Catskill is a hub for artists and adventurers on the Hudson River
The beauty of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains has attracted artists to the New York town of Catskill since the 1830s, when Thomas Cole, the founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting, settled here. Today, the town is filled with art galleries and studios, and the river and mountains continue to inspire creatives and outdoor adventurers. Like the nearby towns of Hudson and Kingston, Catskill has seen an increasing interest from buyers from New York City looking for second homes. “The people who are coming up are chill. It’s not like they’re coming up and want to change the area. They like it for what it is,” says Elizabeth Alfeld, who goes by Beth and is a broker with Keller Williams Realty Hudson Valley North. She says that as other Hudson River Valley towns have become popular, they get more expensive and lose their small-town feel. “Catskill is not quite there,” she says. “It still feels quaint.”
Historic homes and custom retreats are popular with second-home buyers
The homes in Catskill’s hilly town center display turn-of-the-century architecture, including Queen Anne, Second Empire and Italianate designs. Yard sizes range from large enough for only a few shrubs to spacious corner lots with mature trees and detached garages. Multifamily homes in town have units available for rent. Ranch-style houses just outside the village center have a more suburban feel. Century-old farmhouses, manufactured houses and luxury custom homes are spread apart in the surrounding rural area.
Alfeld says most of the homes here are used as second homes or vacation rentals. “For somebody from downstate, it’s a great buy because what they can buy for a million dollars down there, they can get for $500,000 here,” she says. Prices typically range from around $220,000 to $700,000. Updated historic properties in town can range from $740,000 to $1 million, and custom luxury homes range from $890,000 to $1.8 million. Homes near Catskill Creek can be at risk of flooding and require flood insurance.
Downtown has locally owned restaurants and creative spaces
Catskill’s walkable downtown is filled with locally owned restaurants and specialty stores selling books, records and antiques. La Conca D’Oro is a longtime mainstay known for its Italian dishes and wine cellar décor. Willa’s is a bakery that offers breakfast and lunch. It’s located in Foreland, a group of three former mill buildings on Water Street that have been repurposed into artist studios and a coworking space. The influence of Catskill’s artists can also be found in the several galleries along Main Street and in performance spaces like The Avalon Lounge, which has live music, and the Bridge Street Theatre, which has plays. The Catskill Farmers Market is each Sunday from Memorial Day through the end of October. National retailers like Lowe’s Home Improvement and grocery stores like Walmart and Price Chopper are on Bridge Street.
Catskill Central School District serves the area
Kids can attend schools in the Catskill Central School District, which earns an overall rating of B-minus from Niche. They can start at Catskill Elementary and then go to Catskill Middle; both earn a B-minus. At the B-rated Catskill High, students can join around 20 clubs, including the fishing club, Odyssey of the Mind and Leadership Greene.
River access, museums and scenic hikes nearby
The Hudson River and Catskill Creek are popular places for boaters and paddlers to explore the water. Dutchman’s Landing Park has a public boat launch, a playground and a walking path with river views. Boaters can store their craft at Bliss Marina, located near where Catskill Creek meets the Hudson. The Thomas Cole National Historic Site has rotating exhibitions featuring Cole’s work, other Hudson River School painters and contemporary artists. The 6-mile Hudson River Skywalk, a pedestrian walkway across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, leads across the river to the Olana State Historic Site, which was the home of the artist Frederic Church. Popular hiking trails in the Catskill Mountains are nearby, including a trail leading to Kaaterskill Falls, the highest cascading waterfall in the state.
Car, bus and train routes to nearby towns and New York City
The Rip Van Winkle Bridge leads across the river to Hudson, which is around 6 miles away and has the closest hospital, Columbia Memorial Health. Interstate 87 leads roughly 29 miles to Kingston and 34 miles to Albany and the Albany International Airport. New York City is around 123 miles away via I-87 or the Taconic State Parkway, and commuters can also get there on the Amtrak train in Hudson, a trip that takes around two hours. Greene County Transit has bus routes around the area. Sidewalks make the town center pedestrian-friendly. Houses of worship here include St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Temple Israel of Catskill.
Holiday and summer events bring the community together
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Catskill Parade of Lights kicks off the holiday season with a parade down Main Street that ends with a tree lighting ceremony. From June to September, the free Music in the Park concert series draws crowds to Dutchman’s Landing Park each Thursday evening.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
