Niagara landmark that dates back to mid-19th century receives heritage designation

A popular spot for hikers and sightseers has been declared a heritage property. 

Recently, the Town of Lincoln’s Heritage Advisory Committee and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority announced that Ball’s Falls Conservation Area is officially considered a heritage property. 

Ball’s Falls (located at 3292 Sixth Ave. in the town’s Vineland community) is part of the region’s Twenty Valley area, which is also home to a number of wineries. According to the conservation area’s official website, the Ball’s Falls facility is an award-winning LEED Gold-certified destination that boasts permanent and temporary galleries and interactive displays that explore the area’s history, the Niagara Escarpment and the watershed. 

The website says Ball’s Falls has been maintained to preserve its early mid-19th-century industrial hamlet atmosphere. It still features the original Ball family home, an operating flour mill, a lime kiln, a church, a blacksmith shop, a carriage shed and more.

The falls themselves can be viewed from above or below.

“Ball’s Falls Conservation Area was and continues to be an important site for the Town of Lincoln. From its earliest days of supplying flour to the British troops during the War of 1812, to an industrial settlement, to its present-day use of a tourism hub for the community, Ball’s Falls is an important and fundamental part of how Lincoln was shaped,” said Heritage Advisory Committee Chair Scott Foster in a statement. 

“I’d like to thank the Heritage Committee, the Town of Lincoln, and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority for recognizing its heritage importance to our town and designating the property.”

A special ceremony was held earlier this month to celebrate the official heritage designation, which was passed by council earlier this year. 

The Town says the designation recognizes Ball’s Falls’ architectural, historical, and contextual importance. For generations, it has been a key landmark in Lincoln and the broader Niagara region.

The designation ceremony was part of the grand opening of the 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival, which ran from Oct. 11 to 15. 

“Ball’s Falls is an iconic representation of our community’s rich history,” Mayor Sandra Easton said in a statement. 

“This designation ensures that its legacy will be preserved for future generations while celebrating the historical significance of the site. We look forward to seeing residents and visitors enjoy and learn from this heritage property for many years to come.”