Resort Overview

The Catskill region has a long and storied heritage as both America’s wilderness and a premier destination. In keeping with that tradition New York State's then Governor Eliot Spitzer announced an Agreement in Principle on September 15, 2007 that outlines plans for a world-class resort, expansion of the State-owned Belleayre Ski Center and the protection of more than 1,400 acres of land in the Catskill Forest Preserve. The Governor’s press release can be viewed here.

The Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park, as currently proposed, will become the premire, four-season resort directly serving the New York metropolitan area.  It will also be the most environmentally advanced and responsible large-scale development project the region has ever seen. All of the resort’s facilities will be open to the public, increasing the number of recreational options available to local residents.

The Resort is made up of two hotels, each with its own characteristics and amenities.  The Highmount Resort and Spa will be operated as a 5-star property consisting of a 120 hotel units. 76 other lodging units, a world-class spa which will include medical spa services and food and beverage facilities.  The family-oriented Wildacres Hotel will feature 250 hotel units, 163 other lodging units, a conference center, food and beverage facilities and a Wilderness Activies Center.  The Wildacres Hotel will also feature an 18-hole public, championship golf course which will be maintained using a strict organic regimen with no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides used. All of the resort’s facilities will be open to the public, increasing the number of recreational options available to local residents.
Once built, the Belleayre Resort will recall the heyday of the Catskills, which enjoyed a long tradition of tourism-related prosperity.  At the peak of its popularity, the region surrounding Belleayre Mountain boasted more than 10,000 hotel beds in an area from the towns of Shandaken to Fleischmanns.  Today, that same area has fewer than 450 beds, and travelers seeking a unique interaction with a breathtaking environment stop for short visits or bypass the Catskills entirely on their way to the Adirondacks and Vermont.

The Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park will blend the physical assets of the Belleayre Ski Center and the Catskill Forest Preserve with world class hospitality facilities and programs that will enhance the experience of both visitors to the resort and the community.  Created with a vision of a strong public-private partnership, the Resort will utilize local providers, guides, instructors, outdoor outfitters, as well as not-for-profit entities. A full-time information center will provide guests with ample information as they head out to the surrounding towns and villages, discovering an area with a diverse heritage of art, music, history and natural beauty.  And, the Crossroads Foundation has been established to distribute funds to local charities focused on the arts, youth education and sports programs, civic improvements and care for the elderly.
The Belleayre Resort represents a new chapter in the Catskill region’s storied history as a venerable tourism destination.

Support The Agreement
For nearly twelve years, The Belleayre Resort has been studied, analyzed, and reviewed.  In that time, the area has seen businesses close, families forced to move away to pursue better jobs, schools closing due to lack of students and taxes rise due to fewer revenue-generating businesses. 

The Agreement in Principle maps out a plan that can bring sustainable economic vitality back the Belleayre region while also protecting our precious natural resources.  Show your support today by letting your representatives know that you believe in the value of this landmark agreement.