cragsmoor stone church cragsmoorstonechurch dot info

Stone Church, Cragsmoor. Photo used with permission from Friends of the Stone Church

As we continue our three-part series on art colonies in the Catskills, we turn our attention to the mountain hamlet of Cragsmoor in Ulster County. Never heard of it? Not surprising.

Other places with walkable Main Streets and charming locavore eateries get most of the attention, while Cragsmoor remains a hidden gem, tucked away in a remote spot near the top of the Shawangunk Ridge.

The beauty of its surroundings attracted a small bevy of artists during the mid-to-late 19th century, who came to Cragsmoor seeking inspiration. In a way, time stood still in the hamlet.

Much of its heart is a designated historic district. There’s no business/retail center, and its mountain-top location lends itself well to community close-knittedness among Cragsmoor’s 500 denizens.

While it sparkles all four seasons, Cragsmoor’s fourth season can be a real doozy. Winter in the high hills means lots of snow, which could make Cragsmoor difficult to get to during a blizzard. The closest village to Cragsmoor is Ellenville, about 15 minutes away. It’s approximately 2.5 hours from Brooklyn.

stone church view by virgelio carpio

The view from the Stone Church, Cragsmoor. Photo by Virgelio Carpio

 stone church arch by pat peters

Stone Church arch. Photo by Pat Peters

If you go: Cragsmoor’s most impressive landmark is the Stone Church. Like a scene from a Maeve Binchy novel, the circa-1897 Episcopalian Scottish castle-inspired stone church appears in a hillside clearing perched above a picturesque valley view.

The church serves not only as the hamlet’s center of worship, but as its historical site/music venue/best place to have a wedding that nobody knows about. The Stone Church hosts concerts, so check their calendar for details (find wedding info here).

If you’re the hiking type, schedule some time at Sam’s Point Preserve, located less than two miles from Cragsmoor. There, you’ll find Lake Maratanza, the 187-foot Verkeerder Falls, and, of course, sweeping views like nobody’s business.

Enjoy some cooler air as you enter the ice caves on your way to the falls.

 sam's point njhiking

Sam’s Point Preserve from njhiking.com

Cragsmoor Real Estate Market: Housing stock is sparse and more pricey than Cragsmoor’s neighbors. Living in Cragsmoor is a rarity, so anticipate that you won’t find much right away.

There are a few plots of land currently on the market if you’re looking to build up from scratch. Perhaps you would like to build a tiny house, not unlike the ones that were recognized during the Tiny House Project sponsored by the Cragsmoor Association.

Visit its Facebook page to see more photos of the design that won the contest (and yes, it’s being built).

cragsmoor tiny house

Cragsmoor Tiny House Project design winner “Bare Heel Cabin” by Natalia Roumelioti and Odysseas Olysseou. From Facebook

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330 cragsmoor rd cragsmoor ny10

330 Cragsmoor Road, Cragsmoor: $219,000

While not quite a tiny house (or is it?), this 720 square foot cottage comes with an additional cottage and a sweet outdoor garden shed. It’s also situated right in the heart of Cragsmoor hamlet. Living room has a wood stove for winter mountain nights. Beds: 2. Baths: 1. Square Feet: 720. Lot Size: .40 acres. Est. Taxes: $4919. 330 Cragsmoor Road, Cragsmoor (Lawrence O’Toole Realty) GMAP.

45 old mt cathalia rd wawarsing ny2

45 Old Mt. Cathalia Road, Wawarsing: $599,000

Here’s a mini-retreat in the making with most of the renovating complete but still room unfinished. The in-ground pool needs to be finished, too. Kitchen is fit to feed many with restaurant-grade appliances, and house includes two fireplaces. But it’s really all about the bazillion dollar views from the Shawangunk Ridge from the deck of this Contemporary. Beds: 3. Baths: 4. Square Feet: 4120. Lot Size: 4.11 acres. Est. Taxes: $13,285. 45 Old Mt. Cathalia Road, Wawarsing (Rand Realty) GMAP.


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