Posted on 08/25/2014 9:42:24 AM PDT by C19fan
Phones on desks, linens on beds, catalog cards spilling out of the filing cabinets—all covered with a fine patina of dust. Neglected for years, and abandoned in seconds, it’s like a modern-day Pompeii in which the earth suddenly reclaimed its souls as they went about their daily business.
But this isn’t fodder for the next Dean Koontz thriller; it’s real, and its 100 miles north of New York City. Sullivan County once boasted 538 hotels and over 50,000 bungalows, but today practically nothing remains of this illustrious, vacationing era, save crumbling towers and abandoned estates.
Walking through the haunting wreckage—thirsty swimming pools filled with garbage, and rows of hotel towers tagged by vandals—it’s almost impossible to believe that area was one of the most important vacation destinations in America for well over a century.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
My theory is that Woodstock had a lot to do with the destruction of the Catskills.
Just like with Atlantic City, the interstates and cheap airfares combined people started to earn enough income spelled the doom for these more locally based vacation spots. Why go to the Catskills/Atlantic City when you can afford to go to say Florida, Yellowstone or overseas?
The article overplays the Jewish victimhood angle. The Catskills were not certainly not just a place for Jews, and the area had many more than just Jewish kids working there, and certainly more than few gentiles spent vacation time there as well - in both winter and summer. Its probably rather a story of how nearly the whole of Upstate NY has turned into Appalachia thanks to decades of “progressive” government.
Then again, deconstructing history along purely racial lines is a very trendy “academic” them these days.
I respect your viewpoint, but in my day, living in Connecticut (60’s + 70’s), the Catskills were referred to as “The Jewish Alps”, by both Jews, and Gentiles, alike ;)
Thanks !
Bump
I’m reminded of “Motel of the Mysteries”
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I understand a lot of Russian mafia types are settling in that area - creating their own communities and taking advantage of the low taxes and population.
There was some pretty good comedians that came out of those resorts. It certainly was something to look forward to during a cold winter as a week’s escape from the hot sticky NY city summer.
Fascinating article, and I can attest to a lot of what is written there. It’s interesting that the enormous cost of new facilities in the ongoing game of one-upsmanship among the resorts is cited as a factor in their decline. That’s what is killing the casino industry right now!
Myron Cohen was brilliant.
Hey, that looks like my mom!
Your theory is wrong.
The Catskills were partially destroyed by air travel becoming cheaper.
The Catskills, as in the hotel industry of the Catskills, was overwhelmingly Jewish. It came into being because Jews were barred from other places in the area.
During my young adult years The Poconos were the place to go. Heart shaped hot tubs and such.
The Concord still offers Golf, I’ve played the Monster.
http://www.concordresort.com/
Some history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Resort_Hotel
I remember from my youth the ads for places like the Mount Airy Lodge. :)
But the Catskills are so close to NYC. And yet still very depressed in general.
I would think real estate should be higher being so close to NYC.
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