Walk onto the grounds of the old Nevele today and you’ll feel it. That weird, heavy silence. It’s a far cry from the mid-century peak when the Nevele Resort in Ellenville NY was the crown jewel of the Borscht Belt. Back then, the air didn't smell like damp concrete and wild grass; it smelled like expensive cigars, brisket, and the kind of optimism that only existed in post-war America.
It’s gone now. Mostly.
But the Nevele isn’t just another ruin in the woods. While neighbors like the Concord or Grossinger's were bulldozed into history, the Nevele stands there, a massive, cylindrical 10-story tower poking out of the Shawangunk Mountains like a misplaced spaceship. People still drive by. They still take photos. They still wonder if that "revival" everyone has been whispering about for twenty years is actually going to happen or if the whole place is just waiting for a match.
The Mid-Century Fever Dream of Morris Slutsky
To understand why people are so obsessed with the Nevele Resort in Ellenville NY, you have to look at the Slutsky family. They started the place in 1901. It wasn't always a high-rise playground. Originally, it was just a farm with some rooms to rent. The name? Nevele is just "Eleven" spelled backward—supposedly for the eleven 19th-century settlers who lived in the area, or maybe just because it sounded fancy.
By the 1950s and 60s, the Nevele was a beast.
Architecture nerds still freak out over the Nevele Tower. Built in 1966 by Sydne Schleman, it was this bold, hexagonal-influenced skyscraper that broke all the rules of Catskills architecture. Usually, these resorts were sprawling, low-slung wooden firetraps. The Nevele was different. It was modern. It was luxury. It had a professional-grade golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. that people still rank as one of the best "bones" in the Northeast.
Think about the vibe. You had world-class comedy, three massive meals a day that could feed a small army, and a nightclub where the drinks flowed until the sun came up over the mountains. It was a self-contained universe.
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Why the Party Stopped (And Never Really Re-Started)
So, what went wrong? It’s the same story that killed the entire Borscht Belt, but with a Nevele twist. Air travel got cheap. Suddenly, why would you drive two hours to Ellenville when you could fly to the Caribbean? Air conditioning became standard in homes. Integration meant Jewish families weren't restricted to specific resorts anymore. The world opened up, and the Catskills felt like your grandmother's living room—dusty and a little too loud.
The Nevele struggled. It tried to pivot. In the late 90s, it merged with the Fallsview to create "Nevele Grande," a desperate attempt to stay relevant. It didn't work. By the mid-2000s, the place was falling apart. Elevators broke. The grand dining rooms grew cold. In 2009, the doors finally shut for good.
And then came the developers.
Honestly, the history of the Nevele Resort in Ellenville NY post-2009 is a revolving door of broken promises. First, there was the hope of a casino license. New York State was handing them out like candy, or so we thought. Investors poured millions into the idea of a luxury casino and spa. But in 2014, the state gave the license to Montreign (now Resorts World Catskills) in Thompson instead. It was a death blow. Ellenville was gutted.
The Current State of the Ruins
If you go there today, don't expect a tour. It’s private property and, frankly, it’s dangerous. The iconic tower still stands, but its windows are staring out like empty eyes. The tunnels—this resort had an incredible underground tunnel system so guests could move between buildings without hitting the snow—are flooded or crumbling.
Urban explorers love this place. There’s a cult following for the "ruin porn" generated by the Nevele. You can find photos online of the once-glitzy Safari Lounge, its kitschy 60s decor now covered in mold and peeling wallpaper. It’s haunting.
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But here’s the thing: The golf course actually stayed open much longer than the hotel. For years, you could play 18 holes in the shadow of a decaying skyscraper. It was surreal. You’d be lining up a putt while a piece of siding flapped in the wind on the tenth floor of the hotel. Eventually, even the greens succumbed to nature.
The Somerset Partners Era
In recent years, Keith Rubenstein and Somerset Partners stepped in. They had big plans. Huge plans. A $100 million-plus redevelopment into a luxury wellness retreat. They talked about hiking trails, farm-to-table dining, and keeping that iconic tower but stripping it down to its bones.
The locals in Ellenville have heard this before. They want to believe it. This town needs the jobs. But as of early 2026, the progress is slow, hampered by the sheer cost of environmental remediation. There is so much asbestos in those old walls. So much lead. It’s not just a renovation; it’s a surgical operation on a massive scale.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Nevele
The biggest misconception? That it’s just "trash" now.
Architecturally, the Nevele is a masterpiece of Mid-Century Modernism. It’s one of the few remaining examples of that specific era of optimism in the Catskills. When people say it should just be knocked down, they’re missing the point. You can't rebuild that kind of history. The "Waikiki" indoor pool with its massive windows and wooden beams was a feat of engineering for its time.
Also, people think it was just for one demographic. By the end, the Nevele was hosting huge youth sports tournaments, cheerleading camps, and conventions. It was trying to be everything to everyone. That was its downfall—it lost its identity.
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Is it Worth Visiting Ellenville?
If you’re looking for a hotel room, obviously no. But if you’re a fan of history and the "vibe" of the Catskills, Ellenville is still a fascinating spot.
- The Shadow of the Tower: You can see the Nevele tower from several vantage points in town and from the nearby hiking trails.
- Sam’s Point Preserve: Just minutes away. You get a bird’s eye view of the entire valley. From up there, the Nevele looks small, tucked into the greenery.
- The Local Diner Scene: You can still find people in Ellenville who worked at the Nevele for 30 years. Sit at a counter, order a coffee, and just ask. They have stories about celebrities, scandals, and the "good old days" that aren't in any history book.
Reality Check: The Future
Will the Nevele Resort in Ellenville NY ever truly come back?
Probably not as a 400-room mega-resort. The era of the massive Catskills hotel is dead. If it survives, it will be as a boutique, "glamping-adjacent" wellness center where people pay $500 a night to feel "connected to nature." It’s the irony of the modern Hudson Valley—the places that were built for the middle class are being reborn for the elite.
But for now, it remains a monument to a time when we built things that were loud, proud, and maybe a little bit tacky. It’s a concrete ghost in the woods.
What you can actually do if you're interested in the Nevele's legacy:
- Research the Architectural Archives: Look up the work of Sydne Schleman. The hexagonal designs used in the Nevele influenced a decade of New York architecture.
- Support Ellenville Small Businesses: The town is struggling but resilient. Places like Shadowland Stages (a professional theatre) keep the cultural flame alive while the resort sits empty.
- Visit the Sullivan County Historical Society: While Ellenville is technically in Ulster, the Sullivan County archives hold massive amounts of Borscht Belt memorabilia that put the Nevele in context with its rivals.
- Stay Legal: Don't trespass. The site is monitored and the structures are genuinely unstable. Stick to the public roads and viewpoints.
The story of the Nevele isn't over, but the book is definitely in its final chapters. Whether those chapters are a tragedy or a surprise comeback depends entirely on whose checkbook is open this year.