GrossingersEdit

Grossinger’s was one of the defining resorts of the Catskill vacation circuit, a place that helped shape mid-20th-century leisure for millions of Americans. Nestled in the Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York, near Liberty, the property became a social and economic anchor for a generation of families seeking affordable, family-centered recreation close to home. Its story is inseparably linked to the broader phenomenon known as the Borscht Belt, a network of resorts that drew visitors from New York City and beyond and created a distinctive culture around kosher dining, Jewish religious life, and communal hospitality.

The resort was built and run by the Grossinger family, led for much of its history by Isidore and Jennie Grossinger. What began as a modest hotel grew into a large, self-contained village of lodging, dining halls, entertainment venues, and leisure facilities. Over the decades, Grossinger’s expanded to accommodate thousands of guests at a time, offering a complete vacation package: meals prepared in keeping with kosher practice, sports and recreation, nightly entertainment, and a schedule that reflected the rhythms of traditional family life. The site is closely associated with Jennie Grossinger, who became a recognizable emblem of the family’s enterprise, and with the broader story of immigrant entrepreneurship that helped turn rural upstate New York into a national leisure destination. For context, Grossinger’s sits within the Catskill Mountains, a region that also supplied a social and economic engine for nearby towns such as Liberty and other communities in the surrounding county. See also Jennie Grossinger and Isidore Grossinger; Liberty, New York; Catskill Mountains.

Origins and Growth - The resort’s rise began in the early part of the 20th century, when small hotels in the area began attracting seasonal guests looking for a reliable, comfortable place to spend the summer. The Grossinger family capitalized on this trend, evolving their property into a full-fledged resort that could accommodate families for extended stays. The growth mirrored a broader pattern of American small-business families turning hospitality into scalable operations, employing local workers and integrating services such as dining rooms, ballrooms, and swimming facilities. See Grossinger's and Borscht Belt for the broader regional context. - Features and culture at Grossinger’s reflected a blend of American hospitality with a distinct Jewish cultural framework: kosher kitchens, a synagogue on site, and programming that respected Jewish holidays and customs. This combination appealed to guests seeking both leisure and a familiar, faith-informed environment. The resort’s entertainment offerings—from stage shows to cabaret nights—became a hallmark of the era, helping to attract a steady stream of visitors and to keep the property competitive with other Catskills resorts in the same orbit. See Kosher food and Synagogue in the context of resort life.

Cultural and Economic Role - Grossinger’s and the surrounding Catskills resorts played a notable role in the region’s economy, providing hundreds of jobs in seasons when tourism was the lifeblood of the communities. They also contributed to the social fabric of Jewish middle-class life in America, offering a venue where families could observe tradition while engaging in mainstream leisure. The economic model—family ownership, ongoing investment in facilities, and a menu of services designed to attract repeat guests—illustrates a form of American capitalism that valued enterprise, durability, and a stable communal space. See American Jews and Judaism for broader cultural background. - The resort’s cultural footprint extended beyond the dining halls and ballrooms. It was part of a network that connected urban audiences with regional hospitality, helping to spread a particular style of family-oriented vacation that emphasized dignity, self-reliance, and the possibility of upward mobility through hard work and prudent stewardship of assets. See also Borscht Belt.

Controversies and Debates - Like many ethnic- or faith-centered leisure destinations of the era, Grossinger’s sits in a broader debate about social space, integration, and access. Critics argued that such enclaves could reinforce separateness and limit cross-cultural interaction. From a pragmatic vantage, however, supporters contended that these establishments provided stable employment, preserved religious practice, and offered a family-friendly environment with predictable standards of service. The conversation often framed the issue as a balance between opportunity and openness, with defenders stressing the benefits of predictable, lawful commerce and the value of community institutions that supported families during the postwar decades. Some critics charged that the era’s “walled” leisure spaces were out of step with broader social integration; others argued that the success of family-owned businesses like Grossinger’s demonstrated the resilience of American entrepreneurialism in the face of changing tastes. In this light, discussions about the resort era frequently contrast explanatory narratives about economic opportunity and social cohesion with critiques that focus on access and inclusion.

Decline and Afterlife - Like many Catskills resorts, Grossinger’s faced a difficult transition as travel patterns shifted, air travel became more common, and newer leisure options emerged. The large-scale hotel business that had once thrived on seasonal surges could not easily sustain itself against these structural changes. The property eventually ceased operating as a traditional hotel, and its facilities passed through several ownership changes, with different parts repurposed for events, housing, or other uses. Even in decline, Grossinger’s remains a focal point for discussions of how mid-century American leisure was organized, how immigrant families built enduring businesses, and how regional economies adapted as tastes and technologies evolved. See Catskill Mountains for regional context.

See also - Catskill Mountains - Borscht Belt - Jennie Grossinger - Isidore Grossinger - Liberty, New York - Kosher food - Synagogue - American Jews