Bethel, site of Woodstock
Site of the Woodstock Festival, Bethel, is a rural town, 10 miles away from Monticello, New York, in the Catskill Mountains. The area is known for its art scene and abundance of outdoor recreation. “The beauty of Bethel is that it truly fits everyone,” says Elizabeth Bernitt, an associate broker with Century 21 Geba Realty. Bernitt has been selling in Sullivan County for 22 years and is one of the top sellers in the area. “People are drawn to its rich history, breathtaking scenery and vibrant cultural scene.” To celebrate the history of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the Sullivan Catskills Visitor Association created a Dove Trail, made up of hand-painted birds inspired by the festival in villages and outside of businesses. So far, there are 80 doves within Sullivan County.
Swimming, fishing and boating in parks and hamlets
The Town of Bethel Pool and Park has an outdoor pool open from July through Labor Day weekend. Outside the pool area is a colorful playground and a community garden along Old White Lake Turnpike. The Campground at Bethel Woods, near the Center for the Arts, offers yurts, RV and tent sites. Lake Superior State Park is over 1400 acres and is a popular swimming, fishing and boating location. The seasonal beach area is open for swimming from Memorial Day weekend through June, and there are picnic spots, a boat launch and fishing. The Kauneonga Lake Boat Launch allows residents to fish and boat on White Lake, which is known for its bass and trout. Mountain Lake has the private Smallwood beach, which is only open to residents of the Smallwood Civic Association and is accessible from June through Labor Day.
Lakeside homes and farmsteads
Homes surround lakes or sit on sprawling farmland along winding roadways. Lakefront houses may have private docks. Many homes also use septic tanks and wells. Most houses on Mountain Lake are in the Civic Association of Smallwood and pay an annual membership of $350. Houses on White Lake are a part of the White Lake Country Club Property Owners Association in the hamlet of Kauneonga Lake and pay an annual membership fee. “Bethel has found a wonderful balance between year-round and seasonal residents,” says Bernitt. “More people are extending their stays, turning weekend getaways into year-round lifestyles, while a strong community of full-time residents continues to thrive.”
Cabins, Minimal Traditional and National style homes are common. They range from $75,000 to $760,000. Larger homes range from $800,000 to $1.1 million. “Bethel is naturally experiencing steady growth,” says Bernitt. “Many of these new builds lean toward the higher end, signaling growing interest from buyers seeking space, style, and the serene Catskills lifestyle.”
Performances at Bethel Woods and handmade art in Kauneonga Lake
Known for its concerts at the 1969 Woodstock festival site, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts offers events and live performances throughout the year. Some events include holiday-themed walk-throughs of the forested campus. Vendors sell fresh produce and artisanal goods at the Kauneonga Lake Farm & Makers Market every Saturday. From the end of June through September, the market is outdoors near Veterans Square, in the fall, winter and spring, it moves inside the Duggan School in the hamlet of White Lake.
Shopping and dining in the hamlet of Bethel
The Bethel Market Café, located in a red and white Greek Revival building in the hamlet of Bethel, serves American-style breakfast and lunch. A colorful dove outside Hector’s Inn reads: original Woodstock watering hole. The inn has pub fare and hosts live music and events. In the hamlet of Kauneonga Lake, Sorella is a pizzeria that offers American comfort food and outdoor seating. Monticello has an Aldi, a ShopRite and a Walmart Supercenter for groceries.
Commuters use state Routes
“Many residents are able to telecommute,” says Bernitt. “For those who do commute, most have a drive of about 30 minutes, while others happily take on a two-hour trip into Manhattan.” Monticello and Jeffersonville are 10 miles away using state Route 17B. State Route 17 leads to Manhattan.
The Ellenville Regional Hospital is 35 miles away, and the New York Stewart International Airport is 54 miles away. Houses of worship such as Satmar Shul, White Lake Church, and White Lake Reformed Presbyterian Church are in Kauneonga Lake.
Monticello Central schools get Cs
Monticello Central School District, which gets a C-plus from Niche, serves most of the area. Children may attend St. John Street for prekindergarten, George Cooke Elementary for kindergarten through second grade and Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary for third through fifth grade. Cooke and Rutherford both get a C, and St. John is unrated. Robert J. Kaiser Middle also gets a C, and Monticello High gets a B-minus. Monticello High has an Art Honor Society for dance, and the middle and high schools have an honor society for music. Bethel is also overseen by the Sullivan West Central School District, which gets a C-plus and the Liberty Central School District, which gets a C.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
