Located a snowball’s throw from Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, Pine Hill, New York, is part of the Catskills Mountains. This hamlet has a reputation for being a playground for New Yorkers seeking a rural break from the state’s various cities. Once a vacation destination, Pine Hill is becoming a thriving investment community.
The neighborhood has also become a haven for artists and sculptors. “They are a huge part of the community,” says the Pine Hill Community Center executive director Colleen McMurray. “The art community inspires each other. The physical appeal of the region sparks creative inspiration. There are alike and different inspirations. The artists push out so many different aesthetics.”
Another source of inspiration for many New Yorkers is the annual fall foliage, which brings “leaf peepers” from all over the state and other points.
Rounding out the community’s creative vibe is the Storyhorse Documentary Theater, established by actors Mary Stuart Masterson and Jeremy Davidson. The group's stories are forged through conversations with community members, historical facts and pressing societal issues.
Pine Hill sits amid the Catskills, near the Big Indian Wilderness preserve.
Open Eye Theater serves as Pine Hill’s cultural hub with shows all year long.
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Ski homes and rental dominate the housing stock
Housing in the area is relatively similar. “Most of the homes are ski homes and rentals,” said Realtor Joshua Slater of the Catskill Dream Team. “We get renters, buyers, weekend-only and vacationers.” In addition, there are Victorian stick-builds and converted old storefronts. He adds that tourism is the main economic driver in the community. Homes in Pine Hill can cost between $150,000 to $660,000. The average home size is 2,046 square feet for homes that sit on lots with a median size of 43,560 square feet; nearly 80% of the structures in the area are homes.
Sean Nutley, a Realtor with Hudson Modern Co., says tourism isn’t seasonal—“It’s packed all the time.” He adds that Pine Hill is part of the Catskills' “new frontier for homes.” The local art collective, the Catskill Crafters, embraces the area's wintery season. One of the collective’s annual events recently featured “Coats of Many Colors,” an event that saw artists using different materials to create different coats artistically.
Turn of the century and newly renovated homes can be found on the same street in Pine Hill.
Victorian stick-built homes are well preserved with large lawns and front yards.
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Students help change the school name
Students in Pine Hill can attend Phoenicia Elementary School from K to 3rd grade, one of three local elementary schools. Niche grades the school a B-minus. Reginald Bennett Elementary School, a 4th through 6th grade school, also has a B-minus. Onteora Middle School earns a B-plus, housing 7th and 8th graders, while the high school, Onteora High School, carries an A-minus. In 2016, a student-led initiative to change the school mascot from the Indians to the Eagles was passed by the school board of trustees, overcoming the failed 2001 campaign. There are 10 colleges and universities within 50 miles of Pine Hill, including Bard College.
Onteora High School enrolls 413 students and maintains a 10:1 classroom ratio.
Phoenicia Elementary enrolls 125 students and maintains a 6:1 student-teacher ratio.
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Parks with water activities
Complete with self-composting dog waste disposal units, the Shandaken Dog Park is ideal for big and small dogs. Smith Park’s Belleayre Lake and Belleayre Beach offer alternative outdoor activities for locals, such as swimming, boating, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and picnicking, as well as summer music festivals, like the BelAir Music Festival.
Pine Hill neighbors Belleayre Lake, nestled within Belleayre Mountain’s scenic terrain.
Belleayre Beach offers a sandy lakeside escape near Pine Hill in the Catskills.
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Eating options
Eateries like Peekamoose Restaurant keep the masses fed with locally sourced food along with a nightly bonfire. Goatie Whites is where locals can grab a slice and an ice cream cone. Inn Between, in nearby Margaretville, is the perfect spot for a heaping pile of mashed potatoes and a perfectly cooked steak. Margaretville is also the ideal location to accomplish any weekly shopping tasks, including Margaretville Country Store, The Kitchen Cheetah and Margaretville Deli & Market — and it’s an 11-mile drive from Pine Hill to Margaretville. Residents should know that many of the local eateries tend to be closed on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays.
Culinary spots in Pine Hill often feature fresh, local ingredients in seasonal menus.
Peekamoose is a gourmet restaurant minutes from Pine Hill that uses locally sourced food.
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More than just concerts and skiing
Potential homeowners in Pine Hill will find their niche in art, theater, outdoor activities, breathtaking scenery, tourism and turning leaves.
Pine Hill residents often meet at Shandaken Dog Park for playtime and socializing.
Tucked in the Catskills woods, this Pine Hill ski home is close to Belleayre slopes.
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Written By
Robb Crocker
Photography Contributed By
Ricardo Picon
Video By
Tyler Newbold
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Veronica Newton,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Pine Hill, NY sell after 73 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Pine Hill, NY over the last 12 months is $989,000, up 163% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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