Brownstoner Upstate: Palenville, One of the Art Colonies of the Catskills

Old Studio of Artist Hall, Palenville, N.Y. Via Wikipedia

It’s not hard to find the creative muse among the hills and verdant valleys of the Catskill Mountains. Artists have been doing it for ages; in fact, there’s a whole art movement based around the views of the Catskills from the Hudson Valley.

Painters from the Hudson River School like Thomas Cole, Frederic Erwin Church, John Frederick Kensett, and Asher Brown Durand all took inspiration from their surroundings, a legacy that continues with up-and-coming art communities in the Hudson Valley and Catskills like Kingston and Beacon.

However, art colonies are hardly a new concept around here. For generations, communities like Palenville in Greene County and Woodstock’s Byrdcliffe colony have been offering makers not only a place to glean inspiration from nature, but rub elbows with their fellow artists, as well. Who wouldn’t want to live around that vibe?

Perhaps we’re giving away secrets we shouldn’t, and if so, please accept our apologies. However, we can’t resist letting the cat(skills) out of the bag by telling you of the existence of three of our favorite places that began life as art colonies: Palenville, Cragsmoor, and Woodstock (the village, not the 1969 music festival).

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be presenting these three art colonies in a three-part series about the art colonies of the Catskills, beginning with Palenville in Part 1 today.

Kaaterskill Falls’ upper pool. Photo by Ahodges7 via Wikimedia Commons

Located just over the Ulster County border in the Greene County town of Catskill, Palenville hamlet is widely considered to be America’s first art colony. It was visited and resided in by the likes of Church, Cole, and William Cullen Bryant (he painted Kindred Spirits at Kaaterskill Falls near Palenville).

The area hasn’t lost touch with its roots. Every year, Palenville hosts the popular Hidden Gallery Walk, a weekend of pop-up galleries featuring works by local artists.

It’s also a community known for its friendly residents, abundant waterfalls and swimming holes, and Pippy’s Hot Dog Truck parked right in the center of town.

Gloria Dei Church, Palenville. Via Palenvilleny.com

If you visit: Hit up Pippy’s for one of a variety of specialty hot dogs, or Circle W Market for breakfast and provisions. Hike the Kaaterskill Falls trail to catch some gorgeous waterfall action in the mountains.

Just make sure you stay on the marked trails and wear appropriate footwear (we really can’t stress that enough; don’t wear flip-flops). If it’s nightlight you’re after…well, you’re in the wrong part of New York.

However, Palenville is not without places to let down one’s hair. The Fernwood Restaurant and Bistro often features local bands and DJ parties in the bar on weekends.

It’s also the perfect spot to enjoy a meal. The outdoor seating is a little slice of magical given that the Fernwood sits next to waterfalls, which provide the sound of rushing water as dinnertime accompaniment.

Palenville real estate: Small towns mean small markets, and Palenville is no exception. In fact, even for a small mountain hamlet, Palenville is often low on housing stock, so don’t be surprised if you have to wait a while in order for something good to pop up.

Truth is, people who own homes in Palenville aren’t looking to sell their homes and leave, and that should tell you something about the area. Below is a promising find from Brownstoner’s Upstate real estate listings.

91 Kaaterskill Avenue, Palenville: $137,000

No beating around the bush: This farmhouse is sturdy but needs updating. We also wish it were on slightly more land.

On the plus side, however, it is located at the end of a dead-end lane across from the Kaaterskill Creek, and that means swimming holes are nearby. It also means potential for flooding. Is it worth the risk?

Beds: 4. Beds: 1. Square Feet: 1920. Lot Size: .48 acres. Est. Taxes: $3476. Distance from Brooklyn: 2.5 hours approx. 91 Kaaterskill Avenue, Palenville (Century 21) GMAP.

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3292 Route 23A, Palenville: $499,000

The Clark House B&B in the heart of Palenville has been on the market for a while, and there’s a lot going on here.

It includes a large parcel of land and a turnkey B&B with six guest rooms in a Victorian house. There is an owner’s three-bedroom apartment on the third floor.

It also has outdoor decks, a hot tub, a large barn, and mountain views. Wow.

Beds: 6. Baths: 5.5. Square Feet: 3625. Lot Size: 4 acres. Est. Taxes: $8100. 3292 Route 23A, Palenville (Gary DiMauro Realty) GMAP.