Rock Hill offers lakefront living in the Catskill Mountains
With views of lakes and New York’s Catskill Mountains, the hamlet of Rock Hill is a scenic retreat from New York City. “It’s famous because it’s right off the exit,” says Alla Sienitsky, the principal broker with Resort Realty who’s sold homes in the area for over 27 years. “For people who live in the city, it’s literally an hour and a half, an hour and 45 minutes, and they don’t have to go any further. It’s right there.” Rock Hill is a collection of communities that surround private lakes, and the area as a whole is known for its hiking trails and resort amenities. While many buy second homes here, Sienitsky says employers like Crystal Run Healthcare attract full-time residents to the community as well. “Rock Hill is a barometer of the real estate market in Sullivan County. It’s so desirable,” Sienitsky says. “Nowhere will be selling, but Rock Hill will still be going.”
Lakefront homes, from midcentury modern to new construction
Rock Hill is a collection of lakefront communities, and Sienitsky says each has its own character. “The biggest community is called Emerald Green,” she says. “It was a new community started in the ‘70s and continues even now. Some spillover lots are left, and people are building new houses.” Most of the homes in Emerald Green are ranch-style or colonial-inspired New Traditional houses. Those on the water have private docks, and most are on forested lots that offer a sense of privacy from nearby neighbors. Midcentury modern ranch-style homes are common in the Lake Louise Marie community, and the Wanaksink Lake community offers custom homes. Prices typically range from around $260,000 to $500,000, though houses with more than 3,000 square feet, new construction and properties on large lots can range from $500,000 to $890,000. Monthly homeowners association fees can range from around $70 to $150.
Private lakes, public parks and the Neversink River Unique Area
The private communities here offer access to private lakes like Lake Louise Marie, Wanaksink Lake and Treasure Lake, and they also have community swimming pools and tennis courts. Lake Ida Park has a public lake that’s open to fishing, and the park also hosts the Rock Hill Summer Concert Series, where local bands play each Wednesday in July and August. Kids can burn off some energy at the Rock Hill Playground or the sports fields near the fire department. The Neversink River Unique Area, which is also called the Neversink Gorge, is popular for hiking trails, waterfalls and fly fishing. Nearby, Resorts World Catskills has a casino and 18-hole golf course, and The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark has year-round swimming.
The Monticello Central School District serves the area
Kids attend schools in the Monticello Central School District, which gets an overall rating of C-plus from Niche. They can go to the C-plus-rated Emma Chase Elementary and then attend the C-rated Robert J. Kaiser Middle. Monticello High gets a B-minus and offers around 30 clubs and activities, including the jazz ensemble, the math team and the poets and writers club.
A few locally owned businesses and eateries are nearby
Rock Hill Drive is a small commercial hub with a bank, a music center and the Rock Hill Trading Post, which is a hardware and grocery store. There are also restaurants like Dutch’s Tavern and Grill, a sports bar that serves pub fare and has dart and pool leagues. Near Lake Louise Marie, El Sombrero Tex Mex Bar and Grill offers Mexican favorites and bar food. From June through September, the Rock Hill Farmers Market sells locally sourced food and goods. National retailers like Walmart and grocery stores like ShopRite are in Monticello.
Car and bus routes to Monticello and New York City
State Route 17 leads roughly 6 miles to Monticello and 89 miles to New York City. Coach USA’s ShortLine Hudson bus has a route from Monticello to New York City, and Move Sullivan has bus routes around the county, with the closest stop at Crystal Run Healthcare, an urgent and primary care facility. Houses of worship here include Chabad of Rock Hill and the Methodist Church of Rock Hill. Garnet Health Medical Center in Harris, the closest hospital, is around 11 miles away. New York Stewart International Airport offers domestic flights around 39 miles away, and Westchester County Airport is an 84-mile trip.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
