The Catskills have long been a center of American leisure and recreation; nothing exemplifies this rich heritage more than the history of the grand Catskill Resorts.
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| The Granit Hotel, circa 1940's |
Initially drawn to the area by the scenic beauty and pastoral natural harmony of life in the Catskills, vacationers seeking refuge from the hectic hustle of daily life in New York City began flocking to area hotels in the early 20th century.
By the 1950’s The Catskills had become synonymous with the American leisure lifestyle. Grand Hotels like The Concord, Grossingers, The Granit, and the Tamarack Lodge gave rise to a unique Catskill culture which drew in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Serving up non-stop meals and endless entertainment, the Catskill Resorts were the training ground for world renowned comedians such as Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Lewis, The Three Stooges, and many others. Other popular performers at the Catskill Resorts included Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, and Barbara Streisand.
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| The Concord, circa 1959 |
By the turn of the 21st century, the realities of a changing world economy forced many of the Catskill resorts to close their doors. Grossingers, The Concord, the Tamarack lodge, and most others have all disappeared.
Incorporating new opportunities for recreation, health and wellness, the few resorts which remain today are going strong, and proudly continue to preserve the rich heritage of the grand Catskill Resort tradition.
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| Formerly The Granit, the Hudson Valley Resort today |
For those seeking the perfect balance of charm and comfort, the Catskills are still King.
Have a memory of the Catskills to share? Comment below, and tell us about it!
Great article- brings back memories of my catskill resort days
ReplyDeleteJust stayed last weekend with the Mrs. and my son at the former Granit, now the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson in Ulster County and enjoyed every minute. It is a magnificent spacious edifice and large beautiful lobby. The hotel staff was superb always friendly and helpful. I especially enjoyed the large swimming pool as I am a lap swimmer. The resort reminded me of being at Grossingers years ago so I am glad the Granit is still in the Catskill Mountains to enjoy. I recommend this establishment and please try out the sauna and spa. Thank you to everyone at the Hudson Valley Resort for a most pleasant weekend stay.
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ReplyDeleteYour article was truly eye-opening and shed light on a topic I was previously unfamiliar with. Thank you for expanding my knowledge and understanding.
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Hello I just wanted to say that the Granite hotel is one of my fondest childhood memories. It brings back heart felt nostalgic feelings. I guess the Catskills was always a magical place for me. As a child we also stayed every summer in a bungalow colony not far from the granite called Shady Maples. I really miss these places. I dream often of them. Thank you for this article. It brought it all back to life for me.
ReplyDeleteWho was the original owner of the Granite hotel
DeleteHello Gina, happy to see your post as I too have fond memories of the Granit. I was there in 1967 & 1968. Any chance this I when you were there because I would love to confirm a few memories
DeleteThe original owners were the Geller family. Max and Ann Geller started with a chicken farm. During WW2, they started renting rooms. It grew from there. The farm disappeared, replaced by a large, beautiful resort.
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