Many of the 75 or so people at the recent 13th Annual Catskills History and Preservation Conference at the Liberty Museum & Arts Center were shocked to hear that the Sullivan County’s heralded resort industry has been in decline since 1965.
That’s not unusual. Most newcomers – and even some old timers who should know better – find it hard to believe that the county’s heyday was over by the mid-1960s. Many cite the existence of dozens of hotels in the 1970s as proof that it couldn’t possibly be so.
And yet these days most historians who have done any research at all agree that the Golden Age of Sullivan County’s tourism industry, which began around 1940, came to an end around 1965, and they cite a number of reasons for choosing that particular year.
For one thing, a fire at the Prospect Inn in Parksville on August 11, 1965 resulted in the death of five people, and caused a clamor to tighten up fire codes for resorts, many of which could not afford to make the necessary improvements. Smaller resorts – the bulk of Sullivan County’s 538 hotels during that golden era – began to close down. Those that could make the necessary upgrades found themselves hopelessly in debt.
Many establishments had already invested capital they didn’t have in trying to keep up with the larger hotels in the increasingly competitive Catskills tourism market. In fact, by 1966, this disturbing trend had become so obvious that it caught the attention of the New York Times.
Reporter Homer Bigart outlined the phenomenon in a September 5, 1966 article with a Loch Sheldrake dateline, entitled “Keeping Up With the Grossingers Strains Many Catskills Hotels,” using the occasion of the Labor Day weekend – traditionally one of the busiest of the year for Sullivan County resorts – to visit a number that had closed down or seemed on the verge of doing so.
“A singular hush, betrayed only by the occasional romping of crickets or the stomping of a stray hen on the greensward, fell this Labor Day weekend on the rococo precincts of the New Roxy Hotel,” Bigart wrote.
“Gone were the glamorous, fun-loving vacationing crowds of former seasons. A rancid smell of decaying food filtered down the carpeted corridors from the kitchen. An eerie silence ruled the lobby, mocking a notice forbidding card-playing and another that urged, ‘Sign Up Now for Talent Night.’”
The New Roxy had closed in mid-August that summer, “the latest in a long list of casualties among the medium-sized hotels in the Catskills, hotels accommodating 200 to 700 guests,” Bigart noted. The end had actually come the previous year when the hotel’s owners were forced to sell to a group of orthodox Jews who changed the entire complexion of the place.
The Fleischers, the hotel’s owners, had borrowed over $700,000 in an effort to successfully draw vacationers to their resort. At the time of the sale, the Fleischers were in debt to their laundry for $28,000, their butcher for $26,000, and their grocer for $11,000.
“Trying to keep up with the prosperous giants like Grossinger’s and the Concord, they have gone heavily into debt for Olympic swimming pools, indoors and outdoors, ornate lobbies and glittering nightclubs,” Bigart wrote.
He quoted an unnamed South Fallsburg banker and lawyer who pointed out that “many of the smaller hotels are in trouble because they are obsolete,” and could not afford to modernize to “meet today’s more luxurious standards, like baths in every room.” Also, he said, the lure of more glamorous places like Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Europe, were attracting more and more of the traditional Sullivan County vacationer.
Bigart also reported that in Loch Sheldrake, where there had been 42 hotels “ten years ago,” there were now only 12. He visited the Loch Sheldrake Inn, Goldberg’s, and the Overlook, each of which had recently closed. In Swan Lake, he stopped by Paul’s, once one of the county’s premier resorts, “which last year advertised ‘An Unforgettable Family Vacation,’ (and) is now Daytop Village, a private institution for the rehabilitation of narcotics addicts.”
Some larger resorts, such as the Waldemere in Livingston Manor and the Flagler in Fallsburg, had filed for bankruptcy protection. Abe Rosenthal, manager of the Waldemere, specifically blamed the hotel’s financial problems on the “new fireproof building costing $2 million” built after a fire three years before had killed three guests.
And former Flagler owner Jack Barsky cited debts incurred for his new Empire Room nightclub, a new indoor pool and a new lobby for putting that hotel– once the most prominent of the Sullivan County resorts– into receivership.
Although the Sullivan County Hotel Association maintained that “despite some attrition among ‘obsolete’ hotels, the resort industry was in excellent shape,” it was apparent that the heyday had passed. In 1967, the Youngs Gap in Parksville, once one of the county’s largest and most innovative hotels, closed, and by 1968 the Times was reporting that a number of smaller hotels, “unable to keep pace with the large establishments and their newer, plush accommodations,” had begun taking in campers. One such hotel, Sokolow’s Mount Vernon in Summitville, had torn down walls in some of its outer buildings in order to provide large recreation rooms for visitors to use on rainy days and had added roadways, electrical connections, and plumbing hook-ups to campsites.
