Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel was a resort in the Catskill Mountains in the Town of Liberty, near the village of Liberty, New York. One of the largest Borscht Belt resorts, it was a kosher establishment that catered primarily to Jewish clients from New York City. After decades of activity and notable guests, it closed in 1986. Most of the buildings on site had been demolished by 2018,[1] however a few remained in decrepit condition, and were destroyed in a fire in 2022.[2]
Asher Selig Grossinger moved from New York City to Ferndale in Sullivan County in the Catskill Mountains in the 1900s. There he rented rooms to visitors from New York City. His wife, Malka,[3] operated the kosher kitchen, and Jennie Grossinger (1891–1972), his daughter, was the hostess.[4] They called their home Longbrook House. In 1919, they sold it and purchased a bigger house on 100 acres (0.40 km2), calling it Grossinger's Terrace Hill House.
The indoor pool in 1976
Reportedly, the Grossinger family offered a million dollars to rename the local New York, Ontario and Western Railway train station at Ferndale to "Grossingers", but were rebuffed by competing hoteliers. In 1952, Grossinger's earned a place in the history of skiing as the first resort in the world to use artificial snow.[5]
During the years that the resort was operated by their daughter Jennie Grossinger, it expanded to over 35 buildings. The main building contained an enormous dining room capable of seating 1,300 guests; under the dining room there was a vast, cavernous night club called the “Terrace Room".[6] It had its own airstrip[7][8] and post office. During his fighting days, Rocky Marciano would train at the resort. In 1972, Jennie died and the decline began. By the late 1970s and 1980s, resorts like Grossinger's or the Concord could no longer attract younger guests.
In August 1984, Grossinger's, in its dying years, promoted a Woodstock weekend to mark the 15th anniversary of the festival.[9] It featured a workshop in tie-dyeing, a musical performance by David-Clayton Thomas, formerly of Blood, Sweat & Tears, a midnight showing of the four-hour documentary "Woodstock," and an appearance by John Sebastian, who advised, "Don't eat the purple tzimmes."[10]Abbie Hoffman, who was thrown off the Woodstock stage by Pete Townshend of The Who for making a political speech, was brought in by Grossinger's for the promotion.[11]
Room 7276 in 1977
Grossinger's may be most widely recognized as the Catskill resort that inspired "Kellerman's Mountain Resort" in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.[12]
In 1986, the Grossinger descendants sold the property to Servico.[13] Grossinger's main hotel and main resort areas closed in 1986,[14] but the golf course stayed open until 2017, and was kept maintained. The members of the golf clubhouse called the course "Big G". The golf course clubhouse was demolished in July 2018.[15] Servico failed to reopen the hotel due to the massive costs associated with it. Numerous other companies also failed to accomplish the same feat. It was owned by Louis Cappelli as of September 2013, who was hoping for casinos to come to the area. The Concord Resort was part of the same deal.[16] Demolition of the remaining buildings on the resort started in summer 2018. The last building at Grossinger's was demolished on October 19, 2018. One of the remaining buildings on the property burned to the ground on August 16, 2022. In February 2019, a news report stated that Sullivan Resorts LLC intended to build a "$50 million resort with a 250 room hotel, convention centre, private residences and other amenities.[17] Sullivan Resorts LLC was said to be "a subsidiary of owner Louis Cappelli’s Valhalla-based Cappelli Enterprises". The author of a news item in September 2019 did not seem as certain as to the long-term plan for the property.[18]
Description
Grossinger's in 2015
Like most Catskill resorts, Grossinger's grew over time, evolving from a Victorian hotel, later remodeled with Mission-style improvements, through a Tudor-styled expansion in the 1940s and ending with the construction of Modernist-styled accommodations and entertainment facilities in the 1950s and 1960s. The original building, the former Nichols House, was designed by Frank Cottle, a local architect. Competition from nearby resorts drove the 1940s expansion, expanding the dining room on a large scale and creating the Terrace Room club and the Pink Elephant bar. The Terrace Room was expanded and renovated in 1949 by architect Morris Lapidus: one of his first hotel commissions.[19]
^Gergely, Julia (18 August 2022). "Fire destroys building at Grossinger's Catskills resort, the inspiration for 'Dirty Dancing'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
^Bellamy, Lana (23 August 2022). "Fire at former Grossinger's site evokes memories, questions". Times Union.
