Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel facts for kids
Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel was a very famous and large resort located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains in New York. It was a special place that followed kosher rules, mainly welcoming Jewish families from New York City. For many years, it was a popular vacation spot with lots of fun activities and famous visitors. Grossinger's closed its doors in 1986, and its buildings were taken down in 2018.
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A Look Back at Grossinger's History
The story of Grossinger's began in the early 1900s. Asher Selig Grossinger moved from New York City to the Catskill Mountains. He started by renting rooms in his home, called Longbrook House, to visitors. His wife, Malka, cooked delicious kosher meals. Their daughter, Jennie Grossinger, was a wonderful hostess who made everyone feel welcome.
In 1919, the family bought a much larger house. They named it Grossinger's Terrace Hill House. This was the start of the big resort we know today.
Cool Facts and Firsts
Grossinger's was known for being innovative. In 1952, it made history in the world of skiing. It was the very first resort anywhere to use artificial snow! This meant guests could enjoy skiing even when natural snow wasn't falling.
Under the leadership of Jennie Grossinger, the resort grew a lot. It ended up with more than 35 buildings! The main building had a huge dining room that could seat 1,300 people. Below it was a big nightclub called the "Terrace Room." The resort even had its own airstrip and post office.
Many famous people visited Grossinger's. The boxing legend Rocky Marciano used to train there.
The End of an Era
After Jennie Grossinger passed away in 1972, the resort started to face challenges. By the late 1970s and 1980s, places like Grossinger's found it harder to attract younger guests.
In 1984, Grossinger's tried to bring back some excitement. They hosted a "Woodstock Weekend" to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the famous music festival. It included fun activities like tie-dyeing and music performances.
Many people believe that Grossinger's was the inspiration for "Kellerman's Mountain Resort" in the popular 1987 movie Dirty Dancing.
In 1986, the Grossinger family sold the property. The main hotel and resort areas closed that year. However, the golf course stayed open for many more years, until 2017. The golf clubhouse was taken down in 2018. The remaining buildings of the resort were also demolished in 2018.
What Grossinger's Looked Like
Grossinger's changed its look many times over the years. It started as a Victorian-style hotel. Later, it added Mission-style features. In the 1940s, it expanded with Tudor-style buildings. Finally, in the 1950s and 1960s, it added Modernist-styled buildings for rooms and entertainment.
The original building was designed by a local architect named Frank Cottle. As other resorts nearby grew, Grossinger's also expanded. They made the dining room much bigger and added the "Terrace Room" nightclub and the "Pink Elephant" bar. The famous architect Morris Lapidus even helped redesign the Terrace Room in 1949.
Images for kids
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A room at Grossinger's in 1977
See also
- Jewish country club