“If the plan at the Mount Vernon works out,” the county’s Director of Parks and Recreation, Joe Purcell, was quoted as saying, “there is no doubt that owners of some of our smaller hotels will enter the camping business.”
Evidence enough that the Golden Age had come to an end.
Photo: The New Roxy Hotel was one of several Sullivan County resorts that closed during the 1966 season, signaling an end to the regions Golden Age of Torusim.
In the early ’60s we used to visit my maternal grandparents each summer when they stayed in the Edgewood House, a large boarding house in Parksville. My father hated being with his in-law for the week but my brothers and I, ages 9 to 14, enjoyed the surrounding woods where we loved to turn over rocks to see creepy things and pick up little red efts, which you could almost call cute. We also would go into the hamlet where a general store was a wonderland of cool things and pinball machines had all the mesmerizing attraction of today’s video games. For real adventure, we’d walk along the railroad track watching out for a train that never showed up. Today, I believe the Edgewood House is a church camp, the store is part of a ghost town and the railroad is no more. Perhaps the best metaphor is that Route 17, which used to run right through the hamlet is now bypassed, all because the single traffic light on that interstate had to be avoided.
I always thought that the “golden age” of the Catskills was the 1950s 60s and 70s. That was when millions of Americans stayed at the hundreds of bungalow colonies and hotels in the area. Most were in Sullivan county and Ulster county. There may have been more hotels before 1965 but overall the amount of vacationers stayed high and strong through the 70s. The best and most exciting part of the Catskills came during this period. It was said That the Catskills was hotter than putting present day las.vegas and Atlantic city together. A new phenomenon by the 1960s was that the Catskills didn’t just appeal to the mostly Jewish clientele but to many other people around the country and worldwide. Hotels like the world famous concord was a “must” for many people into the 1980s. Its sad that the era came to an official end after the closing of kuthshers country club in 2014. Impossible to fathom.
My experience up in the Catskills started in 1965 And has continued to last. My current choice is the new villa Roma. I’m told that a new world class hotel is currently being built where the concord used to be. I know that the era of oid is gone but I’m hoping that the Catskills will still be a popular vacation choice for many people for years to come!
Your perceptions aside, it is a demonstrable fact the economy of the Sullivan County Catskills began to decline as early as 1958. Of course, the resort industry was so big and there were so many hotels and so many visitors, it took a few years for anyone to notice. County officials became aware of the trend at least as early as 1962 by which time the so-called “Kennedy slide” had caused a nationwide credit crunch and economic downturn so the area wasn’t alone. That doesn’t mean that all the hotels were impacted equally, some continued to grow well into the 1970s and even a few beyond that, but by the mid-1970s, as many as 500 hotels had already closed down since the heyday in the mid-1950s.
Thanks for your insights on the Kennedy slide… have not heard of that. Would you say 1951-1953 — was the rise– and 1957-1960 the demise?
That would probably be about right. !953 was the year the NY Times reported there were 538 hotels, 1,000 rooming houses and 50,000 bungalows in the S.C. Catskills. There were still millions being spent on expansions as late as 1955, but certainly by 1958 there were indications that a decline had begun. It wasn’t necessarily a straight line decline, but rather one of ups and downs through 1965, at which time the decline became more precipitous. Of course, many of the hotels continued to grow well beyond that, but by then small and medium size hotels were closing in droves.
Very interesting writing what happened to Geronimo
Does anyone remember a resort owned by the Rosenbergs
During the fifties or Shustons resort in Livingston manor?
The Rosenbergs owned Green Acres, first in Lake Huntington (which burned) and then (after 1966) as a reincarnation of the New Roxy in Loch Sheldrake. One member of the family also operated the Olympic in Fallsburg/Woodridge.
Does anyone know the address of the holiday hotel in loch sheldrake ny ? Wanted to visit the where I hD so much fun as a kid
John, could you please tell me what currently is located on the site of the 50 hotel call the New Roxy located in Loch Sheldroke New York and Thanks
The New Hope Community, which is a residential facility for the developmentally disabled is now operating on the site of the New Roxy. As indicated in the article, the New Roxy closed in 1966. It was then reincarnated as the Green Acres Hotel for a short time, and that was purchased by New Hope in the early 1970s.
Our family and extended uncles, aunts, and cousins stayed at Shustons Resort. There was as may as 50 of us at a time for a week or long weekends. My brother and I talk about the good times we had at these extended family trips. As time marches on families stopped getting together at Shustons as we all went on to college (we out of state), military, and family passed away. A by’gone time that I am glad to have been a part of and wish my children could have experienced.
