A Fall Exploration into the Catskills’ Past

  |  October 20, 2015
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It’s a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. Once a beloved Catskill Mountains resort in Sullivan County during the Borscht Belt’s heyday, Grossinger’s Resort in Liberty has fallen into a crumbling mess since its closure in 1986. Seeing what it looked like when it was open and what it looks like now isn’t difficult; a quick Google Images search with give you an eye-full. But I wanted to see it for myself. In the fall. During a Halloween. Why? Because I love ruins. I love spooky things. I love the past. I love the Catskills.

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Grossinger’s poolhouse

I finally got my chance last week, during peak leaf-peeping. The drive from Saugerties to Grossinger’s was breathtaking. My neck hurt from constantly rubbernecking the scenery, and we had to stop several times along the way in order to take pictures like this:

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Sundown Wild Forest – Peekamoose Valley

 

And pictures like this:

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Rondout Reservoir Bald Eagle Observation Site

 

But as much as I love fall colors, it was the dilapidated resort that I longed to see. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones. During the course of our exploration, we encountered no less than 7 people there, doing exactly what we were doing: Snapping pictures, breathing dodgy air, hoping to see a ghost or two, even if they’re only the metaphorical kind. One fellow explorer with a camera in his hand offered us masks for the dodgy air and pointed us in the direction of the pool entrance. “Everybody wants to see the pool,” he said.

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Cool Jetsons light fixtures

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To quote Jeff Goldblum: “Life…errrrr…finds a way…”

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A study in contrasts

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Do we recommend it? No. It’s dangerous. The ground floors feel mostly solid, but the second floors and above felt spongy. We risked it and took pictures so you don’t have to. You’re welcome. There were more buildings, but the cuffs of our pants were dirty, and there was only a little bit more daylight left to see sights like this on the way home:

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Peekamoose Valley

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