After a weekend fire caused extensive damage to the once popular resort another fire broke out early Wednesday morning We reported that on the morning of Saturday, January 11, 2025 a fire broke out at the site of the Nevele Grand Hotel. According to the MSN report the two-alarm fire did extensive damage to the historic resort According to Ulster County Fire Services Deputy Director/Fire Coordinator Michael Gaffney the fire was reported at 6:39am in the main building that housed the main lobby Assisting fire departments fought the fire all day long til just after 5pm. A police investigation is ongoing, and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control. Postings were all over Facebook over the weekend, including one of the fire in the Sullivan County Post group A new fire reportedly started at the Nevele Property on early  Wednesday morning, Jan. 15 according to a posting at 4:45am by the Ulster County Fire/Rescue Incident's Facebook page Gallery Credit: Karolyi Gallery Credit: Karolyi After a weekend fire caused extensive damage to the once popular resort, another fire broke out early Wednesday morning.\nRead More We reported that on the morning of Saturday, January 11, 2025 a fire broke out at the site of the Nevele Grand Hotel. According to the MSN report Assisting fire departments fought the fire all day long til just after 5pm. A police investigation is ongoing, and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control. Postings were all over Facebook over the weekend, including one of the fire in the Sullivan County Post group A new fire reportedly started at the Nevele Property on early  Wednesday morning, Jan. 15 according to a posting at 4:45am by the Ulster County Fire/Rescue Incident's Facebook page Home of the Free Beer & Hot Wings Morning Show The Nevele Country Club opened in 1901 but once this property became the Nevele Grand Hotel in the 1950's it was known as one of the great Borscht Belt resorts of the Catskills NY to vacation year-round until it closed in 2009 Over the last decade-and-a-half the Nevele Resort became abandoned and has suffered 2 devastating fires The most recent blaze occurred Saturday January 11 Take a look at the moment the Nevele was abandoned and time just stopped WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property According to Syracuse.com this latest fire started in the main building of the Nevele Grand Hotel where guests of the past would find the theater This marks the second major fire at the former resort in less than a year Take a look at these pictures and video of the Nevele Grand Hotel For 108 years this resort welcomes guests for skiing boots and skates were still resting in the rental office as if they are waiting to be used again As you scroll through the pictures you will see the old theatre This is a shot of a portion of an 18-hole golf course that is unrecognizable today For the second time in less than a year the abandoned Nevele Grand Hotel caught fire. Take a look back when time stopped for this Borscht Belt Beauty.\nRead More According to Syracuse.com By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org A Jewish nonprofit executive argues for a contemporary successor to the Catskills where families can be together in a low-key way as I stood in the ruins of the Nevele Hotel memories flooded back despite the devastation around me roofs have caved in throughout the property and not a single piece of carpet or wood paneling remains — all stripped away by years of looting The grand ballroom where my grandmother once insisted on the best table in the house is now a dangerous shell The room where my extended family held our seder is exposed to the elements every piece of the glass window in shards on the ground though that didn’t stop me from making this pilgrimage particularly as I visited in the week after my grandfather’s death The image of my grandparents greeting their nine grandchildren at the Nevele’s doors each year remains etched in my mind as the highlight of our family calendar This wasn’t high-end luxury — it was something far more valuable: authentic Jewish family experience For generations of Jewish families, the “Borscht Belt” hotels in New York’s Catskill Mountains weren’t just vacation spots — they were the cornerstone of family life. My childhood Passovers at the Nevele, one of the last to close in 2009 created the kind of memories money can’t buy: cousins running wild through hidden tunnels and unexplored rooms and entertainment that launched careers of scores of Jewish comedians Today’s family vacations often involve expensive resorts or carefully curated experiences The closing scenes of “Dirty Dancing” captured this shift perfectly — as the characters lament that kids don’t want to come to the Catskills anymore preferring fancy European vacations instead That 1987 cinematic eulogy to the Borscht Belt proved prescient Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in a famous scene from the original “Dirty Dancing” from 1987 But what we’ve lost in the decline of the Catskill hotels is something uniquely valuable: spaces designed for Jewish families to simply be together where Jewish culture wasn’t an add-on but the very foundation of the experience In an era of increasing isolation and digital distraction The ruins of these once-vibrant hotels remind us of what we’ve lost But they also point the way forward — showing us how to create spaces that prioritize family connection Jewish community and the kind of unstructured time that builds lasting bonds It’s time to reinvent this model for a new generation Significant obstacles confront any attempt to revive the Catskills model Real-estate costs in today’s market dwarf those of the Borscht Belt era while insurance and liability concerns make family-friendly facilities increasingly expensive to maintain with its expectations of constant connectivity makes extended family stays challenging to coordinate Any new venture would need to navigate these financial and logistical hurdles through innovative funding and operational models But these remain limited in scope and scale compared to the year-round Most operate only during peak seasons and can accommodate relatively few families at a time What might a modern interpretation look like Imagine season-long communal residences where families could book recurring weeks or weekends throughout the year creating consistent community rather than one-off vacations Consider converted summer camps that transform into multi-generational spaces during school breaks complete with kosher dining halls and shared Shabbat experiences Picture affordable time-share arrangements specifically designed for extended Jewish families with flexible spaces that accommodate both private family time and community gathering These new spaces could blend traditional elements — communal dining rooms entertainment venues and plenty of unstructured spaces for kids to explore — with modern amenities like co-working spaces for parents who can’t fully disconnect and teen lounges that thoughtfully integrate technology They could offer programming that spans generations: storytelling workshops where grandparents share family histories cooking classes that pass down traditional recipes and spaces for both organized and impromptu music and performance but as vital centers for building the Jewish family memories of tomorrow JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent I accept the Privacy Policy A two-alarm fire over the weekend caused extensive damage at Nevele resort property in Elenville The Nevele Grand Hotel in Ellenville, New York was sold to 11 Arrow LLC in September of 2023 for $5 million. The sale is part of a plan by Somerset Partners, a New York City-based developer that revealed big plans for the future of the former resort in 2023 which included demolishing the former hotel and to build a new facility with lodging and a housing development with 126 units Its the second fire in less than a year to happen at the property. On March 19, 2024, a fire destroyed the winter lodge, the oldest building on the property. Postings were all over Facebook over the weekend, including one of the fire in the Sullivan County Post group The Nevele dated back to the days of the Borscht Belt “Nevele” is “Eleven” spelled backward — according to lore — after the eleven nineteenth-century schoolteachers who discovered a waterfall within the present-day property had eleven children from 1880 to 1906 and the name might have come from that instead The hotel closed in 2009. A June 2020 report indicated that the "buildings remain falling apart and with no future of reuse .. there are plans to tear down the remaining structures on the property and turn it into a sports complex." The property included a once-highly-regarded 18-hole golf course  and a 9-hole golf course The 18-hole course has fallen into disrepair while the 9-hole is being operated by Honors Haven as the Fallsview Golf Course A two-alarm fire over the weekend caused extensive damage at Nevele resort property in Elenville, NY.