Niagara Falls: New name for new 'Crow's Nest'

Majestic view & experience of world wonder now known as Cataract Stairs and Overlook

√ Former ‘Crow’s Nest’ rebuilt, expanded; $12 million project improves safety – and enhances Maid of the Mist experience

Visitors to the U.S. side of Niagara Falls have a breathtaking new view of the mighty waterway.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for the Prospect Point overlook formerly known as the “Crow’s Nest.”

Now called the Cataract Stairs and Overlook, the section offers a closeup view and experience of Niagara Falls.

Located alongside the American Falls, the Cataract Stairs allow visitors to climb next to the falls and experience up-close views for a one-of-a-kind experience. The project includes a new overlook located within 35 feet of one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders. It will also help alleviate pedestrian congestion around the Maid of the Mist.

Rising approximately 180 feet, the Cataract Stairs provide a non-mechanical, alternate route out of the Niagara Gorge, enhancing visitor circulation and safety. During a portion of the off-season, the stairs will provide two-way access to the overlook.

New York State Parks Regional Director Mark Mistretta

••••••••

“Today we are here to officially open probably one of the most interesting and challenging and impactful projects that we've done here in a long time: the extension of the ‘Crow's Nest’ staircase right behind me,” New York State Parks Regional Director Mark Mistretta said at a press conference right next to the entrance. “Our entire team is so excited about this new feature.”

Mistretta explained, “Back in 2019, we had a problem. The project was first born out of the need for health and safety concerns. Our visitors were queuing down below for very long durations in the hot days of summer. Some people even fainted. It wasn't a situation that we were happy about, and the problem was we had no release valve down there, other than relying on the mechanically run elevators that were always crowded. We knew we had to solve this problem. We knew we could do better.

“In addition to that, we also saw the awe and the joy of people that literally walked the ‘Crow's Nest,’ came up and back, and what a wonderful element that was. We thought, ‘What if we could have people walk the entire way up the gorge, and on the way up, get a view of the falls that is unlike anything else anyone's experienced?’ So, we did that.”

Mistretta added, “I can stand here and tell you how incredible the experience is. But until you get down there yourself, you cannot appreciate it.”

Maid of the Mist President Christopher M. Glynn

••••••••

Maid of the Mist President Christopher M. Glynn said, “This is another banner day for Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls, U.S.A., and the local tourism industry, the result of a working partnership. Congratulations to Gov. Hochul and New York State Parks on this great addition to Niagara Falls State Park. Our investment in this innovative project will further enhance the Maid of the Mist experience and for park visitors. It will also take some pressure off of the elevators, which return our guests to the Observation Tower – especially on holiday weekends, starting with this Labor Day weekend. Starting today, we have a new Niagara Falls tourist attraction, unlike any other.”

Mistretta said the State Parks team researched the term “Crow’s Nest,” but couldn’t find any historical or geographical significance. They discussed potential name changes and came up with “Cataract Stairs and Overlook.”

“We, here in Niagara, know that the cataract is just another word for a very large waterfall or a huge rush of water,” he said. “Cataract is also an acknowledgment of the history of this place that ties us all together. We got the Cataract City; we got the Cataract Commons down on Old Falls Street; we have the Cataract Hotel … and now we have the Cataract Stairs.”

He noted, “During my 40 years of doing projects, there may have been none more challenging than this one. It is a dynamic environment down there: always changing, always moving. Raw. It's raw. It's cold. Rough winters didn't help us. Did you know that, during any given winter, you could have 15 to 20 feet of ice built up over those stairs and railing? Talk about design challenges. And the geology was not our friend, as we changed drilling procedures and stone layouts and walls and steps. We changed them in real time, right there. It was pretty remarkable what our team did. But, in the end, we could not ask for a better project: 163 new stairs for a total of 274 stairs from top to bottom, and one awesome overlook.”

The project cost $12 million. It was covered primarily by New York State Parks, with additional seed money from the Maid of the Mist Corp., The Niagara River Greenway, and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

This “Crow’s Nest” was closed for two seasons to facilitate its renovation.

City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino

••••••••

City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said he was walking down with Councilman James Perry and observed, “So many people from so many different places and cultures” visit. “I said, ‘This is where the world meets.’ And now, with some of the great work that State Parks has done, the addition of ‘Above the Roar’ at the Welcome Center, and now this addition, this season has seen an incredible commitment from State Parks to help make the environment down here more interesting and exciting for our guests and our visitors.”

Work was performed by Mark Cerrone Inc.

GM/Managing Editor Joshua Maloni contributed to this report and took the photos.

The ribbon is cut!

From left: Saladin Allah, director of community engagement at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center; Restaino, Mistretta and Glynn.