Trekking to the Abandoned Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel

Source: Liberation

We recently trekked to Liberty, New York (i.e. the Borscht Belt) for a peek at the beautifully decrepit Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel. The joint closed in 1986 and remains abandoned. Herewith, an excerpt from his field notes.

The indoor pool room is a breathtaking spectacle. It has an amber glow to it and smells strongly of algae. The floor is some type of terracotta colored tile and the earth has reclaimed it in some spots. The ceiling is at least 50 feet tall, still has all of the original lighting fixtures in tact, and water constantly drips from it in some areas. Scattered around the pool are the old lounge chairs, a few of which have been tossed into the black water festering at the deep end. The pool has a very Titanic vibe to it and the photos really don’t convey how large the space is. After shooting the room for 30 minutes or so I moved on because my mouth was starting to taste like algae.

Source: Liberation

I spent a great deal of time in the hotel buildings that housed the guests. It’s really easy to play up the apocalyptic atmosphere of the hotel as everything is broken, falling apart, covered with graffiti, has a tree growing through it, or has rotted away. I wanted to balance that with more of the emotional elements of the hotel. I thought a lot about the families who spent their summers there, having fun, swimming in the pool, taking in a comedy show, drinking a cocktail, enjoying a good meal. This was their space and I treated it respectfully. I wanted to capture the silence of the hotels rooms and the memories fading away with time.

Source: Liberation

Read the full experience over at Liberation’s website. It’s certainly worth your while.

Source: Liberation