Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project

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Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project

Your source for all things Borscht Belt! Take our trail, please! 🪧🚙

06/01/2026

Skaters World in Ferndale got its start as Fun Fare, a popular Catskills amusement park where bungalow colony guests and local families could enjoy a roller rink, go-karts, boat rides, and other attractions.

In the 1970s, Ann Blake took over the property and transformed it into Skaters World, operating the rink for the next 35 years. Under her ownership, it became a rite of passage for generations of Sullivan County kids, hosting countless birthday parties, school trips, and weekend skating sessions. After Ann’s passing in 2007, the rink remained in family hands before being purchased in 2014 by former manager Darrin Edelglass, who returned with plans to restore and modernize the facility. Though the rink enjoyed a brief revival, it eventually closed, and a fire in 2021 brought an end to the building as we knew it. The site is now a storage facility, much quieter than what once stood there. Thankfully, the iconic ‘ROLLERINK”letters were salvaged.

These beautiful photographs of Ann and the rink were captured by . Thank you for capturing such a special moment in time.

Skaters World forever ❤️

05/31/2026

the nevele hotel at its most liminal, 2008-2010

The Nevele was renovated in the early 2000s, and with that came a hotel stripped of a lot of character & color, trying to fit in with the bleakness of modern trends, resulting in a place that didn’t quite make sense visually and couldn’t be placed in the present or past. these photos capture the hotel during its most vulnerable era, pre and post closure

photos 1-7 c. sousveillance / flickr
photos 8-10 c. agardnahh / flickr

05/28/2026

On Sunday, June 28th, we invite you to kick off summer with us in Ferndale, debuting our 16th historic marker at 4:00 PM at 9 Ferndale Road, across from the Mobil station.

Spend the afternoon in one of the Catskills’ most storied hamlets, where early sanitaria and farms—and later hotels, resorts, and bungalow colonies—helped shape a legendary era of leisure and hospitality.

Dedication speakers include longtime Ferndale resident Maurice Gerry, whose humor, storytelling, and lifelong connection to the hamlet reflect the enduring spirit of Ferndale, along with hotel descendants Marc Stier of Stier’s and Eileen Pollack of Pollack’s.

Then head to Otto’s (5:00 - 7:00 pm) for Find Me in Ferndale! An immersive, visual deep dive into Ferndale’s layered history, tracing the evolution of Route 17 and Grossinger’s earliest days and the spirit of the Catskills resort era.

This will be an afternoon of storytelling and atmosphere featuring an immersive slideshow, music, themed cocktails, food available for purchase, local lore, and a Marker Project merch pop-up — part history, part gathering, all Catskills summer energy!

4:00 PM: Dedication Ceremony, Maurice Gerry’s, 9 Ferndale Road, Ferndale NY

5:00 – 7:00 PM: “Find Me in Ferndale!”
Otto’s, 2514 NY-52, Liberty NY

Please note: Otto’s will be closed to the public and open exclusively for this private event.

These events are free and open to all.

05/27/2026

The vibrant main lobby at The Ambassador Hotel in Fallsburg, NY. A mishmash of eras, textures, and furnishings, yet every detail somehow works in perfect harmony. The glowing shell mirror in the rear corners absolutely seal the deal.

Photograph C. BBHMP Archives

05/26/2026

meet us this summer?

our 2026 season kicks off soon. see you in the catskills :)

05/23/2026

a perfect place to spend a rainy day..

indoor pool at Gilbert’s Hotel, South Fallsburg NY, 1965 🌊

Photo C. BBHMP Archives

05/19/2026

‘Twas a different time and place. Billboards for the Windsor & Schenk’s hotels in South Fallsburg along NY-17 in the 1960s.

As always, need to shoutout the impeccable artistry in these billboards by Spector-Kay and ! The detail in the billboards of yonder never disappoint!

05/15/2026

A slice of paradise at Homestead Bungalow Colony in Greenfield Park, one of many thriving colonies on Route 52.

Video courtesy Scott Sklar / BBHMP.

Address

P. O. Box 797
Rock Hill, NY
12775

Website

http://www.maytheborschtbewithyou.org/

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