^Shepard, Richard F. (November 21, 1972). "Jennie Grossinger Dies at Resort Home. Jennie Grossinger Dies at 80 In Her Resort Home in Catskills". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-11-18. Jennie Grossinger, the gentle Jewish mother who transformed a modest Catskills family hotel into a luxurious resort, died early yesterday morning in a ranch cottage on the vast property the world calls Grossinger's but she called home.
^On This Day: March 25, BBC News, accessed December 20, 2006. "The first artificial snow was made two years later, in 1952, at Grossinger's resort in New York, USA. "
^Freeman, Paul (May 11, 2013). "Grossinger's Airport / Liberty Airport, Liberty, NY". Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
^"Town Troubled By Woodstock's 20th Anniversary". AP NEWS.
^"Archives | The Philadelphia Inquirer". www.inquirer.com.
^Mark, Jonathan (20 August 2008). "Back To The Garden, Just Off Route 17". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com.
^Nir, Sarah Maslin (August 9, 2017). "Owner Hopes to Remake Resort That Inspired 'Dirty Dancing'". New York Times. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
^I am the son of Robert Lehman, the managing director of Grossinger's in 1986-1988 who worked for Servico, and I am the owner of http://www.grossingers.org
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grossinger's Resort.
January 07, 2023
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Grossinger s Catskill Resort Hotel was a resort in the Catskill Mountains in the Town of Liberty near the village of Liberty New York One of the largest Borscht Belt resorts it was a kosher establishment that catered primarily to Jewish clients from New York City After decades of activity and notable guests it closed in 1986 Most of the buildings on site had been demolished by 2018 1 however a few remained in decrepit condition and were destroyed in a fire in 2022 2 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory Edit Grossinger s in 1977 Asher Selig Grossinger moved from New York City to Ferndale in Sullivan County in the Catskill Mountains in the 1900s There he rented rooms to visitors from New York City His wife Malka 3 operated the kosher kitchen and Jennie Grossinger 1891 1972 his daughter was the hostess 4 They called their home Longbrook House In 1919 they sold it and purchased a bigger house on 100 acres 0 40 km2 calling it Grossinger s Terrace Hill House The indoor pool in 1976 Reportedly the Grossinger family offered a million dollars to rename the local New York Ontario and Western Railway train station at Ferndale to Grossingers but were rebuffed by competing hoteliers In 1952 Grossinger s earned a place in the history of skiing as the first resort in the world to use artificial snow 5 During the years that the resort was operated by their daughter Jennie Grossinger it expanded to over 35 buildings The main building contained an enormous dining room capable of seating 1 300 guests under the dining room there was a vast cavernous night club called the Terrace Room 6 It had its own airstrip 7 8 and post office During his fighting days Rocky Marciano would train at the resort In 1972 Jennie died and the decline began By the late 1970s and 1980s resorts like Grossinger s or the Concord could no longer attract younger guests In August 1984 Grossinger s in its dying years promoted a Woodstock weekend to mark the 15th anniversary of the festival 9 It featured a workshop in tie dyeing a musical performance by David Clayton Thomas formerly of Blood Sweat amp Tears a midnight showing of the four hour documentary Woodstock and an appearance by John Sebastian who advised Don t eat the purple tzimmes 10 Abbie Hoffman who was thrown off the Woodstock stage by Pete Townshend of The Who for making a political speech was brought in by Grossinger s for the promotion 11 Room 7276 in 1977 Grossinger s may be most widely recognized as the Catskill resort that inspired Kellerman s Mountain Resort in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing 12 In 1986 the Grossinger descendants sold the property to Servico 13 Grossinger s main hotel and main resort areas closed in 1986 14 but the golf course stayed open until 2017 and was kept maintained The members of the golf clubhouse called the course Big G The golf course clubhouse was demolished in July 2018 15 Servico failed to reopen the hotel due to the