Hunter is a skiing destination surrounded by natural beauty
Hunter Mountain, set in the Northern Catskills, is the highest point in Greene County. Skiers and outdoor adventurers who want to live close to this popular vacation area move to the town of Hunter. Carol Shaw, broker and owner of Shaw Country Realty, had a realty office in town and continues to sell homes in the area. “Hunter, it’s a big mountain to ski, and it’s beautiful country up here,” Shaw says. “You’ve got lakes, waterfalls, hiking trails and a lot of venues that give people something to do on a weekend.” The town of Hunter covers the villages of Hunter, Tannersville, Haines Falls and Lanesville. People move to Hunter or Tannersville to be close to the restaurants, antique shops and grocery stores, but the smaller Haines Falls and Lanesville are a short drive away. The whole area, though, offers stunning mountain views, resorts and small businesses.
Chalets and cabins residents often flip into rentals
There are National-style homes near the centers of Tannersville and Hunter, but most homes throughout town have cabin or chalet designs. Properties with sprawling land or lake views have sold for $920,000 to $1.4 million. Cabins that sell for $380,000 to $830,000 are often tucked away in trees and feel more isolated than those closer to downtown. Condo units, manufactured homes and cottages that need repairs go for less than $100,000 to $400,000. Shaw says the majority of people who buy a home in Hunter are purchasing a second home. During the off-season, residents often rent their homes through services such as Airbnb.
Skiing, hiking and camping destinations moments from home
Hunter Mountain Resort is a destination for skiing, hiking and camping. Residents might purchase season or day passes to the resort. While Hunter Mountain is close to home, there’s also the Windham Mountain Club 10 minutes away, with its ski slopes, a golf course and mountain biking trails. “Hunter is a lot bigger mountain than Windham,” Shaw says. “They’re so close. I’ve had people live in Windham but ski in Hunter.” Washington Irving's fictional tale of Rip Van Winkle, a man who fell asleep for 20 years, is set in a village in the valley of the Catskills. Hunter has staked a claim to the legend and hikers can take an expedition to a monument to the character, a blue stone carving in the mountain. While Hunter Mountain is the main draw, residents in Tannersville are close to Rip Van Winkle Lake Park. Paved athletic courts, a skatepark and a playground neighbor the lake, which has a small beach along the water. The 1,500-acre Colgate Lake Wild Forest is nearby and has two fishing lakes, hiking trails and campgrounds.
Hunter-Tannersville middle and high schoolers swing for first
The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District earns a C-plus from Niche. Hunter Elementary School teaches kindergarten through sixth grade and is rated B-minus. Hunter-Tannersville Middle School/High School also gets a B-minus. Athletics is a high priority at Hunter-Tannersville across the teams. The golf team had a perfect season in 2025 and qualified for the Delaware League Tournament.
Brief commutes to Windham and direct trips to Albany
Hunter is about 10 miles from Windham, where people visit the ski resort, restaurants and the Windham Medical Care. For emergencies, residents might go to HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston or Margaretville Hospital. The drive to Albany and the Albany International Airport is 60 miles long and can take over an hour. Being in the mountains means dealing with snow in the winters. While snow is ideal for skiing, it can also lead to covered roads. “I’d rather have five feet of snow up here than five inches down there,” Shaw says. “They’re really good with that. The school buses follow the snowplows.” People also pass landmarks while driving through town, like The Hunter Synagogue and Kaaterskill United Methodist Church.
German-inspired dinners and coffee at Fellow Mountain Cafe
Ze Wine Bar at Jägerberg Beer Hall & Alpine Tavern is open for dinner year-round, but things pick up during Oktoberfest season. “Hunter does the Oktoberfest, and they do three weekends in the fall,” Shaw says. “Windham has a big autumn affair every Columbus Day weekend.” Fellow Mountain Cafe serves coffee, breakfast and lunch, while Scribner’s stays open later for dinner and cocktail hour. Tannersville has unique restaurants as well, like Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Café, a restaurant decorated floor to ceiling with antiques that hosts live music and features a candy shop. For groceries, there’s the Village Market Deli and Tops Friendly Markets.
Celebrating Oktoberfest in Hunter and watching ballet in Tannersville
Every year, Hunter comes alive for Oktoberfest. Some people dress up in lederhosen and buy a pass to Hunter Mountain to shop from local vendors, enjoy live music and enter contests. For over 10 years, the Catskill Mountain Foundation Nutcracker has held ballet performances every December at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville.
