Great spiritualist community not to far for a day trip to reconnect with, mind and spirit. Many events are free a certain times throughout the day you can also reserve a spot with a medium for reading if that's your thing some have walk-in sign up sheets if it's just something you want to try on a whim. They also have workshops and classes it's worth checking out there summer activity programs book to see if anything interests you, like a workshop or a lecture. They have accommodations on site to book and stay in, along with many food options, cafes etc and gift shops. It's a fantastic lakeside village of like-minded folks sharing their energy with the masses. read more

It's such a joke. I know one of the mediums. She is a hypocrite, and a liar. Anybody can keep guessing until she gets to the right answer. This is one big money making scheme. You'd be better off spending money on a trained psychologist if you are in such a sad place, that you'd allow some con artist to bring up your spirits and tell you what you want to hear. read more

gate cost was expensive for what was offered, children's playground was run down, dirty, broken toys, not up to code dog poop on lawns, walk through it place is run down, looks as if no effort was put into up keep a lot of money to pay just for lunch came from New Hampshire, very disappointed read more

For the spiritually minded, Lily Dale is a wonderful place. For a gate fee of only $15, come for a day to see the peaceful and healing community that is Lily Dale. From mid June to the end of August there are 7-8 free daily activities to attend around the Lily Dale grounds, starting with the meditation service at 8:30, followed by two daily healing services, three message services, and a service in the auditorium. The outdoor venues, the Forest Temple and Inspiration Stump are outdoor seating areas with thick wooden plank benches. When the benches are dry, message services are given there. The auditorium is the alternative site. During these services mediums deliver messages to some of the attendees, if they want to accept the message. The mediums can be registered mediums with Lily Dale, or visiting mediums. Some of the visiting mediums are learning and some are very experienced. I saw six or seven mediums at the first service I attended and two mediums at the rest of the services. It was the end of their season & I was told usually more than 2 mediums show up for the message services, so the registered mediums weren't showing up at the end of August. There are beautiful trails to walk through, an original growth forest, a pet cemetery, & a walk to a beach at the lake. There's also a fairy trail. There are classes and workshops offered daily, you have to look on the website to see what is offered & plan ahead for the classes you want to take. Classes are priced separately. I think there were three or four places to eat including a really great coffee shop. There is also a picnic pavillion with picnic tables under a roof for shade next to a beautiful green lawn, so those who want to can bring a picnic lunch. The buildings are old and may need a little maintenance, but everything is safe. You get a feel of time slowing down here. Walk the streets to see the cute old Victorian era homes, many with signs out front advertising the mediums who live & work inside. The colors of the houses & flowers are so bright & vivid in the clear air. Some of the houses are kept up & some are run down. All are very old. Remember, this is a community owned by the Spiritualist Assembly. Houses are owned by members through a ground rent / home ownership system. If you want Disneyland sterile, go to the toney and woke Chautauqua Institution. For a very high vibration, one of the places on earth where you just feel better, visit Lily Dale. Plan your visit ahead of time using the website. There is some accomodation made for the disabled, but if you have lots of difficulty getting around the trails or buildings or are extremely large, don't blame Lily Dale. It was designed as a camp in the 1800's. For a private session with a medium, plan ahead & make an appointment. Some mediums book up weeks in advance. Look on the website. If you really don't believe, don't waste your time visiting. If you know there is more to life than this earthly consciousness, this is a great place to visit. read more

