Meet Alicia, Graham, Philip, and Darren, from Montour Falls, NY

Meet Alicia (Mom), Graham (son, left), Philip (Dad), and Darren (son, right), a wonderful family Montour Falls, New York. Today’s story began with a quick conversation between Graham and our Guest Services Manager, Julian. Graham confidently walked up to the Guest Sevrvices counter and began to chat about his upcoming 3’00p tour. Within minutes, the two were deep in conversation, discussing Julian’s job, how exciting it sounded, and Graham’s own plans for the future. At just 10 years old, Graham already has a clear vision. One day, he wants to take over the family business harvesting black walnut syrup. When he mentioned he would get started after finishing school, Julian smiled and assured him, “Eight years goes by fast.” In that moment, it was clear, Graham is wise beyond his years, and a reflection of the incredible parenting behind him. When Julian & Zoe glanced over at Alicia and Philip, who were watching nearby, smiling and they offered lighthearted apologies for their son’s enthusiasm. However, no apologies were needed. In fact, quite the opposite! Graham’s energy and sincerity lifted both Julian and Zoe after a busy afternoon!

When they’re not inspiring strangers, this family enjoys spending their time together coloring, playing soccer and baseball, and caring for their impressive 100 acres of black walnut trees. While they’ve explored caves in places like Kentucky before, this marked their first visit to Howe Caverns, despite Alicia having passed by many times during her commute to UAlbany.

As Zoe sat and talked more, the family shared something truly incredible. Graham was nonverbal until the age of three. Once he began speaking, his parents joked, they couldn’t get him to stop. Honestly, we’re so glad he didn’t! What we witnessed today wasn’t just conversation, it was beautiful growth, confidence, and a reminder of how far determination, support, and a little bit of curiosity can take you. When asked “What is a small message you would like to share with the world” they replied with “Spend as much time around your family as you can, and make memories while you have the time.” We couldn’t agree more. Thank you so much for visiting!