Once upon a time, the area where we are currently living was home to a dozen or so large (and super large) resorts plus over 500 small and medium sized hotels, boarding houses and bungalow colonies. Summering in the Catskills was a huge thing.
Driving through the area, now, we often spy the ruins of these large hotels behind a forest of overgrown weeds and trees. It’s a little bit sad, really, but such is the reality throughout America when factories close or new highways direct the flow away from a once bustling area. In the Catskills, however, the death knell was probably due to cheap airline fares, the migration of Jewish families to Florida, the growth of the Hamptons on Long Island and the closure of the train line between NYC and Sullivan County.
Still standing, though, is the Villa Roma Resort, thirteen minutes away from our home.
Long before we moved here, Beth and I were hired to keynote a convention that took place at The Villa Roma. I’ll never forget pulling into the driveway (see above) and hearing a Dean Martin song playing when I stepped out of our car. Between the Roman columns, the statues and the water fountain, I felt like we had stepped back in time. I half expected a suave Perry Como to step out of a large Cadillac and get surrounded by a gaggle of middle-aged fans.
Beth and I purchased a one-month membership to the gym this month for only $30 each. It’s a little threadbare, but the machines all work fine and it’s never crowded. In fact, that’s a pretty apt description of this county and I’m fine with that. It makes it affordable and that’s hard to find these days.
A few days ago, the receptionist at the gym told us that the Villa Roma had been sold to a new company. I read about it online and was surprised to learn that 400+ acres and all of the buildings sold for $16 million. That sounds like a good deal, but it is a gamble – there’s not a lot happening here…yet.
We’ll let you know what happens, but so far we’re happy to live where being cool isn’t as important as being happy and getting a good deal on a gym is welcome.