Recommended for: those with an interest in Spiritualism, History, or a get-away for the day in a peaceful and serene environment. The entire grounds will leave you feeling like you stepped away from the world for a day and really are in a different kind of place. The first time I came to Lilydale was as a kid with my mother. The first time I came on my own as an adult, the gate fee was $8. Now it is $15. Am I that old? Anyhow, the gate fee gets you entrance to the grounds and admittance to the daily healing and message services and well as some of the weekly events. Others have small additional fees. There are also several shops to poke around in and leave with some unique souvenirs or beautiful gifts. Workshops and other events are offered through-out the year however, the season for the entire grounds with the daily and weekly events, runs Memorial Day to Labor Day. Accommodations on the grounds including several guest houses and two hotels. Over a decade ago, my ex and I stayed a night at the Maplewood Hotel which has been continuously operating since the late 1800s. If you enjoy history, you can walk the grounds and read the signage on several of the homes that have history to share. There is also a small museum but I never seem to remember to stop there during the hours that it is open. Additionally, there are a few places to eat. And of course, there are mediums living here. It is recommended that you call and book in advance but you may be able to walk around the homes and find some with a sign indicating that they are open for readings. I recommend walking through the woods to the stump and sitting in at the healing temple service even if you feel that healings and messages aren't really your thing. Both possess an incredibly serene and meditative environment that I think anyone can appreciate and enjoy. read more

Lily Dale is a little artists village made up of psychics. Very interesting place. They offer workshops and whatnot for those spiritualists to hone their skills. Founded in the mid-to late 1800s the architecture is quaint. It costs $10 to get into the village during the summer months. We visited during the off season, so it was free. Not much to do, but it's a nice place to slow down, be quite and open your mind to new possibilities. Things to do in town include: Fairy Trail - cute woodland trail with fairies along the way Inspiration Stump - where locals meet regularly for services Few shops Get a reading - a must - we saw Patricia Bell, psychic to the stars, who was excellent read more

I've been to Lily Dale four times in the past 8 years and each time it has been a very enjoyable experience. I've generally had great experiences with mediums I've seen while here but have twice had an issue with an appointment I scheduled for a travel companion. Some of my more memorable readings have been with Lynne Forget, Sharon Hill, and Willa White. As far as places to stay, my favorite's are Angel House and Jewel of the Lake. I had a supernatural experience with spirits while staying in both guest homes. The best advice I can give people who are planning to travel here is to look at all of the available mediums and go with your gut about who you have a good connection with. Definitely book them in advance of your visit as some of them are in high demand. Make sure you check out the Bargain Shoppe and Crystal Cove for books, collectibles, and unique gifts. I always pick up a trinket or two to remember my visit. There are some great places to eat in Fredonia, and Niagara Falls are close enough to drive to (great outlets there too!). I would advise staying at least two nights in Lily Dale and seeing two different mediums. I always receive different messages from loved ones and leave feeling loved with a sense of peace. read more

Great place to spend a day in nature and connect with Spirit. During season (Last Weekend in June to Labor Day) there is a gate fee and lots of activities. Off season there is a peacefulness that you can enjoy. During the off season the best day to come is Sunday's when there are church services and on the 2nd Sunday there is an awesome brunch and mini readings available. There are Mediums there year round, but best to schedule your appointment ahead of your visit as bookings going quickly day of. read more

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This is a great place to venture out to in the summer. I'll second everything the other reviewer said... This place is totally cool. A friend and I took a workshop on honing your own psychic abilities. It was really interesting and mind-opening. Each time I have come here I have gotten a mini-reading just by chance and it's been really neat. But keep an open mind. If you're not receptive to this type of surrounding, you probably won't enjoy it. read more

In it's 134th year, Lily Dale Assembly is the world's largest centers for spiritualism. Believer or non-believer this charming town can offer just about anyone a little something. The town offers: Over 100 mediums, spiritualists, psychics, or whatever you prefer to call them. - By appt only. (Readings can be done year round, but summer is the their hot season) Quaint cafe's and coffee shops Pet Cemetery Fairy Trail w/ gnome houses along the trail. Inspiration Stump Workshops Lakefront beach Museum I lost my sister & nephew earlier this year. My brother in law & I scheduled a reading with Gretchen who was kind and receptive to our needs. Without getting into too many details, we were both able to find comfort in our session. Bring an open mind and take it for what it is. Lilydale is a nice way to spend an afternoon doing something a little off beat. Just know that the fee to enter this gated community is $10/ person! read more

We came here expecting peace and tranquillity. What we found was a run down, tired and sad place. The houses that are occupied are in great need of repair and the roads were a mess. I didn't feel anything mystical, the reading my friend got was all fishing questions, and the Angel House where we stayed was a rundown mess. I didn't feel peace or energy. I felt sad and disappointed. read more

