John Jay’s historic Bedford House is currently closed for historic preservation and restoration work. The grounds are open for passive recreation only. We anticipate a full closure of the site for construction in early 2026. The site is expected to reopen in late 2027 with Bedford House opening shortly thereafter.
Carry-in, carry-out
Dogs
Grills
Horse trailers
Photo policy
Picnicking
Public restrooms
Smoking
Carry-in, carry-out
What does “carry-in, carry-out” mean?
We require that you remove any remnants of what you bring in to the park. For example, if you have a picnic, you must take all your trash with you when you leave.
Dogs
Are dogs allowed?
Yes. Dogs are allowed throughout the park. Leashes are required and must be 6-feet or shorter. Please clean up after your dog. Only service animals are allowed in the buildings.
Grills
Are grills available for public use?
No.
May I bring my own grill to use in the park?
We do not allow the use of grills.
Horse Trailers
I would like to trailer my horse to John Jay Homestead. Is that allowed?
Horse trailer parking is located in the back of the property, close to the maintenance garage. Parking and use of our trails is limited to members of the Bedford Riding Lanes Association. Click HERE for more information.
Photo policy
May I take photos/videos for personal use?
Photography is permitted in all areas of the historic site. We do not allow the use of flash or video within John Jay’s Bedford House.
May I take my wedding photographs/videos at John Jay Homestead?
Yes. We do not require any special permits or fees for wedding photography.
Is commercial photography/video allowed?
Commercial photography/video requires special permission, permits and fees. Please contact our Public Relations Coordinator, Janeen Martin, at 845-889- 3818 or Janeen.Martin@parks.ny.gov for more information.
Picnicking
May I picnic at John Jay Homestead?
Yes. We have picnic and café tables in a number of locations throughout the park. Please note that John Jay Homestead is a carry-in, carry-out facility.
What about group picnics?
Groups of 25 or more require special permits and fees. Please contact the museum office at 914-232-5651 for more information. If you are organizing a group or school tour of the Homestead, picnic arrangements may be made during the reservation process.
Public restrooms
Do you have public restrooms?
Yes. The public restrooms are located in the historic Laundry building. They are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
Smoking / Vaping
Is smoking allowed?
Smoking is not permitted in any of the buildings or within 100 feet of historic structures.