Does anyone remember The Woda’s Hotel in Swan Lake. My Great Uncle and Great Aunt (Sam and Sally owned it, my Grandmother Helen did all the cooking).
Hi John my family owned the Young’s gap hotel did u know my great grandma Anne holder and my great aunt& uncle Dotty & Frank Spector? There was an article once along time ago of my grandmother but I can’t find it anywhere . Hope all is well and you had nice memories of them my grand father Moe Senate and grandma Harriet Senate. I miss it terribly Craig dobelle.
Thank you for your comment. I am sorry I did not personally know anyone connected to the Youngs Gap, nor did I ever visit the hotel, though my wife, who grew up in Liberty, did. From everything I have read and heard over the years, it was an innovative resort, and one of the best managed of all the Catskills resorts. Thanks again for taking the time to write.
Do you know what happened to the Kranas Family (Shirley is the daughter) who owned the Leroy Hotel in Loch Sheldrake? I spent my entire childhood summers there (age 3 – 17) and I can remember it as if it was yesterday. I believe the community college is now on the grounds. Please email me at mnewmark@plllp.com. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
My parents took me to the Young’s Gap in about 1944 after my summer camp closed because of a Polio epidemic.
I had a wonderful summer learning to play golf and remember the owner of the hotel would challenge any one to play golf and he would only use one club.
s Saltzman
Hey Craig how are you? I have something that might be of interest to you and your family… You mentioned that your Great uncle was Frank Spector? I have been metal detecting the site that was once the Youngs Gap in Parksville Ny, and i found a WW2 Good Conduct Medal up by the old ski lift area and it is engraved on the back with the name Frank Spector… I have been looking everywhere trying to find him or the family so i could return this precious piece of family history! Please feel free to email me ASAP so i can get it to who it belongs!! Thank you….
Hi John.
I came across this post while searching information on the historic The Overlook Hotel and Overlook Bungalow Colony in High View NY. Do you know where I can find any info pictures amount of suites and units?
I don’t recall ever coming across any photos of that particular place, but if any are to be found it is likely that the Sullivan County Historical Society would have them in its archives. Contact Fred Fries at the Society… ffries@scnyhistory.org. Best of luck.
My family rented a bungalow there in 1951. There were only 12 bungalows as I remember it.
Has anyone heard of Woolfe’s Bell-Aire Country Club in Parksville?
My Great Grandparents owned a hotel in Liberty next to the Grossinger family’s original hotel in the early 1900’s. I believe it was called the Liberty House. Unfortunately, all my relatives with knowledge are no longer alive. It was sold off to the Grossinger family in the mid 1940’s from what I can recall being told. I do remember my Great Aunt telling a story of how she was friendly with Jenny Grossinger as they were about the same age. My Great Grandparents were friendly with Selig and Malka Grossinger as they were Austrian immigrants too. Too bad they sold before the Borscht Belt took off.
I was fortunate to have stayed at 3 bungalow colonies in Accord. Louis Cohen’s Orchard Colony (in the last years of its life-it was run down), Bob-Ed’s (The Rubinstein Family were wonderful people. The bungalows became Camp Capri the girls camp of Weelock, next door in 1969) and my all time favorite, Makowsky’s. The Makowsky Family will always have a special place in my heart. It was a great place for those of us escaping Brooklyn. It was by far the largest bungalow colony and it still has one of the greatest pools! Not to mention that I learned how to drive the Farmall and cut grass courtesy of Milton Makowsky. Have to say that was pretty special for a 10 year old kid! It was 24 hours a day of fun! I won’t go in to detail of buying beer at 13 in Maltz General Store in Alligerville for 99 cents. Those were the days!
Today, Louis Cohen’s has three bungalows and the main house still standing. The barn is gone but the silo still stands. Across the road was the luncheonette. The sign used to say Hood Ice Cream Orchard Colony Luncheonette. All gone today. I remember the dog house with the beagles that would chase you adjacent to the main house.
Bob-Ed’s became Camp Capri and then the property was sold to NYC firemen. The structures are all standing just like it was 1965. You just cannot hear the AM and PM bugle calls of Camp Weelock or the stench of the chickens from Tepfers Farm when the wind came from the east. It was Mike Rubinstein that taught me how to swim. He was the lifeguard and his Mother, Edna ran the camp. It was a neat place. As a really little kid, I would hound Bob Rubinstein to give a ride in his 56 Ford pick-up or a ride on the yellow and white Cub Cadet tractor. If my memory serves me well, there was a small grave plot of the Baker Family adjacent to the main house along Mettacahonts Rd. We were always amazed on how old the graves were.
