Revisiting Two Favorite Catskill Mountain Villages: It’s Roxbury & Margaretville Week!

  |  July 27, 2015
The Roxbury via theroxburymotel.com.

The Roxbury via theroxburymotel.com

Why do the villages of Roxbury and Margaretville continue to intrigue us? For starters, both are in Delaware County (Roxbury north, Margaretville south). With its rural, relaxed charm, wide open spaces sandwiched between dramatic mountain views, and myriad recreational opportunities along the East Branch of the Delaware River, Delaware County continues to climb its way to the top of our go-to list for Catskills exploration. And while Google Maps indicates that it takes about 20 mins. to drive between Roxbury and Margaretville, they feel more distant from each other. It could be that while Roxbury village’s claim-to-fame is the ever-hip, ever-stylish Roxbury Motel (depicted above) that draws in downstaters as well as other upstaters and has helped put Roxbury on the map. Meanwhile, Margaretville is most famous for floods and the subsequent damage inflicted, and we don’t think that’s fair. Both Roxbury and Margaretville have a definitive village center that’s walkable. Both have notable historic architecture that we’ve found ourselves geeking out over, like Margaretville’s Bussy Building, a late 19th century Victorian landmark in the center of the village, or Roxbury’s Kirkside Park, which is home to some beautifully-restored historic properties. Both are close to outdoor fun. Roxbury is close to Plattekill Mountain, the Catskill Scenic Trail, and John Burrough’s Woodchuck Lodge. Margaretville is near Belleayre Mountain and the Pepacton Reservoir. Both are on the East Branch of the Delaware River. Both have a housing market with affordable, attractive stock that lends itself well to second home ownership. So this week, let’s celebrate Roxbury and Margaretville together.

Oh, and by the way, can we call them Roxy and Maggie for short?

margaretville bussy building

Bussy Building, Margaretville.

About Kandy Harris

Kandy is a writer and musician/music teacher living in Saugerties, NY.

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