The Pines Resort in the Catskills Mountains

​The Pines Resort in the Catskill Mountains
By J. Kott-Wolle
Oil on Canvas, 24x24, painted 2019
Original photograph taken - 1961
 
If time travel was possible and I had to make a list of my top ten places to visit I’d have to say I’d choose any one of the Jewish resorts in the heyday of the Catskills.  This is an experience that exists only in my imagination from movies like “Dirty Dancing” and more recently from the hit Prime series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”.  After my friend Brad’s mom passed away he gave me the privilege of going through their family photos and I came across this gem.  He told me that growing up this was how his older siblings and parents spent the better part of the summer.  In my research I discovered that within the last five years there was a photographer who travelled to the Catskills to take pictures of the now abandoned and decaying resorts.  It was heartbreaking to see the condition of the Pines.  I have a feeling someone will revive the concept and when they do, I’ll be the first one to sign up for tango lessons!