Vails Gate, New York
Vails Gate is a community of 3,052 people in Orange County, New York.
Why visit Vails Gate
Townapedia lists 41 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 16 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Lower Dock Hill Road Stone Arch Bridge, Moodna Viaduct, Edmonston House and A. J. Clark Store.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 21°F, and about 36 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Vails Gate
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Vails Gate
Vails Gate is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,368 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-New York metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Vails Gate, New York (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Lower Dock Hill Road Stone Arch Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Moodna Viaduct
Bridge · 3.1 mi
Railroad bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks41
Edmonston House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in New York, United States
1042 State Route 94, New Windsor
A. J. Clark Store
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic commercial building in Cornwall, New York state, USA
A. Walsh Stone House and Farm Complex
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic house in Cornwall, New York
Adams–Chadeayne–Taft Estate
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
United States historic place in Cornwall-on-Hudson, Orange County, New York
Amelia Barr House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic house in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York
Belknap Stone House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic house in New York, United States
Camp Olmsted
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Five Points Mission summer camp and retreat in Cornwall-on-Hudson
Carvey–Gatfield House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in New York, United States
Cornwall Friends Meeting House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic church in New York, United States
Cromwell Manor
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic house
Daniel Sutherland House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic house in Cornwall, New York, United States
David Sutherland House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Cornwall, New York, listed on the NRHP
29 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
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Edward Payson Roe Memorial Park
Park · 2.4 mi
Park in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York
Storm King Art Center
Park · 2.4 mi
Open-air museum and sculpture park located in Mountainville, New York
Restaurants and cafes16
Ginny's Sports Bar & Grill
Bar and pub · 1.3 mi
2576 United States Route 9W, Cornwall
Dunkin'
Fast food · Donut, Coffee Shop · 0.4 mi
1002 State Route 94;Route 94, New Windsor;Vails Gate
05:00-22:00
4 more on the map.
History
The locale has always been referred to as a neighborhood of New Windsor. In the 19th century, it became known as Vail's Gate, after John D. Vail, a former postmaster and keeper of the Blooming Grove Turnpike tollgate. For the same reason, it was also earlier called Tooker's Gate.
Vail served as the first postmaster of the New Windsor post office, established on April 10, 1850, being named the Mortonville Post Office. The name was finally changed to Vails Gate Post Office, which led to the apostrophe permanently dropping from the name. Efforts to change the name of the hamlet to Mortonville, after the Morton family, residents of the Ellison House, never occurred.
From the History section of Vails Gate, New York on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship4
Canterbury Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Vails Gate United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist
854 Blooming Grove Turnpike, New Windsor
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries30
Cornwall-On-Hudson Elementary School
School · 2.3 mi
234 Hudson St, Cornwall On Hudson
Gardnertown Leadership Academy Elementary School
School · 5.1 mi
6 Plattekill Tpke, Newburgh
Healthcare2
Horizon Medical
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.3 mi
2570 United States Route 9W, Cornwall
Map of Vails Gate
109 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 21°F | 3.8 in | 11.1 in |
| Feb | 39°F | 22°F | 3.0 in | 7.1 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 30°F | 4.0 in | 9.6 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 40°F | 4.0 in | 0.4 in |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 46°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 36°F | 4.2 in | 0.5 in |
| Dec | 41°F | 27°F | 4.6 in | 7.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for West Point Hcn (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Orange County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-11-15: Jennings Creek Fire (Fire)
- 2023-07-22: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2021-09-05: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-02: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-08-22: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-20: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- New Windsor 1 mi northeast, about 2 min by car
- Firthcliffe 2 mi southeast, about 3 min by car
- Cornwall-on-Hudson 3 mi southeast, about 4 min by car
- Newburgh 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Beaver Dam Lake 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Balmville 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Beacon 6 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Orange Lake 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Gardnertown 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Cold Spring 6 mi southeast, about 9 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Kmart Vails Gate, NY 6 (8293332378), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kmart Vails Gate, NY 5 (8293331742), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kmart Vails Gate, NY 3 (8292278247), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kmart Vails Gate, NY 4 (8293330988), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kmart Vails Gate, NY 1 (8293329500), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kmart Vails Gate, NY 2 (8292277539), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vails Gate, NY United Methodist Church, Nov. 2025, Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vails Gate, NY, The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kmart Vails Gate, NY 7 (8293333138), Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Knox's Headquarters, The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Edmonston House, The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Thomas Episcopal Church, New Windsor, NY, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Scribner House, Cornwall, NY, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Walsh Stone Farmhouse, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- UNION CHAPEL, CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON, ORANGE COUNTY, NY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- ADAMS-CHADEAYNE-TAFT ESTATE, CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON, ORANGE COUNTY, NY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Belknap Stone House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LOWER DOCK HILL ROAD STONE ARCH BRIDGE, ORANGE COUNTY, NY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Amelia Barr House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Canterbury Presbyterian Church, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Thomas McDowell House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- James Squire Patton House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DEER HILL, CORNWALL, ORANGE COUNTY, NY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- AJ Clark Store, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LeDoux-Healey House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wyant-Talbot House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Patrick Piggot House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carvey-Gatfield House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- River View House, Caseycomara, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upland Lawn Cottage, NYTAPPER, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WALSH-HAVEMEYER HOUSE, NEW WINDSOR, ORANGE COUNTY, NY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Samuel Brooks House, Cornwall, NY, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cromwell Manor, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- William Street, Newburgh, NY, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- VERMONT HATCH MANSION, CORNWALL, ORANGE COUNTY, NY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Camp Olmsted gate, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oliver Brewster House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woodruff House, Cornwall, NY, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gatehouse on Deerhill Road, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Daniel Sutherland House, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
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