If you have any spiritual beliefs, and are in the Brooklyn area, visiting Lily Dale is worth the drive out. Located on the edge of a lovely lake, the little community has a front gate manned with a friendly someone who will charge an entry fee per person to drive in ($10 when I was here) and give you a program of current events. Once you enter, there are lots of homes where psychics and mediums whose skills have been vetted by this community live. They offer readings by appointment, usually in their homes. There are also little gift shops, a cafe, outdoor sitting areas with stump or chair seating, geese and ducks, squirrels, a lakeside meditation area, a chapel, and a little beach with a dock for paddle board or kayak or boat access. Walking around the town is a sweet experience. If you go to the Lily Dale website, you can see the list of mediums and psychics, with their own websites and bios, so you can schedule readings ahead of time. The program that you get when entering the gate shows the address for the professionals' homes so that you know where to go for your reading. I highly recommend coming here to get a reading or just wander around and appreciate the sweetness of this town! read more

We took a girls day trip to Lily Dale. It was such a fun day! There is about a $10-$12 fee at the gate. That will allow you entrance for the whole day. If you are interested in getting a reading, I would definitely recommend scheduling in advance. It's also helpful to do some research on the mediums. They each have individual profiles listing their specialties on the websites. The prices that we noticed for a reading can range from $50 up to $200. You can have readings done in groups or one on one. We had a group reading done. While we didn't' really get the best out of it, we still really enjoyed ourselves! We mostly went for fun! Lily dale is so charming! The houses are all beautifully painted and very well taken care of. Their is even a cute beach, that is worth visiting! We took part in the service at the Inspiration Stump. This happens multiple times daily. Their is a calendar on the website, with the specific times listed. The Inspiration Stump is demonstrations of multiple mediums, giving short readings to members of the audience. No one in our group was chosen but it was still very enjoyable and interesting to sit in on! We also loved the Fairy Trail. This has pink fairies marked on trees, along the trail. You look for fairy houses, gnomes and small fairy villages along the way. Absolutely adorable! There are shops and dining in Lily Dale to pop in to. I would definitely recommend checking this cute place out! We had so much fun the entire day! read more

Spent 2 1/2 amazing days in Lily Dale and I can't wait to go back next summer. I want to write specifically about the campground, because I couldn't find any reviews of it before I went and I admit I was a little skeptical. But it was the perfect place to stay! Located through the main gate and on the outskirts of town, it was near the ball fields and playground. I had a wooded tent site with a BBQ grill, water, a picnic table and electric for $22 a night. There were clean ports poties (wheel-chair accessible) nearby and a bathroom/shower house a short walk. The shower wasn't the most modern thing ever- but it is a campground. As a woman camping alone I felt perfectly safe and comfortable walking back at night. Lily Dale was the quietist human-inhabited place I've ever visited. read more

