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Dubbed the crossroads of New England, Chicopee is a city along the 410-mile-long Connecticut River. Located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, Chicopee is named after the 18-mile-long Chicopee River, a Connecticut River's tributary. The city has, according to the U.S Census Bureau, a population of about 55,190 (2021) that was historically dominated by Polish and French Canadians. Today Chicopee City is a melting point of a diverse immigrant population and their cultures living in a cluster of famous neighborhoods there. Chicopee City has plenty of interesting places to visit and things to do for visitors. These include:
Chicopee Memorial State Park
Summer visitors to this lush 562 acres state park with a 25-acre pond will have plenty of recreational activities to indulge in. On the pond, visitors can fish and swim. Nature trails also exist where visitors can walk, bike, and hike all year. The park has amenities like restrooms, grills, paved bike paths, picnic areas, an accessible bath house, and a pavilion, plus a beach wheelchair to ease accessibility. Visitors can also picnic or learn through the educational programs at Chicopee Memorial State Park. From Labor to Memorial Day, weather permitting, the park opens from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and from Memorial to Labor Day, it opens from 9 am to 7 pm.
Cost
- Daily Parking Fee (Massachusetts Residents) $8
- Daily Parking Fee (Non-Massachusetts Residents) $30
Fun Buffet At AMF Chicopee Lanes
At AMF Chicopee Lanes, fun is clustered in one place, and bowling is the signature recreational activity. Couples, groups, party animals, and families with children can visit and bowl at the 40 bowling lanes here. At this spot, there is a state-of-the-art video gaming section with classics like Jurassic Park Arcade, Mario Kart, World's Largest Pac-Man, and more.
There is a sports bar equipped with HD flat-screen TVs where patrons can imbibe a glass of wine and enjoy craft beer and signature cocktails while watching big games. AMF Chicopee Lanes also has a Pro Shop stocking bowling gear like balls, shoes, and bags. Competitive bowling events are hosted for children and adults. The spot also has Wi-Fi and is wheelchair accessible. Burgers, pizza, fries and chicken wings and cookies, milkshakes, and ice creams are available for famished and tired visitors.
Buy And Learn Quilting
Founded in 1999, the Bayberry Quilt and Gift Shoppe, housed in a historic Victorian house, is Chicopee's one-stop shop for everything quilting. Quilting enthusiasts visiting can buy quilted fabrics with eclectic decorations and patterns and quilting supplies. At Bayberry Quilt and Gift Shoppe, month-long visitors can take two hours-a-day quilting lessons on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday that are open to beginners. Each lesson has up to 12 students with two instructors. By the end of the lessons, the target is for students to make at least a throw-sized quilt. Short terms visitors to Chicopee can find out from management if the one-day workshops are available to learn how to make small quilt pieces. For details, one can email the management of bayberryquilts@bayberryquilts.com or call them at (413) 592-9653.
Learn RMS Titanic's History
Visitors fascinated with the infamous Royal Mail Ship Titanic's history can visit the Titanic Historical Society Inc (THS), located at Indian Orchard, 7.4 miles away from Chicopee. Founded in 1963 by historian Edward Kamuda, THS is the main source of information on Titanic and White Star Line, the British shipping company that built the ill-fated vessel. THS also has the Titanic Museum and associated publications, and yearly it hosts Titanic-themed events.
THS also has provided "Titanic" consultants and researchers to filmmaker James Cameron and Robert Ballard, a National Geographic's ocean explorer, plus the History Channel. THS also archives one of the largest photo libraries of Titanic and White Star Line in the world. Titanic Museum has archived artifacts used at the time the ship sunk, like the menu, medals, badges, seat support, postcard, life jacket, lifeboat flag, chair, diaries, letters, carpet fragment, and more. The museum opens from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm.
Cost
- Adults $4
- Children $2
The Polish Center Of Discovery And Learning
The Polish Center of Discovery and Learning is an ethnographic museum that showcases the significant contributions made by Polish people in the U.S. in the past and present. Their contributions have been in the arts, economy, and science fields. Founded at Elms College in February 1999, the center also provides material support and guidance to schools and institutions that plan to introduce Polish topics to their students.
Workshops, exhibits, seminars, concerts, conferences, films, plays, lectures, and other events affiliated with Polish history and cultural traditions in the U.S. and Europe are hosted at this center. Historical exhibits predating 1950, like Polish Solidarity and John Paul II memorabilia and genuine folk art, are displayed here. The Center is open daily from Monday to Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm except on holidays or during bad weather. To find out about upcoming events, the museum's management can be contacted on 413-592-0001 or via e-mail at polishcenter@elms.edu.
Wine And Dine
Chicopee City has food outlets where visitors can wine and dine: These include:
- Rumbleseat Bar and Grille: A variety of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, calzones, French fries, pasta, and salads are on the menu here.
- Leadfoot Brewing: Diverse craft beers are brewed here that visitors can imbibe while touring and learning how they are crafted. Food is also available at Leadfoot Brewing.
- Doc's Place: This is a karaoke bar with plenty of drinks available and is open from 6 pm to 2 am.
- Cana Korean Restaurant: This restaurant serves authentic and mouth-watering Korean dishes and barbeque, plus beverages.
- The Copperline Eatery: A family-friendly diner that serves the best of American foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Munich Haus: From food to drinks, everything served here has a German taste and influence spiced with live entertainment.
Szot Memorial Park
This 69.7-acre recreation park is named after Frank Jacob Szot, a local resident born in Chicopee on March 22, 1896. Szot became a soldier and was killed in action on April 12, 1918, in Bois Brule, France, during World War I, making him Chicopee's first resident to die in the war. Szot Memorial Park has two tanks from World War I, and World War II, and visitors love taking their pictures there.
At the park's entrance is a memorial fountain honoring those who served in World War I. There is also a memorial bench honoring Andrew Balut and other Polish war veterans. Before visitors picnic at the lush Szot Memorial Park, they need to get permits costing $5 to $15, depending on residency status. They can contact Chicopee City Hall, which manages Szot Memorial Park, on 413-594-1400 to get more details.