Outdoor adventures and mountain scenery define life in Lexington
With winter skiing and summer hiking, Lexington is an adventurer’s retreat in New York’s northern Catskill Mountains. “Lexington has some beautiful, beautiful country and magnificent views,” says Carol Shaw, a broker and owner of Shaw Country Realty who’s sold homes in the area since 1985, “and you're pretty much about 15 minutes or less, depending on where you are, from Hunter Mountain, Windham Mountain and Bearpen Mountain.” These attractions are best known for their ski slopes, and the entire area is located within Catskill Park, a wilderness area with hiking trails through the mountains. New York City is around 143 miles away, a drive that takes around three hours, making Lexington a popular spot for second-home buyers from the city.
Year-round outdoor recreation includes skiing and fly fishing
“Within 20 minutes, there’s just so much to do if you’re an outdoors person,” Shaw says. “It’s pretty much a four-seasons community.” Fly fishing for trout on streams like the West Kill and Schoharie Creek is particularly popular in the spring, while hiking in Catskill Park is popular in the summer and fall. With so many ski areas nearby, winter provides even more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Hunter Mountain Resort, Windham Mountain Club and Belleayre Mountain all offer skiing and snowboarding, and Bearpen Mountain has ice skating and cross-country skiing. While winters here typically bring a lot of snow, the ski resorts will make their own snow if the weather doesn’t cooperate. “You get 2 inches one year, and then other years you get 3 feet. There’s no rhyme or reason,” Shaw says. These resorts also offer warm-weather activities, like swimming at Belleayre Mountain and golf at the Windham Golf Club.
Mountain cabins and forested retreats are popular for second homes
Many of Lexington’s homes have views of the surrounding mountains, and others are forested retreats. “Primarily, you have a lot of second homes — a lot of log homes, a lot of country houses, some beautiful horse country,” Shaw says. Some homes sit on several acres, allowing room for guest houses and stables. Some of the smaller homes here can have ranch-style and cottage designs, while larger houses are often custom cabin- and chalet-style builds. Those with less than 2,000 square feet generally cost between $180,000 and $420,000, while larger homes can range from $670,000 to $1.2 million. “About 75% of my buyers are doing Airbnbs lately,” Shaw says. The town caps the number of short-term rental permits for nonpermanent residents each year, and people who want to rent out their vacation homes have to pay an annual fee and have their property inspected. Properties near Schoharie Creek and state Route 42 are at a high risk of flooding and might require flood insurance.
Backcountry roads connect Lexington to nearby towns
“When you drive around up here, it’s backcountry roads. We say it’s a minute a mile,” Shaw says. “You don’t have heavy traffic up here.” State Route 23A leads around 8 miles to Hunter, and state Route 42 leads roughly 17 miles to Phoenicia. These main roads follow the path of creeks, and they can become washed out when the creeks flood. New York City is a roughly 143-mile drive. Margaretville Hospital is 27 miles away, and Albany International Airport is a 72-mile drive. Houses of worship here include the Lexington-Westkill United Methodist Church.
A brewery and general store are nearby, more options within 20 minutes
Despite its remote location, West Kill Brewing is a big attraction for the area. Surrounded by mountains, the brewery serves craft beer and has a rotating selection of food trucks. “It’s one way in and one way out,” Shaw says. “It’s amazing the business that they do.” Van Dusen’s is a general store here that sells grocery staples and has a bar. Every other Saturday from May to October, the Lexington Farmers Market sells locally sourced produce. Other restaurants and grocery stores are farther away. “I always say don’t forget your eggs,” Shaw says. “Sometimes you have to go miles just for some food.” Tops Friendly Market, a grocery store, is around 13 miles away in Tannersville, while eateries like the farm-to-table Peekamoose Restaurant and the more casual Phoenicia Diner are within 17 miles.
Fall festivals in nearby ski areas
The area’s mountain resorts host several events throughout the year. At Belleayre Mountain, the annual Fall Festival in October takes place over two weekends and features live music, a stein-holding contest and food trucks. Hunter Mountain’s Oktoberfest spans three weekends and includes German cuisine and the Doxie Derby, where Dachshunds race for prizes. The West Kill Lexington Community Hall also hosts regular events, including potluck dinners, barn dances and a holiday craft market.
The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District serves the area
Kids can attend schools in the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District, which earns an overall rating of B-minus from Niche. They can start at the B-minus-rated Hunter Elementary, where all students take a weekly art or music class. Hunter-Tannersville Middle/High earns a B and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 7-to-1.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