Lily Dale Assembly - Tent in the woods - Churches Near Me - Lily Dale, New York

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Just came back from my first time at Lily Dale and wanted to leave my impressions and observations both positive and negative 1. I felt that the $15 entrance fee per person was well worth the price of admission The fee includes access to the grounds, parking and most services. The town is the most adorable whimsical place with cute decorated houses and unique stores. The nature trails, meditation gardens, lake access, labyrinth and inspiration stump are so gorgeous and and worth the admission fee alone. I appreciated the placement of many benches on the trails and throughout town where one can sit and enjoy the magical surroundings. 2. Had a nice lunch at Lily Cafe but noticed that this is the only restaurant with seated indoor dining. There were only two restaurants in town opened during my visit Lily and Sunflower Cafe. I understand that there use to be more restaurants and a coffee shop but they had closed down. Would have been nice to grab a good cup of coffee and to have had more options. 3. Was able to partake in 3 different free readings two were held at inspiration stump and one at Forest Temple. The first two readings at the stump and Forest Temple were cold call where the medium when called upon would pick about 3-4 people and read for them. There was one or two registered Lilydale mediums, a visiting medium and a student. The mediums sit off to the side and I noticed them looking at the audience and some were even jotting things down in a notebook. When it was their turn to read it seemed like the medium already had the people picked out and what was strange was that many of the same people were selected for messages at both inspiration stump and the Forest Temple. These readings seemed to resonate very well with the people receiving them and I am thinking that these people must have had a strong spiritual presence to be picked out twice. The third reading at the stump everyone that wanted a reading filled out a paper and names were drawn by the medium and a reading given. Although I found this method to be more fair and inclusive to obtain a message I felt that these readings seemed to be the least accurate with both Lily dale mediums and visiting mediums. It seemed at times like they were caught off guard and were grasping at straws to provide information. Not sure why this occurred but perhaps no spirits were coming through for these people? 4. You have to be open and receptive to the messages coming in with no expectations. You might wish for your mother to come through but will instead get a deceased friend or pet. I heard a couple complain when they did not get the messages for a specific person they wanted and this is not the mediums fault. They cannot make someone come forward. Overall I felt that the mediums were very good and did provide detailed information that seemed to be true to the person receiving them. I had a very nice time at Lily Dale and would definitely like to come again in the future. read more

This has been the world's largest center for the science, philosophy and religion of spiritualism for over 134 years. It's an old peaceful place to wander with exceeding friendly people and above all totally unique, unlike anywhere else or any other type of experience. Though I'm not into any of it, I couldn't help but be at least amused, curious and interested in their discussions on clairvoyance and lectures given by spiritual healers, mediums and the like. It's one of those unique places, off the beaten path, somewhat out of the way but offering an experience that few ever get to witness and, when you leave, you will leave with having had a most memorable visit. read more

It's like taking a step back into time into a quaint Victorian village. The lake is beautiful, the food is amazing anywhere you go! A definite stop especially if you want a good reading from one of the many certified mediums who live in LD! read more

I have been to Lily Dale 3 times, each time was a great experience. The people are really nice. They have some great guest speakers and wonderful mediums. I had Stephane Tericheck , AMAZING....Willa White is also a great channel....We stayed at the Angel House...very nice people own it and the rooms are very reasonable and clean. They have a nice sunporch that wraps around the house. Its darling. read more

Wonderful trip back to the 19th century Spiritualist Revival days. The architecture is quaint and you must be a registered psychic medium to live in this quaint, wonderful place. The Maplewood Hotel is airconditioned in at least two rooms, so book your room early. Go for a swim in the wonderful Cassadaga Lake too, and stay for a religious service. Check out the 'precipitated art', including the embroidered sheet by the Fox sisters, who didn't eat or drink anything for months at a time. read more

You won't believe it until you experience it. # lilydale #messageservice By the way, my bf and I both love the food there in Lucy's Cafe. The spinach and tomato pizza/quiche were both much better than what we expected! And the dressing of the cucumber and tomato salad made this salad nothing more than amazing !!! read more

I've been coming here for about 10 years now with my mom & sometimes we have family or friends tag along for the ride. My mom and I try to come to Lily Dale once or at least every other year. Ever since we 1st came here, it's been like a calling to return again & again. We can't get enough of the energy here ! It's positive & you feel wonderful just being here. I love Lily Dale Assembly :) read more

Visiting Lily Dale was an interesting experience. A little town made up of mediums and spiritual healers. It's very quaint and beautiful there in October (during the off season). It's peaceful and just relaxing there. The people are all very friendly and welcoming. Had a couple readings and was very satisfied. Niagara Falls is only about an hour away. read more

