New member memories
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:08 pm
I’m new to this forum but not to the Catskills. More precisely, “The Mountain Top” (Hunter/Tannersville/Haines Falls). I was born and raised in the Bronx but I was fortunate to be taken by my folks on camping vacations in the early 50’s to North Lake were I fell in love with the out-of-doors. Back then it was just called North Lake and the toilet facilities were outhouses, before the 2 lakes were combined. The only access to south Lake was by walking the old railroad bed from the Rangers Station at North Lake. As a kid I remember the railroad bed to still have some ties on it. At the eastern end of South Lake (where the spillway is now) there used to be a collapsed building where they rented boats to people who stayed at the Mountain House. I even remember playing inside The Mountain House (although it was boarded up), there was still an old piano inside. I sure wish I had taken pictures back then. I subsequently brought my own children camping to the new and improved North/South Lake Campgrounds. Does anyone remember at the campgrounds when they had an attraction called “Rip Van Winkle Village”. It didn’t last long. Sorry about my rambling but I love the area so much I had to share. By the way, my wife and I just got a small cabin on North Lake Road only a half mile from the entrance to the campgrounds and will be moving up permanently in June. We can’t wait.