| Lower Green Area: Highland, Lumberland and Tusten townships. This includes the towns of Barryville, a sleepy little rivertown, Eldred and Yulan, which are both small country towns, and Narrowsburg, another Delaware River Town that is considered to be the art capital of Sullivan County (see the Delaware Arts Alliance link on the homepage). In this area lies the Delaware River, as I mentioned before, and a few different sized lakes, some of which allow motorboats. This area is great for the outdoor folk. The drive down Route 97 along the river is one of the best in the county, and is a favorite among motorcylists. Fishing opportunities are abundant. Hickcock State Park, outside of Eldred, is perfect for hiking, fishing, and hunting. The local Boy Scout Camp also allows hunting, although one must apply for a permit. Lower Pink Area: This area includes Foresburgh, with a portion of Lumberland, and has some of the most desirable lake front homes in the county. Unfortunately they are scarce, and tend to be snapped up pretty quickly. The lakes are Black Lake, Swinging Bridge Reservoir, and Toronto Reservoir (the latter two are man-made lakes that feed the metro area's water demands). Black Lake is an upscale non-motor boat development. Chapin Estate, another premier rural development with an Adiraondack feel, is located on Swinging Bridge Reservoir, and is home to some of the highest-priced real estate in the county. This area also has some very nice secluded homes tucked away on a few acres. The proximity to Monticello, and Route 17 make this area a favorite for second home buyers. |
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The Different Areas of Sullivan County Catskills
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Sullivan County is big, one of the biggest in New York State, and the different areas have very different feels to them. Please keep that in mind as you begin your exploration. Although proximity to the metro area is a big draw, some of the more scenic and desirable areas are further northwest, where the Catskills really begin, and the rolling farmland is abundant. There are many different lakes in Sullivan County, but those too are very different, and appeal to different folks. I have broken down the different areas of the map to give you a better idea of all that Sullivan County has to offer.
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| Blue and Green to the Right: This area is the original Borsch Belt. In its heyday this was the area to "summer" in. Kutcher's, The Concord, and Grossingers lured people from the city to the Catskills to see rising stars like Alan King, Joan Rivers, Jackie Mason, and Milton Berle. The Concord is in the midst of a renaissance, thanks to developer Louis Cappelli. It is due to re-open in 2010 with 500 rooms, a multi-use entertainment complex, and an updated golf course. He has already teamed up with Park Place Entertaiment to move the racino to the Concord site, and rumors of a full-fledged casino continue to swirl. The Thompson, Loomis, and Liberty areas have fallen into harder times since the glitz of the Dirty Dancing era, but some of the older Catskill elite homes can still be had for pretty affordable prices (although some elbow grease will need to be applied!). The very eastern part of this region has quite a few lakes (Lake Louise Marie, Wannaksink Lake, Yankee Lake, and Wolf Lake) with some pretty affordable lake homes. Although most have a decidedly 70's feel, it is by far your best bet for an affordable lake home Upper Blue, Yellow, and Pink:,This area consists of Callicoon, Jeffersonville and Fremont, and is where the county really takes on a pastoral feel. To the west is the river town of Callicoon, with some great eateries and shops. Riverfront homes around this area tend to be the most expensive, but there are some fairly affordable homes close by that still offer some privacy. Jeffersonville is another favorite, with farmers markets and firemen events throughout the summer. Again, the prices reflect the popularity. Fremont is sort of the gateway to the north, where in my opinon, the best value can be had. Although you are over that magic two hour drive, it could be well worth it for the price paid.
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