In the words of Randy Jackson: "yea, that's gonna be a no from me dog." Save your money, save your patience. Don't go here. This used to be a really fun place to go when they didn't charge you $15 per person just to enter the community. Go to the stump readings, you'll get a good laugh out of them from the inaccurate BS they come up with. Go get a reading, and good luck finding someone who's not a complete phonie. The food at the Sunflower Cafe is mediocre at best. The shops are cool to go through but could be considered over priced. The buildings are fun to look at. They're original structures that are full of rich history. The forest is really peaceful and beautiful, but I can go through forests for free everywhere else in NYS. I think that this would be a more interesting place if they did more for the $15 they charge you to enter. They should have tours, ghost walks, something - anything more. They should also probably check up on their phonie mediums every once and a while to make sure that they're not ripping off their customers. Let me tell you about my experience this week with the "renowned" medium that charged me $90 for 30 minutes. She sits me down, takes my $90 in cash, and starts with a prayer. All good so far. Then she starts talking about someone by name who I've never met. I am told by her that I am close with this person and they'll yell at me this week. Again, don't know anyone by this name or description whatsoever, never have. But ok. Then she goes on to ask me my age, occupation, reason for being there, marital status, etc. and begins telling me these miraculous things based on everything I just told her as if she was truly speaking with the dead...(she would turn her head and go "Okay okay I'll tell her" in a very ridiculously over-acted way). I was stunned. I sat there in shock as she just said the most ridiculously obvious things. She then took a good 15 minutes of the session to just talk to me about her life growing up and advice her mother gave her instead of "reading" me. I wanted to ask for my money back but didn't have the heart. It was the biggest rip off I've ever encountered. I no longer believe in Lily Dale. I know there is true talent out there, but this place is full of scam artists. Do not waste your time unless you're interested in the history of Spirituality. read more

I'm always looking for proof of life after so-called-death, but Lily Dale is more and more into "cold readers" who want to give you advice based on the colors of clothes you are wearing. True Mediums do exist here, but there is too much laziness going on. Its ruining the perception of the Spiritualist Church. Consumers are not stupid. No one wants to be confrontational, so no one challenges the "readings", but each "I see a man with large hands" or "a woman who baked you cookies" is a handful of dirt piling on. If you are overweight you'll be told the spirits are dancing and hoping you'll start a new project. I've had real readings with specific information that could not be known, and felt its accuracy, so good luck to you if/when you visit. read more

My cousin reserved readings for her mom for her birthday as well as herself, and invited me and some other people along. When we got there, we found out the place was technically closed- the opening day had been moved to late June because of COVID. Not sure why my aunt and cousin weren't notified when they booked their appointments. Most everything was closed and what was open was a couple of shops with overpriced trinkets. There was nowhere to get food either- their cafe closed awhile back. There are a lot of houses that look abandoned/condemned and the roads are in bad shape. The lack of tourism must have hit this place hard. My cousin and my aunt were able to have their readings- my cousin said hers was terrible but she kept tight lipped and didn't give the psychic any details. My aunt, however, sang like a canary and of course had about 3 different spirits visit her! Apparently this place has been going downhill for awhile- save your money and do something else. read more

I've been wanting to go here for years. I have a strong belief in spiritualism and people on the other side. My best friend and I went this weekend knowing the actual "season" ended Labor Day. Driving into the gates I was already very disappointed. Most of the houses are very run down. The roads are awful. It was not the quaint town I have seen on the documentaries. I did not feel any overwhelming energy. We stayed at the Angel House on the third floor. The carpet smelled like wet towels that had been thrown down and left for days. There were holes under the carpet that I'm sure somebody is going to fall through eventually. I tried to schedule a reading 2 weeks prior to coming to 3 different mediums and none of them got back to me. So I figured I'll take my chances and try to find one when I was there. Only one contacted me back so I made an appointment with her. She was not good at all. Nothing she said rang out to me that she was actually talking to anyone I knew that had passed. As soon as I would say something about myself, which she fished for over and over, she would all of a sudden get a break through. It technically was a therapy session not a reading. I went there with an open heart and an already open mind and going there made me a skeptical person about all of it. The people that live there were not particularly friendly which we chalked up to them being tired after their busy season. Whatever. The man that owns the Bargain shop was very friendly. The trails were very peaceful but I could have went anywhere in upstate New York for that. All in all I won't ever go back. Thankfully Niagara Falls is only an hour away and we went there so not a total waste. Go there instead. read more

This old timey lakeside village is a tranquil and lovely place to spend a summer weekday, weekends can be a bit crowded. The lake is beautiful and the homes are old but charming in a simple, non-Disney way. Most of the residents are members of the Spiritualist Church and a number are there year-round including registered mediums. Once you pay the $15 admission you're free to park, walk around the village and attend free communal healing services and open "readings". The mix at these sessions include registered mediums, visiting mediums and student mediums. Many are spot on and others not so much. There are a few good eating establishments and some on-site lodging. Definitely nothing fancy about any of these, more of a summer camp feel. Private readings are pricy, I haven't had good luck with these but have with the open, communal sessions. Although the mediums' and healers' abilities vary, all seem sincere and committed to their good work. The museum is informational and charming as is the library. Lots of famous people have come to Lily Dale including Susan B Anthony. The place is starting to look a bit worn, I first came here in the late 1960s. Houses are hard to maintain and a number have for sale signs but if you're in this part of Upstate NY and have an open mind it's definitely worth a visit. read more

This place (I really hate to say this) is full of a bunch of people that really do not have psychic ability. First off, paying $15 a person to get into this place is downright ridiculous. How they justify this is beyond me. I've been here four times over many years, and will most likely never go back. The stump readings are so boring because the psychics are downright guessing. No "wows" here. I've gone for readings twice but not in a long time because the "world renown" psychics I've gone to didn't make any accurate guesses. So why do you ask did I go again. I went because the person I was with wanted to go and she had a reading the last two times. This past time the woman charged her $90 for 1/2 an hour. When she got out of the reading she said the psychic was all over the place (most likely searching to find something she could BS about). I knew this would be a waste of money and now the person I went with is finally convinced this place is full of a bunch of BS'ers. Please don't waste you money here and don't let someone take advantage of you like this. Really listen when you go to these psychics, they usually ask leading questions, and you don't realize your giving them something to "guess" about. Also, not many people were there the last two times I've gone, not like the first two times many years ago. I'm sure people are put off by the prices. It was very easy to get a last minute appointment. It never used to be like this, so maybe people are finally catching on. read more

These grounds protect an eternal sense of optimism, that is a 'new age' understanding of very old truth. Hail to its stewards. You are strong protectorates, and I thank you for it. read more

A lovely, calm, and peaceful place to visit. I have had multiple readings and all have been accurate. Everyone seems to be very friendly.

Purchased tickets for the ghost walk 8:30-10:30 Wednesday evening. We arrived at 8:15 and were told that on top of the $20 each that we had already paid for the walk ($60 total), we each had to pay an additional $9 ($27 total) just to enter the grounds. I thought that should have been mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, all three of us were disappointed with the information provided on the walk. It was more how people lived with no electricity or running water than the spiritual aspect we were expecting. By the time the walk was finished, we were unable to explore any of the grounds for architecture or enter the shops because they were long closed. If we had known we had to pay the entrance fee along with the walk fee, we would have come earlier to perhaps see more. I will say the best part of the tour was quiet meditation in the extremely dark forest at the end. I would rather have spent more time there. read more

The area is beautiful and clean. The cost is 12.00 per person. Not a deal, you can go swimming. The bathrooms are very clean. When you walk the streets you feel safe. The various restaurants are excellent ( cash only). The gift shop stores prices are ok. Went to the healing mass very nice but the healers who work very hard and are excellent is unorganized. After mass people can go up. Numbers need to be given out. Cheesy but needed. The stump was held at the assemble hall if you don't sit on the floor chairs you will be ignored. Stay off the bleachers. My reading from the medium was terrible. I was heart broken. 75.00 down the drain. I put it on my charge because she requires a 25.00 deposit. Very said. I will go again but skip the reading. I am not an expert but I have had other readings and this was not good. Another member of a group also had a negative experience. My reader had an opportunity to make it right. She was at the. Stump and when I arrived we made eye contact and nothing. I felt robbed. Enjoy but skip the reading. read more

Sigh. This place is utter tranquillity. Lakeside. Perfect weather. Happy to be back after 40 years.