Each year, the privately owned Burning Springs site in Bristol is open to the public on one or two weekends in the spring. Check our events page for this year’s schedule and our history page for details on this historic site. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the open weekends.
IS REGISTRATION REQUIRED?
No. Come as you are, whenever you want, during each day's open hours. Explore the gardens and the creek on your own. (Fire tenders will be on hand to explain the burning gas in the creekbed.) The only other scheduling to consider is whether you'll attend the 2 p.m. talk each day by the owner, Alan Jones, on this site's fascinating history.
HOW FAR A WALK IS IT?
The flames that we light in the creek are accessible at the end of a flat, grassy path of under 200 yards. If you want to get close to the flame, wear boots or sandals that you don't mind getting wet or muddy. If you're up for a longer hike, feel free to walk up the creek about 30 minutes to the waterfall. The creekbed is flat, but it can be slippery and, yes, wet, but normally the water is only a few inches deep.
IS THIS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?
Yes — not easily, but possible. The history talk is in a garage off a gravel driveway. The gardens are in a flat yard. The path to the first flames in the creek is flat and relatively smooth.
HOW BIG A FLAME IS IT?
There are multiple spots in and along the creek where natural gas bubbles up. You can see the bubbles in the water, and smell sulfur (the gas is odorless). The strength of these gas flows varies; some can be lit on the bank of the creek or even on the surface of the water. Others need the help of a metal can placed over the gas to concentrate it, and then it's lit as it comes out a hole in the top of the can. These are generally small, harmless flares.
WHERE IN CANANDAIGUA IS IT?
It's not! It's in Bristol, but because Bristol doesn't have a post office, the address to plug into your map is: 4348 Case Road, Canandaigua NY 14424. If you're familiar with Bristol Center, on Route 64 on the way to Bristol Mountain, it's about 1 mile from there -- west on County Road 32, and right on Case Road. Parking is in a grassy field opposite the driveway into the farm.
ARE THERE RESTROOMS?
Yes, a portapotty is provided. The farmhouse is a private residence and not open to the public.
WHY ARE DOGS NOT ALLOWED?
We've had some ugly incidents that the owner does not wish to see repeated.
CAN KIDS ENJOY THIS?
Absolutely! The history talk may be a bit much for wee ones, but kids of all ages will enjoy seeing the burning springs and hiking to the waterfall.