Kinderhook offers a mix of history and modernity in the Hudson Valley
History is everywhere in Kinderhook, even as restaurants and art spaces bring new energy to this small Hudson Valley community. First appearing on maps in the 1600s, Kinderhook gained acclaim as the birthplace and home of Martin Van Buren, the eighth U.S. president. He was friends with the author Washington Irving, whose time in Kinderhook inspired works like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Today, proximity to Albany is helping this community grow, and its historic buildings are being updated to make space for restaurants, businesses and community spaces. “Kinderhook is so sought after. I call it the hot hamlet of Columbia County,” says Christine Hinz, an associate real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Village Green who lives nearby. “It’s just blossomed so much in the last five to 10 years. It really took off during the pandemic, and a lot of people came in. Everybody was new there, and they all met each other and became friends. Now they’re all hanging out at the local coffee shop and doing barbecues together on the weekends.”
Historic and newer homes in village and country settings
Colonial homes are common throughout Kinderhook, ranging from New Traditional houses built in the 2000s to properties built as early as the 1700s. Older homes can feature the gambrel roofs characteristic of Dutch Colonial houses or the short second-story windows of the regionally popular eyebrow Colonial. Many of these homes sit close together in the walkable villages of Kinderhook and Valatie, while others can sit on over 100 acres of rolling farmland with mountain views. “If you’re looking at houses in Kinderhook, you’re going to be in a very competitive market,” Hinz says. “You're probably looking at multiple offers if it's right in the village.” Remodeled historic homes and those on acreage generally range from $800,000 to $1.5 million, while newer ranch-style, split-level and New Traditional homes typically go for $240,000 to $800,000.
Locally owned eateries and locally grown produce
The villages of Kinderhook and Valatie are home to locally owned eateries and shops. Hinz recommends The Aviary in Kinderhook, an upscale Asian fusion restaurant that shares space with a wine shop, an art gallery and other restaurants in a former textile factory. Main Street Diner in Valatie is a more casual option that serves classic diner fare and comfort food. “There’s one of the best orchards in the area in Kinderhook: Samascott,” Hinz says. “There, they have a great farm store. You can go apple picking on the grounds in the fall months. They also do a corn maze that’s really popular. I’ve done it, and it's hard. It’s a real challenge.” Samascott Orchards allows visitors to pick more than just apples; they also grow strawberries, blueberries and pumpkins. Samascott’s Garden Market sells locally sourced produce, meat and prepared food, and the weekly Kinderhook Farmers’ Market offers more locally sourced goods from May to October. More groceries are available at Hannaford and Ocean State Job Lot.
Schools’ names have literary ties
Kids can start school at Ichabod Crane Primary, which earns an A-minus from Niche, and then go to Ichabod Crane Middle and Ichabod Crane Senior High, which both earn a B-plus. The schools are named after the main character in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” because Irving based the character on his friend and Kinderhook’s first teacher, Jesse Merwin. High schoolers can participate in over 40 clubs, including School of Rock, the model railroad club and the ski club.
A mix of outdoor fun, creative spaces and cultural stops
The 36-mile Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, a path popular with joggers and bicyclists, passes through Kinderhook. It’s part of the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile system of paved and gravel paths that spans all of New York. One of the trailheads is in Rothermel Park, a sports complex with a popular playground, baseball fields and a tennis court. The park hosts a six-week summer camp where kids can play games and make crafts. Kayakers and anglers can access Kinderhook Creek at Hudson Landing at Creekside Park. The School, an art space operated by the Jack Shainman Gallery, hosts exhibitions of work by new and established contemporary artists. The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site offers tours of the president’s home, Lindenwald, and it also hosts history-focused events throughout the year, including the Original Kinderhook Black Family Reunion’s Pinkster Fest, which brings together the community’s original African American and Dutch families for a day that includes a parade, history demonstrations and colonial games.
Amenities in Albany and Hudson are within a 30-minute drive
U.S. Route 9 leads around 23 miles to Albany and 13 miles to Hudson. Albany International Airport is a 31-mile trip. Columbia Memorial Health, the closest hospital, is in Hudson, as is an Amtrak station with trains to New York City. Columbia County Public Transit has a commuter bus to Albany. Cyclists can take the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail to nearby towns, and sidewalks make Kinderhook’s villages pedestrian-friendly. Houses of worship here include Kinderhook Reformed Church and St. John the Baptist Church.
Written By
Annie Franklin