Makowsky’s is still going! It looks just like it did in 1969 when I started going there.
My family went to Bob-Ed’s in the late 1960s, so it was interesting to see your post. I’ve searched on the internet and haven’t found much else about this bungalow colony. Are there pictures online or any web links you recommend?
Do you remember Marshall’s? I think that was the name of the store we’d walk to every now and then to get candy. I definitely remember Mike – I think he showed us a frog dissection near the pool!
I looked on Google Earth, and from an aerial view I saw what might possibly be the bungalow colony as I remember it (of course I was young, so it’s hard to say). It’s a loop that’s west of Mettachonts Rd and south of Boodle Hole Rd and I’m wondering if this is it. Do you know the exact location?
Does anyone remember the holiday hotel in loch Sheldrake
I was a camper at Camp Weelock for 2 summers, 1968-1969. I was 13 in 1969, and I do remember the reveille bugle calls for camp, lol ? . What a great time I had up there. There was a large lake on the property, we had color-war which was the highlight of the summer. It was the summer of Woodstock. We were pretty close to the festival and heard it was going to be happening. There was talk initially that they were going to take campers there. But oops that wasn’t happening after awhile. Hilarious. My brother went to Woodstock, he was 6 years older than I.
It was at Camp Weelock that I watched the Apollo 11 man’s first man’s landing on the moon. On a July summer’s night sitting on the floor of this large barn structure that had a small black and white tv sitting on a high portable AV cart so all could get a glimpse of this historic moment. The entire camp was sitting in there watching in awe. Indelible image in my mind forever.
I went to camp weelock from 1965-1972. I am still good friends with my counselor from 1970. I attended Camp Weelock, Camelot and Capri. The Bob-Ed bungalow colony, which later became Camp Camelot the girls camp next to Camp Weelock and then was bought by the firemen, still exists. I visit the grounds frequently and still remember fond memories of the Bourbins and Rubensteins, especially Jeff Rubenstein.
I spent the first 25 summers of my in the Catskills. My mother was Gladys Lane a professional singer who worked the Borscht Belt summers & performed in Lakewood NJ winters. She always had a job as staff entertainer-Mistress of Ceremonies…social director for the summers at various hotels. During my time I can remember Waxman’s Overlook – Loch Sheldrake, The President – Swan Lake, The Ambassador…The National…The Commodore – S Fallsburg, The Paramount – Parksville, The Heiden, The Valley View – Kenoza Lake. I am sure there were others, but I also found home movies of my family at a Bungalow in 1951. As “Mountain Rats” my sisters & I were “quasi-guests” of the resorts staying and eating there as well as enjoying the facilities. It was Heaven!! My fondest memeories are of those many summers. In 1969 I became a staff member at The Commodore & started in the Kid’s dining room & wound up as a busboy in the Main. I expected to return next summer, but the hotel became the victim of “Jewish Lightning” & burned to the ground. I spent the next 5 years at the Paramount. My biggest regret is that my kids were unable to experience the joy I did, as it was all gone. Hope World Resorts Catskills can thrive!!
Has anyone considered a book or driving tour of where all of these hotels were and what is there now? Would be nice. I am reading a summer world which outlines the history of the area.
My daughter goes to Stagedoor Manor Camp in Loch Sheldrake. Does anyone know what hotel used to be there? The main building is clearly an old hotel. Thanks!!
Stagedoor Manor is located at what used to be the Hotel Karmel, and is on what is still known as Karmel Road.
Is anyone familiar with the Lake Plaza Hotel in Parksville. My sister and I spent many summers there with our dad. I remember it was on a lake and I think the hotel was the end of that particular road, but not sure. Also trying to find the Belkins, who used to be the dance team at the hotel. I was very friendly with their daughter, Stephanie. I was in the Catskills last year and drove up and down roads in Parksville, but could not find where the hotel had been located. Is there now something else where the hotel stood??? Thanks much for any info you can supply.
Does anyone know anything about the “Red Barn Resort”? I am told they operated from Mountain Dale, New York. If you do know anything or have any information. Please email me at osaintilien55@gmail.com I would gratefully appreciate it. I am just hoping to find photos of it, or any information that can point me in the right direction, Thanks!
Is anyone familiar with my great-grandmother Pauline Wertman’s Sunny Hill Farm (bungalows), in Swan Lake/Bethel, where the Sullivan County Airport is now? Also Ziegler’s, which I think was also replaced by the airport, but on the Mongaup Valley side, was owned by my great-great aunt Clara Feld Ziegler. Plus my great-aunt Gertie married into the Paul family, of Paul’s Hotel. Would love to hear any scraps of history or memories!