Neversink offers access to the outdoors and a small-town feel
Neversink’s history comes with a bit of irony. The Sullivan County town was originally located a couple of miles west until the state decided to flood that area to create Neversink Reservoir. The residents relocated to their current location, but Neversink's original land sank underwater. Today, Neversink is a Catskill Mountain town that combines small-town atmosphere with access to fishing, boating and hiking. The town includes several smaller hamlets, including one with the same name. “It’s basically one street on the state highway,” says broker Alla Sienitsky with Resort Realty. The hamlet is home to Neversink General Store, a one-stop shop so locals can live a more isolated lifestyle. Just down New York Route 55 is Grahamsville, the other major hamlet in the town. “They have a family deli and the DEP headquarters, which is a big employer,” Sienitsky says about the Department of Environmental Protection located in Grahamsville. Like other Catskill towns, Neversink’s population includes a mix of permanent residents and seasonal visitors from New York City. However, Sienitsky says that seasonal guests stick to the rural parts of the town while locals are closer to the hamlets.
Fishing on reservoirs, hiking the Catskills and swimming in the pools
Locals can head to one of two reservoirs — Neversink and Rondout. “Neversink Reservoir allows recreation, and Neversink General Store has a spot where they can treat your kayak,” Sienitsky says. Only non-motorized boats are allowed, and the state department requires cleaning before launching. Fishing is available on the water, and hunting is popular in the surrounding land. Rondout Reservoir is closer to Grahamsville but only allows fishing. Sundown Wild Forest crosses into the town, offering over 30,000 acres of forest. Its hiking trails span 10 mountains, including High Point Mountain and Denman Mountain. Trails pass waterfalls and provide panoramic views of the mountains. Neversink Pool is in the hamlet, managed by the Neversink Fire District and is free to those living within the district. The Grahamsville Fairgrounds’ pool is open to all Neversink residents and has tennis, pickleball and basketball courts. In August, it hosts the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair, which just celebrated its 145th anniversary. The festival includes livestock exhibits, live music, demonstrations and carnival rides and games.
From manufactured homes to A-frame cabins in Neversink
Most homes are a mix of manufactured homes, cottages and bungalows, situated along curving country roads through the hilly terrain. Houses sit right off the roads with short driveways and plenty of space between them and the next property. In Grahamsville, streetlights along New York Route 55 feature banners with photos of veterans. The homes typically range from $100,000 to $300,000, but a few A-frame and log cabins sell for a bit more, ranging from $400,000 to $700,000.
Neversink General Store and Grahamsville Deli
Neversink General Store is both a local grocery store and a gas station. In addition to convenience items, people can also purchase hot food, such as sandwiches and barbecue. “You can always go and get fresh baked bread and pizza. They bring in local maple syrup and honey,” Sienitsky says. The Grahamsville Deli offers sandwiches, soups and comfort food. It also has convenience store goods. Grahamsville Gorilla is along the state highway, right between the two major hamlets. Locals head there for soft serve and ice cream sundaes. Dollar General is right next door. For more grocery stores, Lemonade Kosher Supermarket is about 9 miles away in Liberty, while Skopps Supermarket is the same distance but in Fallsburg.
New York Route 55 connects Neversink's hamlets
New York Route 55 is the main thoroughfare through Neversink, linking the two main hamlets and passing both reservoirs. New York Route 43 connects the town with Fallsburg in the south. For healthcare, Garnet Health Medical Center-Catskills, Harris Campus is 15 miles away. Because of the Catskills’ more isolated location, bigger cities and travel hubs are a bit of a hike. Albany is 97 miles away, home to Albany International Airport, about 106 miles away. Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is a bit closer, about 87 miles away. New York City is 115 miles from Neversink.
Students attend Tri-Valley Central School District
Students head to Tri-Valley Central School District, which keeps all its students on one campus, located off the highway in Grahamsville. For kindergarten through fifth grade, students head to Tri-Valley Elementary School. For the rest of their education, they go to Tri-Valley Secondary School, which has dual enrollment courses through SUNY Sullivan and SUNY Albany. Both schools receive C-plus ratings from Niche.
![Caroline Ernst]()
Written By
Caroline Ernst