\nRead More The Nevele Grand Hotel in Ellenville, New York was sold to 11 Arrow LLC in September of 2023 for $5 million. The sale is part of a plan by Somerset Partners, a New York City-based developer that revealed big plans for the future of the former resort in 2023 Its the second fire in less than a year to happen at the property. On March 19, 2024, a fire destroyed the winter lodge, the oldest building on the property. Postings were all over Facebook over the weekend, including one of the fire in the Sullivan County Post group Oh no the nevele is on fire 🔥 what’s wrong with our world today ?? '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); my family and I would spend a fun-filled week at an all-inclusive resort in the Catskill Mountains of New York My mom would pack our suitcases with items ranging from bathing suits to formal wear and everything in between We loaded up my dad’s Mercury Monterey convertible and we drove the seven-hour long journey from Montreal along the Northway toward the town of Ellenville Just a mile or two before Ellenville was the beautiful Nevele resort The entrance was marked with a gigantic archway inscribed with the name of the hotel bellhops and car valets were already waiting for us They unloaded and parked the car and brought our suitcases to our room my father was busy peeling off five-dollar bills from his billfold to ensure that all the service people received a proper tip It didn’t take very long after we checked in for our mother to enroll us in the “Kids Camp.” This way our parents could spend their vacation lounging at the pool playing mahjong and enjoying their lavish meals without their annoying offspring hanging around The kids had their own club house and their own swimming pool There were counselors to look after us and plan our social activities My sister and I were the only Canadians and we had to learn the American pledge of allegiance – I still remember it to this day went on hikes and rehearsed for the weekend talent show there was a choice of a dozen different cereals that were mostly unavailable in Canada tuna and salmon salads and hot dishes like spaghetti after a satisfying bowl of spaghetti for lunch the waiter brought out “Banjo” bars for desert These were made with vanilla ice cream on a stick covered with a hard chocolate shell but I lost to a guy named Stevie Lesinger from New York City who was able to consume over 50 bars Thinking back about those vacations in the Catskills brings back fond memories A few weeks ago I heard about an event that was taking place in Ellenville on the weekend of July 27 It was called the Borscht Belt Festival – a happening that promised to bring back the feelings of the Catskill Mountain Resorts The festival promised a street fair with Jewish food including the infamous borscht with sour cream bagels with a shmear and the Brooklyn Egg Cream The soundtrack was provided by a wonderful live Klezmer band The festival also included over 25 shows and conferences beginning with an open-mic night and comprising events like “My Daddy The Comedian” featuring the children of iconic Borscht Belt comics sharing their personal stories; “Immigrant Jam” – performances by some of New York’s funniest first-generation comics; “The Shtetl Kitchen” – exploring the history of today’s favorite Jewish recipes; an inside look at the making of “Dirty Dancing” featuring veteran New York DJ Cousin Brucie; “Borscht Belt Serenade” – a collection of some  of the hits performed by Borscht Belt crooners; and to top things off “Jackie Mason – The Musical” – the life of comedian Jackie Mason in song At the center of the festival stands the Borscht Belt Museum a permanent tribute to all things Catskills situated in the building that was once the Home National Bank (the vault now contains a model of a typical Borscht Belt hotel room) is dedicated to preserving the history of the Borscht Belt as a haven from bigotry a birthplace for stand-up comedy and “a cultural catalyst that left deep imprints on America.” At the vortex of the festival stands the Borscht Belt Museum a birthplace for stand-up comedy and “a cultural catalyst that left deep imprints on America.”  The museum contains memorabilia and photos from many of the Borscht Belt hotels Visitors can watch videos that explain the origin of the Catskills as a Jewish tourist destination There is a model hotel room and an example of the “bungalow” kitchen An exhibit aptly titled “And Such Small Portions!” displays the menus from various hotels including Brown’s One visitor describes spending Yom Kippur at Grossinger’s – “After the fast ended there was a complete breakfast with bagels the hotel served its usual roast beef dinner to a full dining room.” Visitors to the museum can have their own Catskill stories recorded for posterity in audio or written formats During our visit we met many couples from New York New Jersey and Philadelphia who all had wonderful tales about their experiences in the Catskills the Borscht Belt lost its luster as a vacation spot One of the organizers explained that this was an effect of “The Three A’s – Air Conditioning: People no longer had to escape to the mountains to cool off in the summer; Airplanes: Airfares were becoming more affordable and people could fly to more exotic destinations; and Assimilation: American Jews were becoming a part of mainstream America and no longer felt the need to escape from antisemitism.” Our accommodation for the festival was a refurbished hotel that sat just next to the Nevele The entrance still displays the Nevele logo (missing the letter V) overgrown lawns and abandoned swimming pools has successfully managed to bring back some of the wonderful nostalgia that was the Catskill Mountains Starr is a recently retired systems analyst who has lived his entire life in Montréal On Sunday mornings he is “living the dream,” hosting a two-hour Internet radio show featuring music from the 50s and 60s called “Judy’s Diner.” We are here today because Jewish fathers and mothers wanted more than happiness from their children The bipartisan group includes Los Angeles representatives Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Ted Lieu (D-West LA) Speaking ill of someone once most likely leads to a second time the now-abandoned Nevele Grand hotel in Ulster County The Nevele (which is "eleven" spelled backwards) closed in 2009 after over 100 years of business. As it sat dormant the once-bustling resort soon began to decay and even "urban explorers" documenting the vacant property seems to have big plans to return the resort (and Ellenville) to its former glory The hardest pill for some Hudson Valley residents to swallow may be that to move forward developers say they need to begin with a clean slate This means that before the Nevele is built up plans are already underway to tear it all down Take a look at the present-day condition in the video below Plans for the new Nevele (no news yet about any potential name changes) include a hotel and apartments for employees to live on-site While there is no specific information on the future of the Nevele's iconic ski hill there are plans for "sports facilities" along with hiking trails The revitalization of Ellenville and the surrounding area could be a welcome change for many residents who have witnessed the decline of a once-bustling local economy Take one last look at the abandoned Nevele below and keep scrolling to see some more of the most interesting (and forlorn) properties in the Hudson Valley Big plans are in the works...\nRead More New York Yankees great Yogi Berra once said "The future ain't what it used to be" and man was he right There is a place here in New York State that, at one time, attracted Hollywood Stars, legendary athletes such as Berra, comedy kingpins and regular folks like you and me. Well over 100,000 people each year would visit this gem that was an inspiration for the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing Today this "Queen of the Catskills" is gone but not forgotten Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel in Liberty NY was not only part of the 'Borscht Belt' resorts that flourished from the 1940's to the 1980's some could argue that Grossinger's was the best of the best Milton Berle and other celebrities at Grossinger's Some were there to perform while others went because it was the place to be seen The resort itself became famous in 1952 when they were the first resort to use artificial snow on their slopes Like all of the classic resorts in the Catskills As the 80's rolled into the 90's air travel became more accessible and many younger vacationers started heading to more tropical locations and Grossinger's closed it's doors in 1986 The resort buildings were demolished in 2018 but before being knocked down several "urban explorers" made their way inside what was left of Grossinger's Scroll through the pictures below to see what the resort looked like in it's prime and well as the "after" pictures See the heartbreaking photos of Grossingers Catskill Mountains resort, before and after it was abandoned.\nRead More There is a place here in New York State that, at one time, attracted Hollywood Stars, legendary athletes such as Berra, comedy kingpins and regular folks like you and me. Well over 100,000 people each year would visit this gem that was an inspiration for the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing Today’s $30,000 Nevele R Series heat worked out exactly the way most thought it would with noted harness racing front runner All You Need Is Me (Captaintreacherous) taking the lead from barrier two and Ruby Roe (Captaintreacherous) taking a trail for driver Nathan Williamson “It worked out good and she sprinted up well With a nice sit like that there won’t be too many horses around with as much speed as she’s got,” said John Price who trains the winner Ruby Roe with his wife Katrina The winning margin was one and a half lengths The time for the 2000 metre mobile was 2-28.9 with the last 800 run in 55.9 The Prices are about to head to America on the Harnesslink trip so Ruby Roe will head back to Nathan Williamson’s stable where she’ll be trained for the rest of the season “We might give her a few days off but we’ll keep ticking her over The next South Island Nevele R Fillies Series heat will be held at Addington on 3rd October At her previous start which was at Addington Ruby Roe came from last to run a close second and John said she didn’t take any harm from that run “She’s got a really good constitution and is a great eater She doesn’t take anything out of herself which is always a blessing Canterbury trainer Cran Dalgety was happy with All You Need Is Me’s run “She raced very well and got beaten by a very fast one I reckon she (Ruby Roe) went a sub 25 last quarter at Addington at her last start It was one of those races that we thought we may run second in For complete race results, click here by Bruce Stewart Harnesslink.com is the only harness racing website dedicated to covering news and events in the Standardbred Industry world-wide © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV The fire started at the “Winter Building” of the former Nevele Grand Hotel in the Town of Wawarsing around 9:30 p.m. “The whole building was fully involved,” says Everett Erichsen director of Ulster County Emergency Services The once-thriving resort on Arrowhead Road was built in 1901 and closed more than a century later in 2019 - after the Catskills became less popular to vacationers from New York City We are going to be investigating,” Erichsen says The fire was captured in multiple images sent to News 12 by a viewer showing the building fully engulfed in smoke and flames The 463-acre property was most recently purchased by 1100 Arrow LLC in 2023 Ulster County property records online list the property owner’s information as “not available” but show it was purchased for $5 million in 2023 Plans were widely reported last year that the new owners and NYC-based developer planned to demolish the property to build a new hotel News 12’s efforts to find a working phone number for 1100 Arrow LLC were unsuccessful An email was sent out to Somerset Partners for information The iconic destination resort is the fourth Borscht Belt hotel to catch fire after closing and falling into ruin Pine Hotel in Fallsburg burned down last June and the Homowack Resort caught fire last July The famous Grossinger's Resort Hotel in Liberty which inspired the blockbuster film "Dirty Dancing" was destroyed in a fire in 2022 The first time I took my snowboard down a hill larger than my driveway was when my parents took me to try the slope at the Nevele Grand Hotel in Ellenville The Nevele has now been closed for over a decade it was the place to go for winter fun in the Hudson Valley The Catskills used to a major vacation destination throughout the twentieth century and you can see the skeletons of former resorts all over Ulster and Sullivan Counties The Nevele Grand Hotel managed to outlive nearly all of them Not only did it boast amenities like pools and tennis courts but both skiing and ice skating were offered in the winter months Recent photos (below) show the ice rink's state of disrepair From the ice rink (where I can still remember not being able to stop as I rammed chest-first into the safety railing) closed in 2009 after over 100 years of business While its doors have been shut to the public for 13 years it hasn't stopped "urban explorers" from taking a look at the abandoned property I can still remember sitting in the main lodge (below) I have a distinct memory of standing right at the base of those lodge stairs (above) when my friend told be about the supposed dangers in the "Yellow #5" dye that was in the Mountain Dew I was drinking ("it will keep you from having kids!" my friend insisted) They say you don't know what you've got until it's gone and the Nevele Grand Hotel definitely falls under that category Check out a more in-depth exploration video below that includes history of the resort and a classic commercial for the Nevele from the 1980s near the beginning The Nevele is far from the only abandoned piece of Hudson Valley history and keep scrolling to check out 5 hikes that include some spectacular abandoned sites below. WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this or any property The Nevele looks MUCH different today...\nRead More WAWARSING - A fire that destroyed a building on the site of the former Nevele Grand Hotel Tuesday night is under investigation Ulster County's director of emergency services Firefighters from multiple departments in Ulster and Sullivan counties were on the scene until 11 a.m Erichsen said no cause has been identified yet but the fire is not being labeled as suspicious at this time The Nevele was one of many hotels in the so-called Borscht Belt that for decades drew thousands of visitors to the Catskill region Pedestrian killed: Couple charged for their actions following a fatal crash in Saugerties: What we know The hotel opened in 1901 and has been closed since 2009 It was among the local sites under consideration when the state awarded four casino licenses about a decade ago Resorts World Catskills in Monticello was chosen instead It was subsequently proposed as a site for a $150 million sports complex there have been reports that a new owner plans to work with a New York City-based developer to demolish the current buildings and build a new hotel and related attractions on the site The developer could not immediately be reached for comment Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845 We are enjoying the first few days of the 2024 fall season and we have had a little bit of sunshine it's been chilly and it's been warm You never really know what conditions you will have from day to day in New York State but one thing you can count on is the changing of the leaves According to Accuweather Upstate New York will have some of the finest foliage in the Nation this year How does Accuweather define "upstate" They say the Adirondacks and Finger Lakes region should be spectacular Take a look at the foliage map below to see current conditions The enormous size of New York State gives residents and out-of-state guests the opportunity to enjoy that changing of the leaves in stages you aren't seeing much in terms of color so far In the Adirondacks and the Catskills colors are nearing peak conditions This map represents what to expect from September 23rd through October 1st Keep checking back for updates as the weeks fly by You might not see the leaves changing outside your window yet but parts of New York State are nearing peak fall foliage. Take a look.\nRead More According to Accuweather That is the name applied to the resorts that were tucked away in the Catskill Mountains Many of these vacation destinations offered everything in one place entertainment and luxury accommodations for the whole family The once grand resorts such as the Nevele, Grossinger's and the Pines Resort in Fallsburg NY are only a shell of what they once were What was left of the Pines Resort burned to the ground in 2023 Scroll through the pictures below to see what the Pines Resort looked like just before the fire According to Abandoned at the time boasted "cold and hot water in every room" Over the decades the Pines grew and evolved into a place where families would go for indoor and outdoor swimming The outdoor pool featured an iconic rainbow bridge It is said that the Pines Resort closed it's doors in 1998 due to financial struggles the buildings that once offered nightclubs massive kitchen to serve hundreds of people and 400 guest rooms have been rotting What is left is a sad look at a once jewel of the Borscht Belt Rather than risk your safety we have collected a series of pictures that will show what the Pines Resort looked like in it's hey-day and what it looked like just before the 2023 fire The once grand resorts of the Catskills have been abandoned and left to decay. Here are pictures of the Pines Resort in Fallsburg just before the tragic fire.\nRead More The once grand resorts such as the Nevele, Grossinger's and the Pines Resort in Fallsburg According to Abandoned The Nevele looks MUCH different today...\nRead More Have you ever felt the energy of an empty house? Sometimes, when nobody is there, you can almost ear the voices of the people that were there before you. If you have legally explored any of these empty homes, hotels and amusement parks you can almost feel the people that once crowded the hallways and rooms. Each property has it's story to tell and this is the story of the Nevele Grand Hotel in the Catskills Scroll through the pictures and video of the Nevele Grand Hotel as it stands years after closing the doors to the public time stood still once the doors were closed in 2009 boots and skates are still resting in the rental office as if they are waiting to be used again According to Wikipedia developers are proposing a renovation and reimagining of the property and re-launching as a new resort hotel as well as a residential facility Let's see what it was like before we see it abandoned See the abandoned Nevele Grand Resort before and after.\nRead More Have you ever felt the energy of an empty house? Sometimes, when nobody is there, you can almost ear the voices of the people that were there before you. If you have legally explored any of these empty homes, hotels and amusement parks you can almost feel the people that once crowded the hallways and rooms. Each property has it's story to tell and this is the story of the Nevele Grand Hotel in the Catskills According to Wikipedia Rockland County Business Journal the Borscht Belt Fest in Ellenville last weekend was a profoundly sentimental and stirring event particularly for scores of greying baby boomers whose seminal life experiences were molded and cemented in upstate Catskill hotels and summer bungalow colonies that defined Jewish life for most of the mid-20th century conversations were peppered with memories of bungalow days waitressing at hotels like the Nevele Resort anecdotes of life-long friendships that started during those summers There was joy and giddiness alongside a collective sense of loss and nostalgia for what once was — an era lost to airline transport The Borscht Belt Fest wasn’t just a look back – it was staged to ignite future interest in Ellenville which is slated to become the home of the Borscht Belt Museum in 2025 The festival gathered memorabilia and ephemera and performative art from the bygone era to tease what is coming The day-long street fair included themed tee-shirts and other novelties that nod to Jewish life A full line-up of entertainment in Liberty Square plumbed memories the Isle of Klezbos and the Great Babka Bake Off A raft of ticketed events on Borscht Belt Humor and New Faces of Comedy were sell-out events Rained out at day-end was a planned screening of the iconic film which captured the coming-of-age essence of the Borscht Belt experience though ironically was filmed at a lake-side lodge in Virginia It is the enduring emotion around this era of Jewish life that led a small heartfelt group more than a decade ago to think about creating a Borscht Belt Museum a Museum Board member who grew up in Spring Valley but spent most of her adult life in Rhode Island It was the first time I talked to a Holocaust survivor and saw the tattoo on the arm These experiences left an indelible impression.” Kauffman organized a Catskills staff reunion weekend she was invited to be part of a nonprofit group that had been toiling unsuccessfully to establish a Borscht Belt Museum for nearly a decade the organization set a goal to raise more than $50 million to fund the project But like many small nonprofits with a big idea particularly because it lacked the central anchor needed to legitimize its mission and fundraise: a building the organization over the past few years voted in new leadership and through hard work and a fortuitous alignment of aims found itself the owner of the former 1928 neo-Georgian Home National Bank building at 90 Canal Street in Ellenville “The project had stalled for many years; partly because of a lack of real estate because we didn’t have a home and it’s hard to raise money for a museum that’s mostly conceptual,” said Andrew Jacobs president of the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum’s board of trustees has written on the bygone era and directed Four Seasons Lodge a documentary about a community of Holocaust survivors at a bungalow colony in Ellenville that shuttered in 2008 Driven by his own memories during the tail-end of the Catskills’ heyday became a man on a mission when he assumed the reins of the Borscht Belt group A mutual friend introduced him to developer Keith Rubenstein of Somerset Partners LLC which plans to raze The Nevele Resort in Ellenville on Route 209 and replace it with a modern hotel and luxury housing Rubenstein’s ambitious plans for the 500-acre site align with the nonprofit that wants to build a museum because both need the Village of Ellenville in the Town of Warwarsing to thrive Unlike some of its neighboring Ulster County towns and villages that have gentrified as summer havens and lured city folks permanently during the pandemic Ellenville is only just landing on the hipster radar is set deeply in the verdant valley of the Shawangunk Mountains Restaurants and boutiques are opening; the Shadowland Stages has always been an anchor Both the Borscht Belt Museum nonprofit group and Rubenstein see a museum as a culturally significant attraction that will serve as a catalyst for economic activity who bought the bank building two years ago for $400,000 under the auspices of Canal Street Owners LLC sold it to the Borscht Belt group in April for $470,000 who originally envisioned a café and gallery for the location The arrangement is a dream-come-true for a nonprofit: Rubenstein’s entity will hold the mortgage for five years Rubenstein is charging 5 percent interest on the loan nearly half of what it takes to secure a commercial loan today But it will have a balloon payment at the end of five years or will have to refinance the loan “A lot of museums sound like a good idea on paper but it doesn’t always transfer,” said Rubenstein recalling the short-lived Sports Museum in New York City which opened in 2008 and lasted less than a year “But everybody has a story and emotion about the Borscht Belt I see this as a multi-dimensional multi-generational project.” Rubenstein’s Somerset Partners LLC is planning a 138-room luxury hotel partly an inn and partly condos including ten luxury cottages and a 100-unit multifamily apartment complex for “workmen” housing for the resort’s workforce culinary garden with a farmstand and farm-to-table restaurant The former Nevele Resort is a five-minute car ride from Ellenville’s main street Locating the Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville is strategic for both entities “Placemaking is very important,” said the developer “I could have sold the bank building on better terms but I wanted the building to be beneficial to the renaissance of Ellenville The village is beautiful visually and architecturally We’re starting to see more businesses moving in Ellenville was so sleepy but now it’s one of the hottest little villages in Ulster County.” But “hot” villages typically mean old buildings in need of work which was one of the few financial institutions that lent money to the region’s Jewish hoteliers and bungalow colonies in the 20th century needs to be gutted for accessible bathrooms The nonprofit secured a $150,000 grant from the Naiades Fund to replace the roof It is preparing to launch a $10 million Capital Campaign fundraiser to renovate the building and establish an endowment to get the project off the ground The Borscht Belt Museum also just scored a $650,000 Empire State Development grant for construction in the museum building The grant was part of Round 12 of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative awards the Borscht Belt Museum will be an interpretive and immersive cultural center with oral history will welcome visitors through the end of the summer “This will not be a museum for ashtrays and menus,” quipped Kauffman Jacobs said the nonprofit is actively seeking donors and grants “Owning a building is critical for government funding and private philanthropy,” Jacobs said “Donors want to support organizations that have a brick-and-mortar presence.” Jewish comics are thought to have laid the foundation for American comedy The “Jewish Alps” were born out of necessity – created as a refuge for American Jews who were unwelcome at other resorts there were more than 500 hotels and 50,000 bungalow colonies The museum project calls attention to the successful niche Woodstock Museum at Bethel in Sullivan County which includes a tribute to the 1969 three-day Woodstock concert was a moment in time for a slice of the baby boomer generation that hailed the sexual revolution through free love and music sustaining curiosity and interest for generations to come That will be the Borscht Belt Museum’s challenge – to tap into a cultural moment that left behind an imprint that we are all curious about – even if we never spent a night in a bungalow colony or attended a comedy show at The Nevele You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image The Canterbury pacer had flown into a gallop when taking the passing lane in her last two starts leading into Southland’s premier race for 3yr-old fillies But when driver Matthew Williamson angled the Brad Mowbray-trained filly into exactly the same spot on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park yesterday she delivered a powerful and professional victory Williamson and Mowbray’s association dates back to around the time they produced Deliskha to run fourth in the 2017 Southern Oaks Final "That would be one of my more special wins just because Brad has been a great mate of mine and we have had a lot to do with each other," Williamson said "It is just super to win a nice race for him." Delightful Peg’s victory also gave Mowbray and his family a moment to treasure The pacer is raced by the trainer alongside his mother-in-law Jenny Knight and wife She is looking after the team while we are down here," Mowbray said "Jenny is a great supporter of ours as you would expect so it is great to be able to win a nice race for her." While she had made errors in her last two starts some tinkering on the training track with Delightful Peg’s gear by Mowbray proved crucial in getting the filly to her best on Diamonds Day The trainer admitted it had been a process to get Delightful Peg to become a group 2 winner "She has been a project right the way through There have been setbacks but times like today make it worth it," Mowbray said Williamson landed back-to-back Southern Oaks wins having won the race last year with Flying Ellie The reinsman was denied another group race victory late when Duchess Maria downed Who’s Ya Daddy to win the group three Entain Southern Classic on Diamonds Day Williamson’s brother Nathan produced the filly for a slick and professional win in her first start Five Crown left a strong field with few excuses when clearing out to win the day’s feature for 3yr-old colts and geldings Driver Blair Orange burnt early with the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained pacer who still had plenty in reserve to race away to win the group 2 Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Though the pacer looked in full control throughout Orange admitted there were some nervous early moments in the sulky "The one draw was always in the back of my mind that it wasn’t ideal for him." I asked him for an effort early and I nearly lost him around that first corner but he gathered himself up nicely and he was pretty strong to the line." Diamonds Day’s Group One feature was taken out by the red-hot favourite Jumal The pacer delivered a powerful front-running victory for trainer Steven Reid and driver Samantha Ottley There is something mysteriously intriguing about abandoned buildings. If you have legally explored any of these empty homes, hotels and amusement parks you can almost feel the people that once crowded the hallways, rooms and driveways. Each property has it's story to tell and this is the story of the Nevele Grand Hotel in the Catskills Scroll through the pictures and video of the Nevele Grand Hotel as it stands today in Wawarsing For 108 years this resort welcomed guests for for skiing According to WRRV less than a year ago it was revealed that the property has been purchased It is reported that there are plans for a restaurant A renovation would be quite an undertaking It would be nice to have someone return this old resort back into a jewel of the Hudson Valley This once grand hotel in the Catskills attracted celebrities and guests from around the world. See the moment time stopped.\nRead More There is something mysteriously intriguing about abandoned buildings. If you have legally explored any of these empty homes, hotels and amusement parks you can almost feel the people that once crowded the hallways, rooms and driveways. Each property has it's story to tell and this is the story of the Nevele Grand Hotel in the Catskills According to WRRV Please email if you would like to be allow listed KINGSTON – The lender claimed the former Nevele resort at auction Friday after foreclosing on developer Michael Treanor who maintains that the auction clears the way for his proposed $300 million sports complex there which held the mortgages on the property just outside Ellenville The mortgages came with the property when Treanor and his firm brought the Nevele out of receivership in 2012 iStar filed a foreclosure action seeking $23.5 million Treanor said Friday that he has an agreement in place to buy the property from iStar He described the price as more than $3.5 million and less than $10 million Ulster County state Supreme Court Justice James Gilpatric issued a summary judgment in favor of iStar foreclosing on the Nevele and ordering it sold at auction in August The auction date was moved later to Friday About a dozen people attended the auction at the Ulster County Courthouse Auction referee Thomas Murphy confirmed after the auction that iStar made the only bid Murphy is with the Kingston law firm of Cook A representative for iStar did not return calls for comment Friday Treanor said Friday evening that the foreclosure auction was the last link in locking in the financing for his proposed sports complex at the Nevele “We needed to get clear title,” he said in a phone conversation The financing in question is the more than $300 million he spoke about in October at the annual dinner of the Ellenville Regional Hospital Work at the site can get underway once the weather allows Treanor had tried and failed to get a casino licensed at the resort and then proposed a massive sports complex for the site Plans envisioned four regulation baseball fields batting cages and six multi-purpose soccer fields that can also be used for lacrosse and field hockey plans have called for renovating the hotel and providing 467 rooms Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan said a representative of Treanor's office told him Treanor has until the end of January to close on the deal with iStar This is the shot in the arm that could turn around the area We are very excited it is closer to starting." WAWARSING — The public auctioning of the Nevele Grande hotel was canceled Tuesday after a wealthy man reportedly signed a contract to purchase the classic resort and its roughly 500 acres The mysterious purchaser is not from the United States — and he's wealthy enough to buy and refurbish the property into a four- or five-star resort without depending on a bank loan CEO of the Long Island auction company that was hired to sell the Nevele that's where details end in the latest Borscht-belt hotel saga Neuman refused to identify the owner or say how much he's agreed to pay The starting bid was supposed to be $15.5 million When asked why he could not identify the soon-to-be owner of one of the Catskills' most famed hotels Neuman said he feared the buyer would be scared off by skeptics and the "nasty" people who have left comments on online message boards "He has a gentle demeanor and I'm not going to risk these people not welcoming him," Neuman said adding that the man's identity would likely be revealed after the current owner pays the roughly $1.5 million in back taxes Ulster County filed a lawsuit this week in state Supreme Court to make sure Hoffman pays nearly $291,000 in various back taxes County Executive Mike Hein said Hoffman had an obligation to create jobs and make tax payments under an agreement with the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency the atmosphere at the Nevele Grande was celebratory on Tuesday as Neuman touted his success and gushed over the old hotel "You wanna see the Presidential Suite?" he asked his family and guests The trip to the ninth floor revealed what lies ahead for the mystery buyer It's a structure that seems solid but has obvious blemishes such as wallpaper falling down in some places Guests can see the entire grounds from the ninth-floor suite including the golf course that has grown nearly into a hay field the pool that's filled with greenish water and an array of buildings that were modern 50 years ago Neuman clearly believes it can be turned around "I don't care what anybody says — this is not disrepair," Neuman insists "I don't see any problems that can't be rectified with some fun glamour." Neuman scolded locals for being skeptical while he tried to sell the Nevele and "put Ellenville back in the spotlight." But after watching people with big wallets and big dreams fail at other Catskill hotels locals say they have good reason to be weary of a mysterious "savior." "We've heard this before," said Yanki Prager "I think people come to the mountains here and get a little too excited." A LUXURIOUS high-rise hotel that dates back to the early 20th century has been left to rot after owners failed to pay taxes worth millions Established in 1901 by famous hotelier Charles Slutsky, the Nevele Grande is situated in the picturesque Catskills region in New York Surrounded by two lakes in a valley west of the Shawangunk Mountains the extravagant property grew over time to become a vacation home for the super-rich The Nevele Grande Resort lived up to its grandiose name - at its peak it had 430 guest rooms and employed a staff of 800 the resort was extended with new wings and a lot of other lavish features exclusively available for the visiting guests Phillips designed a 10-storey dodecahedral tower and its wings were connected by massive underground tunnels The tower soon got its famous moniker - "Presidential Tower" - after it was used by US President Lyndon Johnson in 1966 Other lavish amenities included two magnificent ballrooms, several conference halls, and a Hawaiian-themed nightclub, which were excessive - even by Catskills standards. Those who wished to experience the natural beauty of the property could visit its two natural lakes, which are fed by a 35-foot waterfall. designed by Robert Trent Jones and Tom Fazio opened in the 1940s and was later renovated A smaller nine-hole course was built later with the Fallsview resort upon the two hotels merging The easternmost part of the property was home to the Waikiki indoor pool and a health club beyond which was an extravagant ski chalet and slope Guests had access to a skating rink and an ornate lobby filled with fireplaces the resort was struggling financially - so much so that the Fallsview portion had to be sold to make up for the unpaid expenses The main hotel managed to remain open for three more years before closing without notice in 2009 after owners Joel Hoffman and Mitchell Wolff failed to pay taxes on the property They had accumulated $342,687.22 in property tax debt but was soon called off after a potential buyer expressed intent to seal the deal the grand hotel remained unsold and eventually fell into disrepair Nevele Investors announced the Nevele Grande Resort would undergo a $500 million renovation to turn it into a resort and casino - but the proposal was rejected by the state due to gambling laws The company later said it would repair the complex with an aim to reopen in March 2020 the developer said the necessary funding hadn’t been secured This had left the property’s future uncertain until earlier this year when 1100 Arrow LLC bought the complex for $5 million The move was fueled by plans of a new facility with lodging accompanied by a 126-unit housing development developers now expect to construct a 68-room main lodge hotel They would also build 46 units of single-family homes and 36 units of multi-family village estates ELLENVILLE — The money for a proposed $300 million sports complex at the former Nevele was supposed to arrive by Friday There is no visibility on the timing," developer Michael Treanor said Monday Treanor's dream is to renovate the iconic Borscht Belt hotel and add a spa and other amenities mixed in with a family-oriented complex of sports fields as the main attraction The lender that holds the mortgage on the 564-acre property says in court papers it is owed more than $25 million The firm auctioned off the property in December and was the only bidder A lawyer with the Florida law firm representing Asia Pacific "I can confirm that the Nevele Project is approved in its entirety for financing by my client I strongly believe that these funds will be available on or before March 15 was signed by Patricia Rahl of Rahl and Rahl She could not be reached for comment Monday has paid the 2019 taxes of $54,186 on the property according to Wawarsing Tax Collector Robin Anderson Wawarsing Supervisor Terry Houck said Treanor has worked extremely hard on the project Treanor told the supervisor more talks about the financing were set for Wednesday morning Houck had not heard as of late afternoon how the talks went a former Ellenville mayor and county legislator said Treanor has paid the rent on the office space he uses on the fifth floor of the village headquarters building Treanor remains optimistic he is going to get the funding Let's call it reserved excitement," Kaplan said "We have come from pessimism to reserved excitement is struggling to keep the lights on and the lawyers at bay a crumbling facade and costly lawsuits brought by customers state agencies and former business partners are buckling what was Ellenville's claim to fame like people go to the Bahamas now." Oquendo once worked there as part of the athletic staff along with hundreds of others in this Ulster County community downhill skiing and prized fairways — everything a stylish family could want The manicured spread on nearly 500 acres drew huge crowds from New York City and beyond the Town of Wawarsing code enforcement officer dropping by regularly to make sure the trash is out and the heat is on sending angry out-of-towners into town looking for help Pipes froze and burst in the hotel's famed Golden Gate building turning the lobby into an ice castle both amazing and awful adding more building code and health violations to a thick file of problems "They aren't spending enough on upkeep," said Berg but it's not any place you'd want to take your family." Berg inspected the Nevele last month before a group of about 1,000 teenagers from Key Club International arrived for a leadership conference said she was too busy to talk on the phone Friday Reservation staff said the hotel was closed until the end of the month bought the property in 2000 for $15.8 million did not return an e-mail or a call to his Long Island office Hoffman has put millions of his own money into trying to keep the place going," he said The Nevele has had trouble paying utilities It was fined more than $40,000 last month for not carrying workers compensation insurance is suing for millions in unpaid business commitments the Nevele still has some big reservations including the Knights of Columbus in two weeks The property is up for sale for more than $20 million and has had bites "The problem is it's been almost impossible to get a buyer who can get financing." What is our fascination with the past? The people and places of our past hold a special place in our hearts. Take the Nevele Grand Resort in the Catskills. Whether you visited there, worked there or just remember the television commercials, the Nevele is part of our past. Let's take a look around the Nevele Grand Hotel as it looks today As you scroll through the pictures below you will see the the remnants of a once prestigious vacation destination in Wawarsing The pictures and video below will show you the old theatre This is a shot of the outdoor pool and hot tub Imagine how mant people were drawn to this over the years a renovation would be quite an undertaking The skis, boots and skates still remain hanging as if time stopped at this abandoned resort in the Catskills.\nRead More What is our fascination with the past? The people and places of our past hold a special place in our hearts. Take the Nevele Grand Resort in the Catskills. Whether you visited there, worked there or just remember the television commercials, the Nevele is part of our past. Let's take a look around the Nevele Grand Hotel as it looks today The Hudson Valley community still debates the story behind Ulster County's Nevele Resort It's really sad when you think about all of the abandoned hotels that are in the Hudson Valley area. Many areas were once really popular summer vacation spots but sadly they have closed down and fallen into serious disrepair One stunning hotel had a really sad demise but the story behind it's name is very interesting and has Hudson Valley residents scratching their heads The Nevele Resort is or was a beautiful high rise resort that's located in Wawarsing It was part of the Borscht Belt and was a very popular spot to visit during the summers the owners of the hotel had major financial trouble and were forced to close the resort down The building is still there today and it's just deteriorating more and more It always amazes me that nobody has tried to fix these places up Another very intriguing thing about the property is all of the theories on how the Nevele Resort received its name how about we take a look at another hotel that's been abandoned The Brown's Hotel is located in Sullivan County and was another popular summer destination It's really sad how a lot of these places have the same story the Brown's Hotel ran into financial trouble a massive fire happened and the building has been sitting their in ruins Do you know anyone who spent time at the Nevele Resort? The Hudson Valley community still debates the story behind Ulster County's Nevele Resort.\nRead More Do you know anyone who spent time at the Nevele Resort? employees haven't been paid and the grass is overgrown The Nevele Grande Resort & Country Club is closed — possibly for good the storied hotel closed its doors earlier this month many of whom are disgruntled because they say they haven't been paid in three weeks say the hotel is likely closed for good unless its Long Island owner can sell it This past weekend the only employee left on the grounds was a 24/7 security guard who did not identify himself He's been working by the stone-arched entrance for seven years state labor records show the Nevele had 121 employees bought the 500-acre property in 2000 for $15.8 million said the hotel was going to be "closed for a period of weeks," but he didn't know why O'Connor said he hadn't talked to Hoffman in two weeks and was unaware of his plans Hoffman has been trying to sell the Nevele for roughly $20 million Signs of the end are everywhere — in court papers the removal of hotel equipment and the physical appearance of the grounds the state fined Nevele owners $40,000 for not carrying workers compensation insurance The hotel had a hard time paying utilities Employees say a John Deere dealer came to the grounds last week and repossessed the Nevele's mowers and tractors and the security guard said management is preparing to remove the trail horses from their stables this week The grass is mowed in the front of the hotel Greens on the golf course have grown to the length of the rough "The golf course hasn't been mowed in more than a month," said former Nevele golf course superintendent Bob Dipalma the 432-room Nevele Grande was a prime destination for fine dining golf and top-notch celebrity entertainment Now a receptionist answering the telephone says the hotel is closed WAWARSING - On the heels of losing out on a state casino license developer Mike Treanor has unveiled new plans for a $150 million mega sports complex at the former Nevele resort plans call for four regulation professional-size baseball fields The redevelopment also includes the former Nevele hotel That means 467 hotel rooms with restaurants restoration of the 18-hole golf course with a golf school skiing and restoration of the ice skating rink the sports complex would take up 3.4 million square feet on about 52 acres and be managed by Sports Facility Advisors and Management out of Clearwater Plans also call for buying 130 acres of vacant property next to the closed hotel owned by Horse Shows in the Sun HITS moved its horse show to Saugerties about 15 years ago Treanor bought the former Nevele Grand Hotel he pitched a more-than $600 million renovation  -- dependent on getting table gaming and slot machines approved by the state Gaming Commission But the Gaming Commission passed over the plans last December because of a lack of committed financing no on-site entertainment and questions about who would manage the casino "With the increasing likelihood of gaming in northern NJ and NYC (in seven years) gaming in the Catskill/Hudson Valley region was always a short-term solution to economic revitalization," Treanor said in an email Treanor says the new sports complex "will make Ellenville the destination sports center of the New York-Metropolitan region." Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan was bullish about the plans rebuilds the Nevele and we don't have to worry about when another casino opens up," Kaplan said Kaplan said he thinks the community will be receptive to the plans but may be hesitant about getting there hopes up after losing out in the past "It's almost like getting a new boyfriend or girlfriend after you broke up you don't want to see it go bad again," Kaplan said Town of Wawarsing Supervisor Leonard Distel he didn't think the project would need long environmental reviews because much of it has already been done He said Treanor hopes to begin work in spring 2016 He was supportive of the plan and said Treanor will likely seek a tax break in the form of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes WAWARSING — Some 50 people packed into Wawarsing's Town Hall on Thursday evening for a glimpse of the proposed plans to renovate the vacant Nevele Grande into a five-star resort while based solely on the premise that the state will approve casino gambling and grant the facility a gambling license building a new 150,000-square-foot casino and employing 1,500 full- and part-time employees The project would also include renovating three existing structures and the creation or restoration of various recreation facilities Audience members — including Wawarsing's Town Council and Supervisor Scott Carlsen community leaders and supervisors from neighboring towns — were eager to heap praise on the project and encourage the developer to press forward called it exactly what the community needs "I hear the unemployment rate in the village is as high as 18 percent," he said "Business follows the money and as more jobs are created for this project more businesses will return to Ellenville." The presentation — actually a public scoping session — was only the first step in the state's lengthy environmental review process that will measure the project's impact on everything from the environment and traffic to community services such as schools Written comments on the draft scope will be accepted until Thursday; further details can be found on the town's website ELLENVILLE — Mitchell Wolff took a deep breath and delivered his mea culpa "I really want to apologize to the town and the people who live here," said Wolff "but most importantly I want to apologize to you all "You're hardworking people and you didn't deserve this." Standing around him were 23 former Nevele workers Last summer they were kicked out of their jobs without warning when the resort closed They were denied thousands of dollars they earned by waiting tables and cleaning rooms They could have been boiling angry at how they were mistreated But instead they were overjoyed on Thursday as Wolff started to make things right summoning the workers to Village Hall in Ellenville to deliver their long overdue W-2 forms A total of 163 workers had fought for months to get their tax documents from hotel owner Joel Hoffman many saw their unemployment checks dwindle Patrick Joseph's weekly unemployment check dropped from $192 to $156 but they just passed the buck and made up stories to get rid of us," said Joseph who waited tables at the resort for 35 years A judge ripped control of the hotel away from Hoffman last month after the Long Island investor failed to pay workers Hoffman racked up more than $5 million in debt Wolff was appointed receiver of the hotel March 24 Wolff sold all but 1 percent of his Nevele ownership to Hoffman in 2004 Wolff discovered the tax-document blunder last week I thought it was ridiculous," he told the Times Herald-Record Wolff's quick delivery of the W-2 forms had Tschaykowsky Pettersen so happy that he sang an Italian love song to his former boss Wolff hugged the workers as they came in and reminisced about the time he danced with all the chambermaids in the 433-room hotel "I'm not going to open the Nevele hotel again," he said during the meeting Wolff said the Chinese mining company that signed a letter of intent to buy the hotel is no longer involved but he is getting calls from reputable suitors They're interested in making the Nevele a three- or four-star hotel Wolff won't identify the potential buyers until one closes on the property "People in this town are tired of misinformation and hearing about deals that never materialized," he said hinting at Hoffman's fruitless talks with auctioneers and investors Former workers will get paid before anyone else once the hotel is sold "I don't get a penny out of this until all the other debts are satisfied," he said WAWARSING — A global real estate company has been using the uncertain promise of casino development to market the Nevele Grande resort A confidential offering memo sent to 19 potential buyers in July said casinos were "imminent" and claimed the Nevele would benefit from an estimated $1 billion that gambling would pump into the local economy "With casino development in Sullivan and Ulster counties now on the horizon the Nevele Resort & Country Club is well-positioned to benefit from the imminent renaissance of the Catskills," the memo said That pitch was written under a bold heading that read: "Casino Development Approved for Wawarsing." George Pataki approved three casinos for Sullivan and Ulster counties in 2001.) The region's long-held but unrealized casino dreams were central to the summer marketing blitz by Jones Lang LaSalle an international real estate firm that was hired to sell the Nevele the court-appointed receiver who controls the hotel said buyer interest has spiked since state lawmakers began talking about legalized gambling again Legislative leaders in Albany this month renewed talk of a constitutional amendment to legalize casinos at limited sites in New York Such an amendment would require approval by two separate sessions of the Legislature and a referendum of the people I think stimulates interest from a broader segment of the marketplace," Wolff told the Times Herald-Record Wolff said four or five investors are considering a bid on the Nevele Most are foreign investors who are not betting on casinos senior vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle said most potential buyers would open the Nevele as a resort One would turn the property into a nonprofit retreat and another wants to create a satellite campus of "a major overseas university system," he said "I certainly wouldn't say the majority of the interest is coming from casinos," von Dwingelo said "We are literally leaving no stone unturned." The company also pitched the resort for its 432 rooms It promised buyers would get "aggressive tax incentives and/or exemptions" from Ulster County The Nevele — once a jewel of the regional vacation scene — has slogged through financial trouble in recent years It shut down in 2009 after its former owner piled up $5.1 million in debt and unpaid taxes The Nevele also owes money on a $15.8 million mortgage that was taken out to buy the 487-acre property in 2000 won legal control of the Nevele 16 months ago in a lawsuit against his former business partner he has begun to pay the hotel's debts and settle its myriad lawsuits He hopes the marketing push will be enough to sell the resort by the end of the year at a price that will satisfy its creditors The owner of the Nevele said he will announce plans later this week for a new resort worth more than $100 million at the former hotel grounds said Tuesday he didn't want to reveal all the details yet because he's still finalizing the potential project "We don't want to put something out until it's fully baked," Treanor said The new enterprise comes on the heels of the site being passed over for a coveted state casino license by the state Gaming Commission Treanor said the new project will be resort-themed and be for both the grounds and the former Nevele Grand Hotel buildings It won't be affiliated with RatPac Entertainment a Los Angeles-based financing company that had shown interest in financing the project before it lost in the casino running "It's a very meaningful 'Plan B,' " Treanor said Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan said Nevele investors are looking to create a smaller boutique-style hotel with fewer rooms than the 446-room destination Treanor previously proposed They're looking to install about 100 video lottery terminals and build athletic fields so the Nevele could host soccer and baseball events "It's sort of like a Field of Dreams-type thing," Kaplan said The resort couldn't include VLTs unless it's given permission by the state Legislature has reintroduced state legislation that would permit Ulster County to allow two existing resorts to install VLTs While the proposal was sponsored in the Senate last year by Sen he hasn't signed on to a same-as bill this year Last year his spokesman said he signed with the idea of helping two Kerhonkson resorts the Pine Grove Family Dude Ranch and Hudson Valley Resort and Spa said this year Seward wants to reach out to local officials and hear if they support the proposal before signing on "He wants to make sure it has local support," Bischop said