Inside America’s abandoned ‘Jewish utopia’

The Borscht Belt — The Borscht Belt – otherwise known as the ‘Jewish Alps’ – was a New York holiday resort which was formed in response to rising anti-Semitism. Now, it lies deserted.

The Borscht Belt, otherwise known as the Jewish Alps, was America’s premier getaway during the 20th century. Established in response to abject displays of anti-Semitism nationwide, the Borscht Belt consisted of resort hotels bungalow colonies, summer camps, and boarding houses nestled into the Catskill Mountains of New York state.

At its height, the Borscht Belt was the height of a glamour all it’s own — an all-inclusive vacation replete with indoor and outdoor pools, golf, tennis, skiing, ice-skating, dance, and live entertainment from no less than Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Billy Crystal, and Rodney Dangerfield. While many Jewish-Americans born before the ’80s know the area well, the 1987 film Dirty Dancing became the cultural touchstone for all who had never lived it for themselves.

But like the Rust Belt, the Borscht Belt has disappeared, lost to the massive socioeconomic shifts that have taken place in recent years. For photographer Marisa Schienfeld, the shift quite literally hit home.

“My dad’s parents met up there in the 1940s, when my grandmother was hitchhiking between one town and another. At that time, the Catskills was pretty busy if you had the means or were going up there for a job. My mom’s parents met in Brooklyn and went up there for their honeymoon,” Scheinfeld recalls.

Dining Room, Pines Hotel, South Fallsburg, New York

Lobby, Grossinger’s Catskill Resort and Hotel, Liberty, New York

“Fast forward: my dad didn’t want to raise his family in the Brooklyn of 1980s. We moved to Monticello, New York, in 1986 when I was six years old. My grandparents owned a condo adjacent to Kutsher’s and we had access to the hotel. We would go swimming and my grandpa played cards. It was like mini-vacations on weekends, where I would engage in the quintessential Borscht Belt activities like bingo and shuffleboard.”

By the time Scheinfeld entered high school, the era had come to an end. She eventually decamped to New York City, then to San Diego, where she began working on her Master’s thesis. “I was grappling with what I wanted to say as a photographer and my mentor, Arthur Ollman said four words that lit the fire: ‘Shoot what you know,’” Scheinfeld remembers.

She returned to Monticello to embark on a series of photographs that would become The Borscht Belt: Revisiting the Remains of America’s Jewish Vacationland (Cornell University Press). “The project started as re-photography, remaking old postcards, to measure time like a ‘Now and Then.’ I did this for a month or two, and then I got bored,” she says.

“What would happen is I would go with my archival image and agenda, then stop in my tracks when I would see something that warranted to taking a picture of it — and that’s how the whole series evolved. I realized there was more of a story to tell.”

Postcard, Indoor Pool, Laurels Hotel and Country Club on Sackett Lake, Monticello, NY, Original Postcard by Bill Bard Associates, ca. 1960

Outdoor Pool, Nevele Grande Hotel, Ellenville, New York

Over a period of five years, Scheinfeld did just that, documenting the remains of a once-vibrant world that continues to disappear. “They just finished levelling Grossingers, the hotel on the cover of the book,” she says. “That entire complex, which had its own airport and post office, it is gone. It’s a weird, strange place.”

Scheinfeld dug in deep, talking with historians, locals, strangers, and family members to unearth a vital history that has all but disappeared. “I feel like an archaeologist, looking at these off-the-beaten-track places — but I am not interested in tampering with the surface or constructing the scenes,” she says.

“These photographs are like these still lifes arranged by time, change, Mother Nature, and other people who have been going in there to hang out, party, photograph, live, and steal. Most people didn’t understand what I was doing at first. I would often get the remark, ‘There’s nothing there. Why do you want to go there? You’re crazy.’

“My answer is, “Well, you’re not looking.’ None of these images are empty. Here are family histories, unions, marriages, and romances. You can see that these places are worn with life, even though they are worn with decay. There are histories of Jews in America creating a space born out of anti-Semitism.”

Le Roy Hotel, Loch Sheldrake, New York

Poker chips and cards, Grossinger’s Catskill Resort and Hotel, Liberty, New York

Cooper’s Sunrise Bungalow Colony, Rock Hill, New York

Guest room, Tamarack Lodge, Greenfield Park, New York

Indoor Pool, Grossinger’s Catskill Resort and Hotel, Liberty, New York

 The Borscht Belt: Revisiting the Remains of America’s Jewish Vacationland is available now on Cornell University Press.

Follow Miss Rosen on Twitter.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter


You might like

Colourful collage of album covers and record sleeves on display in a gallery or museum setting, with glass panels on either side reflecting the vibrant arrangement.
Culture

Largest-Ever Display of UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Opens at Tate Modern

Grief Made Visible — Comprising hundreds of panels made by lovers, friends and chosen family, the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt returns in full for the first time since 1994 – a testament to grief, friendship and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Rustic footbridge across a river, with people crossing it on a sunny day. Warm tones and shadows suggest an outdoor, natural setting.
Sport

In Medellín’s alleys and side streets, football’s founding spirit shines

Street Spirit — Granted two weeks of unfettered access, photographer Tom Ringsby captures the warmth and DIY essence of the Colombian city’s grassroots street football scene.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Diverse group of people with various expressions and styles, surrounded by bold text and graphics in dark colours.
Culture

Remembering New York’s ’90s gay scene via its vibrant nightclub flyers

Getting In — After coming out in his 20s, David Kennerley became a fixture on the city’s queer scene, while pocketing invites that he picked up along the way. His latest book dives into his rich archive.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Black and white image of several people in suits, some with long hair and unconventional appearances, alongside a large ship or boat model. Text overlaid: "FREAKS AND FINANCES".
Culture

On Alexander Skarsgård’s trousers, The Rehearsal, and the importance of weirdos

Freaks and Finances — In the May edition of our monthly culture newsletter, columnist Emma Garland reflects on the Swedish actor’s Cannes look, Nathan Fielder’s wild ambition, and Jafaican.

Written by: Emma Garland

A collage depicting a giant flup for mankind, with an image of the Earth surrounded by planets and people in sci-fi costumes.
Culture

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind

Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.

Written by: Emma Garland

Huck 79

We are all Mia Khalifa

How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.

Written by: Alya Mooro

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.