make second right turning onto Spring Valley Rd. Drive for approximately 1 mile bearing left at the fork/Teatown sign. The Nature Center will be on your right over the crest of the hill. The main parking lot is on your right immediately after the Nature Center.
To Cliffdale
Follow above directions. Once on Spring Valley Rd. turn right at the fork/Teatown sign onto Blinn Rd. Follow Blinn Rd (which becomes Apple Bee Farm Rd.) to the end and turn left onto Quaker Ridge Rd. After approximately 1 mile take first left onto Teatown Rd. Travel past the farm buildings and past the red house. At approximately 0.8 miles, turn left into the Cliffdale Visitor’s Parking Area.
FROM NEW YORK CITY
From the East Side
To the Nature Center
Take the FDR North to the Major Deegan Expressway North to the Saw Mill Parkway North. Follow the Saw Mill and exit onto the Taconic Parkway North. Follow the Taconic Parkway North and exit at Route 134/Ossining. Turn left off the exit onto Route 134 passing under the Taconic Parkway. Drive for approximately ¼ mile and turn right onto Spring Valley Rd. Drive for approximately 1 mile bearing left at the fork/Teatown sign. The Nature Center will be on your right over the crest of the hill. The main parking lot is on your right immediately after the Nature Center.
To Cliffdale
Follow above directions. Once on Spring Valley Rd, turn right at the fork/Teatown sign onto Blinn Rd. Follow Blinn Rd (which becomes Apple Bee Farm Rd.) to the end and turn left onto Quaker Ridge Rd. After approximately 1 mile take first left onto Teatown Rd. Travel past the farm buildings and past the red house. At approximately 0.8 miles, turn left into the Cliffdale Visitor’s Parking Area.
FROM NEW YORK CITY
From the West Side
To the Nature Center
Take the West Side Highway North to the Saw Mill River Parkway North. Follow the Saw Mill and exit onto the Taconic Parkway North. Follow the Taconic Parkway North and exit at Route 134/Ossining. Turn left off the exit onto Route 134 passing under the Taconic Parkway. Drive for approximately ¼ mile and turn right onto Spring Valley Rd. Drive for approximately 1 mile bearing left at the fork/Teatown sign. The Nature Center will be on your right over the crest of the hill. The main parking lot is on your right immediately after the Nature Center.
To Cliffdale
Follow above directions. Once on Spring Valley Rd, turn right at the fork/Teatown sign onto Blinn Rd. Follow Blinn Rd (which becomes Apple Bee Farm Rd.) to the end and turn left onto Quaker Ridge Rd. After approximately 1 mile take first left onto Teatown Rd. Travel past the farm buildings and past the red house. At approximately 0.8 miles, turn left into the Cliffdale Visitor’s Parking Area.
FROM DANBURY, CONNECTICUT
To Nature Center
Take I84 East to I684 South to Exit 6, Katonah/Cross River/Route 35. Off the exit turn right onto Route 35 West. At the intersection of Route 100(4th traffic light) turn left onto Route 100. Follow Route 100 South for approximately 8 miles and turn right onto Route 134. Take Route 134 East for approximately 2 miles. About ¼ mile past the Taconic Parkway turn right onto Spring Valley Rd. Drive for approximately 1 mile bearing left at the fork/Teatown sign. The Nature Center will be on your right over the crest of the hill. The main parking lot is on your right immediately after the Nature Center.
To Cliffdale
Follow above directions. Once on Spring Valley Rd, turn right at the fork/Teatown sign onto Blinn Rd. Follow Blinn Rd (which becomes Apple Bee Farm Rd.) to the end and turn left onto Quaker Ridge Rd. After approximately 1 mile take first left onto Teatown Rd. Travel past the farm buildings and past the red house. At approximately 0.8 miles, turn left into the Cliffdale Visitor’s Parking Area.
FROM THE WEST (NEW JERSEY & ROCKLAND)
To Nature Center
Take the NYS Thruway (Route 87) South over the Tappan Zee Bridge to Route 287 East. Follow Route 287 East to the first exit – Saw Mill Parkway North. Follow the Saw Mill Parkway North and exit onto the Taconic State Parkway North. Follow the Taconic Parkway North and exit at Route 134/Ossining. Turn left off the exit onto Route 134 passing under the Taconic Parkway. Drive for approximately ¼ mile and turn right onto Spring Valley Rd. Drive for approximately 1 mile bearing left at the fork/Teatown sign. The Nature Center will be on your right over the crest of the hill. The main parking lot is on your right immediately after the Nature Center.
To Cliffdale
Follow above directions. Once on Spring Valley Rd, turn right at the fork/Teatown sign onto Blinn Rd. Follow Blinn Rd (which becomes Apple Bee Farm Rd.) to the end and turn left onto Quaker Ridge Rd. After approximately I mile take first left onto Teatown Rd. Travel past the farm buildings and past the red house. At approximately 0.8 miles, turn left into the Cliffdale Visitor’s Parking Area.
What type of payments do you accept?
It is free to hike our 15 miles of trails and to visit our Nature Center. To become a member or to donate, we accept MC, Visa, AMEX and Discover.
Which areas do you service?
Ossining, Croton, Yorktown, Cortlandt, Briarcliff, Chappaqua and Tarrytown
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
We are a non-profit organization with a board of directors.
What are your hours of operation?
Nature Center hours: Sun-Sat, 9:00am-5:00pm
Trails: Open dawn to dusk, 365 days
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
Our programs/trails inspired members of our community to become lifelong environmental stewards.
Contact Teatown Lake Reservation:
