There are resorts, and then there are places that somehow manage to feel like a well-kept family secret even though they’ve been quietly delighting visitors for decades. Peek-n-Peak Resort & Spa, tucked into the rolling hills of Findley Lake, New York — just a short 45-minute drive south of downtown Erie — falls squarely into the second category. If you’ve never made the trip, consider this your official nudge.
I’ll confess that the first time someone suggested I drive south out of Erie toward the Pennsylvania-New York border for a weekend getaway, I raised an eyebrow. Erie itself sits on the edge of a Great Lake. Why would I leave? But Peek-n-Peak has a way of answering that question the moment you crest the hill and spot the property spread out below you — a sweep of green fairways in summer, or a luminous blanket of groomed ski runs in winter. It’s the kind of view that resets something in your chest.
The resort operates year-round, and that’s genuinely part of its appeal. In winter, the ski mountain draws skiers and snowboarders to 27 trails with a vertical drop of 400 feet — modest enough for nervous beginners, varied enough to keep intermediate skiers entertained for a full weekend. Night skiing is available most evenings, which means you can spend the afternoon in the spa, enjoy a long dinner at the on-site Upper Deck Restaurant, and still catch two hours of runs under the lights before calling it a night. It’s an exceptionally civilized way to ski.
Come warmer months, the same terrain transforms into a golfer’s playground. Peek-n-Peak’s 36 holes of championship golf — the Upper Course and the Lower Course — are thoughtfully designed across the natural contours of the hillside, with elevation changes that reward patient play and punish overconfidence in equal measure. The courses are well-maintained, the pace is relaxed, and the views from several elevated tees are genuinely spectacular on a clear day.
Beyond the slopes and fairways, the full-service spa is reason enough to visit on its own. Massages, facials, body treatments — the menu is extensive without being overwhelming, and the staff brings a warmth that makes the whole experience feel personal rather than corporate. Book a treatment, then linger in the relaxation lounge with a glass of something cold and a book you’ve been meaning to finish. Nobody will rush you.
Dining at the Upper Deck Restaurant rounds out the experience nicely. The menu leans into comfort and quality — think well-prepared steaks, fresh pasta, and seasonal specials — in a room with picture windows that frame the mountain view. It’s the kind of restaurant where you order dessert without deliberating.
For Erie residents and visitors alike, Peek-n-Peak occupies a sweet spot: close enough for a spontaneous day trip, special enough to justify a full weekend stay. Pack a bag, point the car south, and let the hills of Chautauqua County do the rest.
