The Nevele Grand Hotel's rise and fall, and how it still seems to be "falling"

What was once a grand vacation getaway is now a rotting and abandoned resort

The Nevele Grand Hotel was one of the largest and most successful hotel resorts in the Borscht Belt. The Borscht Belt was an area of resorts and hotels in the Catskills region where people would visit, normally from New York City, for summer vacations and getaways. Once air travel and train travel became more affordable and accessible to people, many abandoned the once highly anticipated yearly vacations to the Upstate Region.

The Nevele as well as many of the other resorts frequented were often visited by a Jewish population. Most of the resorts offered kosher menus and other accomodations.

The Nevele was built and run by Charles Slutsky in 1901 just on the edge of Ellenville, NY. He chose the name Nevele because backwards in spelled eleven, and he had eleven children. Attached was the Fallsview hotel which was also operated by the Slutskys. It was the 1950s and 1960s when the hotel and resort really garnered success.

Many famous Jewish comedians and actors frequented the resort when they wanted a break from New York City. The resort included indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, live performances, food and restaurants, and in the winter ice skating with a rink as well as skiing with a lift and slopes. The resort was all inclusive with something for everyone.