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Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center

Stony Kill Foundation (SKF), a not-for-profit group affiliated with DEC's Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, has reached an agreement with the DEC to operate the Stony Kill Farm Center in Wappingers Falls. Under the agreement, Stony Kill Foundation will continue to offer agricultural programs, educational activities and public programs at the Center. The grounds of the center are open from dawn to dusk 365 days of the year. Please contact them by phone at 845-831-1617 or visit www.stonykill.org for information on programs and events.

Portion of Stony Kill Lands Reclassified to Wildlife Management Area

The Department of Environmental Conservation has reclassified the Baxtertown portion of the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center property to a Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The purpose of the reclassification is to make the Baxtertown property accessible to hunters, anglers, trappers, and other recreational users, while keeping in mind its proximity to residential areas and the presence of wetlands.

About Stony Kill Farm EEC

79 Farmstead Lane
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Email Stonykill Farm

Stony Kill Farm EEC is an education center dedicated to enhancing environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world. This facility includes over 1000 acres of rolling country side, farmland, ponds, woodlands, meadows, cultivated fields, and fallow fields. Located in Dutchess County in southeastern New York State, it offers a special setting where visitors discover the delicate interweaving of all living things.

Watchable Wildlife Logo

Wildlife to Watch:

Hours

Grounds:

Open daily from sunrise to sunset (even on state holidays)

Visitor Center Office Hours:

  • The Visitor Center is currently closed due to the closing of Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center

Barn Open:

Contact the Stony Kill Foundation for the Open Barn times

Help Us Protect the Center's Resources

Visitors to DEC's environmental education centers should become familiar with the regulations governing the use of the centers as found in the New York State Register and Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR). Go to DEC's Use of Environmental Education Centers page to see the regulations concerning centers; visit the Regulations and Enforcement page for other regulations regarding the use of state land .

Please remember that the following are prohibited:

  • Bikes, skateboards, and motorized vehicles
  • Taking or releasing plants or animals
  • Hunting, trapping, and fishing
  • Pets and horses
  • Alcoholic beverages and glass containers
  • Camping and campfires

Please stay on designated trails to protect the environment for all visitors.

Please dispose of trash and recyclables in appropriate containers.

Facilities

Manor House Visitor Center (CLOSED)

View of historic Manor House with fall tree scene.
Manor House

Finished in 1842. The area around the Manor House includes a perennial garden, herb garden, picnic tables, trail head, and parking.

The Learning Center (CLOSED)

The front entrance of the Learning center in winter
The Learning Center

This "green" building was constructed from the ground up for energy efficiency, resource conservation and building sustainability. Some of its features are geo-exchange heating and cooling, recycled building materials, and window placement for optimum natural lighting.

Farmstead/Barn (Contact Stony Kill Foundation for days and times the barn is open)

photo of historical barn at Stony Kill Farm
Historical Barn

The farmstead includes a 19th Century barn and farmhouse, an 18th Century Dutch stone house, a greenhouse, workshop, comfort station, pond, picnic area, and community and raised bed garden plots. The community garden plots are leased seasonally through the Stony Kill Foundation, Inc., and the raised bed gardens are for people with disabilities and obtained through the Verplanck Garden Club, Inc.

The classroom inside the barn was added in the 1980's and is used today for education programs, events as well as meeting space for other organizations. Today the barn houses beef cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens, and these are important teaching tools for the education programs offered to thousands of people who visit Stony Kill Farm throughout the year.

Tenant Farm House

On the National Register for Historical Buildings, the Tenant Farm House was built in four sections. The south-east portion is original and dates back to the late 1600s-1700s. The north-east corner (second section) was probably added in the 1700s, while the south-western portion was constructed in the early 1800s as well as the wood ell on the northwest corner.

Historical Tenant Farm House at Stony Kill Farm EEC
Verplanck Tenant Farm House

Until 1836, most of the Verplanck property was leased to tenant farmers. Through these leases, the Verplanck ensured their land would be properly managed.

Today, the Tenant Farm House is open to the public only for historical interpretation and special events. The Stony Kill Foundation is seeking money through grants and donations to restore the structure.

Accessibility

An accessible path at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
An accessible path at Stony Kill Farm
Environmental Education Center|
International Symbol of Accessibility

Accessible parking and a wheelchair accessible trail is located near the Visitor Center. Other accessible features include raised garden beds and a barn with farm animals and a classroom.

A full list of DEC's accessible recreation destinations is available on the DEC website.

Directions

A pleasant drive through New York State's Hudson River Valley brings you to the rolling countryside of Stony Kill (Interstate 84, Exit 11). Approximately 1 1/2 hour north of Manhattan and 2 hours south of Albany.

From NYS Thruway Interstate 87

Take NYS Thruway to Exit 17 (Newburgh) and follow signs and take I-84 East which takes you across the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. Keeping to the right, take Exit 11 (Wappingers Falls/Beacon) and make a left onto Rt 9D going north. Proceed approximately 2 ½ miles north and Stony Kill is on the left.

From the Taconic State Parkway (TSP)

Take I-84 West to Exit 11 (Wappingers Falls/Beacon) and make a right onto Rt 9D going north. Proceed approximately 2 ½ miles north and Stony Kill is on the left.

From the Metro-North in New York City

Take Metro-North to the Beacon stop and Stony Kill Farm is approximately four (4) miles north from the railroad station.
Metro-North RR: 1-800-638-7646 & Beacon Taxi: (845) 838-3605

See Google Maps and enter your address for step by step directions to Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center. (This link will open a page outside of the DEC website. Hold Shift down while clicking on the link to open it in a new window.)


More about Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center: