Overlook Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Overlook Mountain |
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Overlook Mountain's south face, April 2010. Fire tower is visible on Overlook's peak, on the right.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,136 ft (956 m) |
| Prominence | 620 ft (190 m) |
| Listing |
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| Geography | |
 Overlook Mountain
Location in New York
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| Parent range | Catskill Mountains |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Peter delaBigarre and companion; July 26, 1793 |
Overlook Mountain is a mountain in the Catskill Mountains near Woodstock, New York. It's a popular spot for hikers and is part of the Overlook Mountain Wild Forest. The mountain is known for its old fire tower and the interesting ruins of a grand hotel.
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Nature on Overlook Mountain
Overlook Mountain is part of the Catskill Escarpment. This area was shaped by ice ages long ago. The mountain is home to different kinds of wildlife. You might even spot a timber rattlesnake here! The top of the mountain is covered with trees like red oak, red spruce, and balsam fir.
History of Overlook Mountain
Overlook Mountain has a rich history. In the 1800s, several "mountain houses" were built in the Catskills for tourists. Overlook Mountain was one of these places. In 1902, the Byrdcliffe Colony was started on its southern slopes. This was a special community focused on arts and crafts.
The Fire Tower
The fire tower on Overlook Mountain is a cool place to visit. It was first built in 1927 on a different hill. In 1950, it was moved to its current spot on Overlook Mountain. This 60-foot (18.3 m) tall tower helped fire stewards find wildfires quickly.
The fire towers in the Catskills were closed in 1988 for safety. But after some repairs, Overlook's tower was the first to reopen on June 5, 1999. Today, visitors can climb it for amazing views.
The Mountain House Ruins
The first hotel on Overlook Mountain was built in 1833. More and more people wanted to visit the area back then. This hotel was meant to grow, but it struggled to compete with other big hotels nearby.
A new, grander hotel called the Overlook Mountain House opened in 1871. It was owned by Robert Livingston Pell. This hotel was very high up, at 2,920 feet (890 m) elevation. It could host 300 guests! Sadly, it burned down in 1875.
The hotel was rebuilt the same year. But it faced tough competition from other large hotels. In 1923, the hotel burned down again. An architect named Frank P. Amato was hired to redesign it.
However, the new design was never fully built. It was hard for guests to reach the hotel because it was so high up and there were no trains. The State of New York eventually bought much of the land. The hotel was boarded up in 1940. More fire damage in the 1960s caused a tower on the roof to fall. Today, you can still visit the ruins of the hotel from the main hiking trail. It's a fascinating place to explore!
- Ruins of Overlook Mountain House
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The ruins of Overlook Mountain House have no roof and significant tree growth inside.
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Courtyard of the Overlook Mountain House.
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Wall of the Overlook Mountain House. The roof was destroyed by fire.
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Most of the floors of the Overlook Mountain House no longer exist.
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The ruins consist mostly of the walls of the Mountain House.
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First view of the Overlook Mountain House on a foggy day
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A view of the Mountain House on a foggy day
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Nature is slowly reclaiming the entire structure
Images for kids
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View of Ashokan Reservoir from the Overlook Mountain Fire Tower