massive costs associated with it Numerous other companies also failed to accomplish the same feat It was owned by Louis Cappelli as of September 2013 who was hoping for casinos to come to the area The Concord Resort was part of the same deal 16 Demolition of the remaining buildings on the resort started in summer 2018 The last building at Grossinger s was demolished on October 19 2018 One of the remaining buildings on the property burned to the ground on August 16 2022 In February 2019 a news report stated that Sullivan Resorts LLC intended to build a 50 million resort with a 250 room hotel convention centre private residences and other amenities 17 Sullivan Resorts LLC was said to be a subsidiary of owner Louis Cappelli s Valhalla based Cappelli Enterprises The author of a news item in September 2019 did not seem as certain as to the long term plan for the property 18 Description Edit Grossinger s in 2015 Like most Catskill resorts Grossinger s grew over time evolving from a Victorian hotel later remodeled with Mission style improvements through a Tudor styled expansion in the 1940s and ending with the construction of Modernist styled accommodations and entertainment facilities in the 1950s and 1960s The original building the former Nichols House was designed by Frank Cottle a local architect Competition from nearby resorts drove the 1940s expansion expanding the dining room on a large scale and creating the Terrace Room club and the Pink Elephant bar The Terrace Room was expanded and renovated in 1949 by architect Morris Lapidus one of his first hotel commissions 19 See also EditJewish country clubReferences Edit Gergely Julia 18 August 2022 Fire destroys building at Grossinger s Catskills resort the inspiration for Dirty Dancing Jewish Telegraphic Agency Bellamy Lana 23 August 2022 Fire at former Grossinger s site evokes memories questions Times Union Malka Mollie Grumet Grossinger 1870 1952 www findagrave com Shepard Richard F November 21 1972 Jennie Grossinger Dies at Resort Home Jennie Grossinger Dies at 80 In Her Resort Home in Catskills New York Times Retrieved 2008 11 18 Jennie Grossinger the gentle Jewish mother who transformed a modest Catskills family hotel into a luxurious resort died early yesterday morning in a ranch cottage on the vast property the world calls Grossinger s but she called home On This Day March 25 BBC News accessed December 20 2006 The first artificial snow was made two years later in 1952 at Grossinger s resort in New York USA Ruins of Grossinger s Resort 41 47 59 N 074 42 04 W 41 79972 N 74 70111 W 41 79972 74 70111 Grossinger s Liberty Airport Freeman Paul May 11 2013 Grossinger s Airport Liberty Airport Liberty NY Abandoned amp Little Known Airfields Retrieved 4 August 2013 Town Troubled By Woodstock s 20th Anniversary AP NEWS Archives The Philadelphia Inquirer www inquirer com Mark Jonathan 20 August 2008 Back To The Garden Just Off Route 17 jewishweek timesofisrael com Nir Sarah Maslin August 9 2017 Owner Hopes to Remake Resort That Inspired Dirty Dancing New York Times Retrieved 9 August 2019 I am the son of Robert Lehman the managing director of Grossinger s in 1986 1988 who worked for Servico and I am the owner of http www grossingers org Catskill Archive Grossinger s Grossinger NY www catskillarchive com Grossingerrs Golf Club www grossingergolf net Cappelli unveils plans for Grossinger s recordonline com 21 August 2013 Possible revival of Grossinger s Resort moves ahead Archived from the original on 2019 02 12 Retrieved 2021 03 09 Grossinger s Resort site cleaned up Padluck Ross 2013 Catskill Resorts Lost Architecture of Paradise Schiffer Publishing Ltd pp 134 149 ISBN 978 0 7643 4317 9 Further reading EditJoel Pomerantz Jennie And The Story Of Grossinger s 1970 Tania Grossinger Growing Up at Grossinger s 1975 Richard Grossinger New Moon 1996 External links EditGrossinger s Golf and Country Club still active Catskill Archive Grossinger s Hotel Jewish Virtual Library Jennie Grossinger Grossinger s Hotel Today All Abandoned Grossinger s Hotel in 201041 47 23 N 74 43 23 W 41 7898 N 74 7230 W 41 7898 74 7230 Coordinates 41 47 23 N 74 43 23 W 41 7898 N 74 7230 W 41 7898 74 7230 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grossinger s Resort Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grossinger 27s Catskill Resort Hotel amp oldid 1131958170, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
