CALMNESS OF THE CATSKILLS
A Heavenly Escape From NYC
Nestled in the Catskill Mountains, just a little over a two-hour drive from Manhattan, lies the quaint hamlet of Fishs Eddy and good friend Gale Brophy’s year-round private resorts. Gale had given me an open invitation to visit at any time, and although I had been there in the summer to do a photoshoot with her, I wanted to photograph the gorgeous foliage later in the year. So, in late October, I set off from my home on Long Island to drive up for an extended weekend trip.
Once I was over the GW Bridge and onto Palisades Parkway, the traffic volume eased up, and I had a stress-free drive through beautiful scenery to my destination. Fishs Eddy is accessed by the incredible single-lane Veterans Memorial Bridge, built originally as a railway bridge in 1901 and converted to a road bridge in 1957.
HISTORIC HOMES & A WARM WELCOME
Gale Brophy owns three houses in Fishs Eddy, all built in 1839: the main house, which she uses when she visits from Palm Beach or NYC; a second where Debbie, the head of resort housekeeping, lives with her husband Tony; and a cozy guest house, where I stayed.
Once I had dropped off my luggage and said “hi” to Debbie and Tony, I drove into the nearby village of Hancock, 5.5 miles away, to get provisions from the supermarket and a bite to eat at the Circle E Diner.
EXPLORING THE ESTATES
The resorts are split into two properties, DeerRidge Estate and RiverView Estate, and can accommodate up to seventy-two guests between them, although they are individual rentals.
I went up to RiverView to take photos as the sun came over the mountains. I was not disappointed by the display that Mother Nature provided as I wandered around the property, filling my lungs with fresh mountain air and exploring the buildings—from the log-built main guesthouse with its indoor hot tub, dry sauna, incredible bedrooms, living room and kitchen, to the entertainment building which has extra bedrooms, a pool table, TV lounge and full kitchen, all above the banquet hall that can accommodate up to 225 guests for any party that you can think of.
NATURE’S PLAYGROUND
Fishs Eddy is located on the East Branch of the Delaware River and Gale owns one mile of glorious riverside frontage. It is a magnet for Bald and Golden Eagles and a haven for anglers. Coupled with the hiking trails on the mountain, it is an ideal getaway for those who, like me, prefer mountains to the beach!
I spent much of the day chilling in nature, walking around and taking in breathtaking scenery: the environment forces one to slow down and appreciate peace, to be thankful for what is right on the doorstep of the Big Apple and to enjoy the simple things in life, like birdsong, clean air and beautiful views.
After a late lunch and a bit of time back at the guest house, I went up to DeerRidge to catch the sunset. It is such a wonderfully unique building. The bottom level consists of a converted horse stable that once housed Gale’s Polo World Cup-winning ponies and 1991 Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold, which Gale owned. The upper-level bedrooms are converted haylofts.
The views back up the mountain across the former horse paddocks, still with the old corral fencing in place, are truly spectacular. RiverView can be seen, sitting majestically surveying it all a few hundred yards away and elevated by maybe a hundred feet.
ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS
On my last day in Fishs Eddy, I enlisted Tony’s help, and we went on a Kubota UTV ride up the mountain. We explored the trails and marveled at the vast outcrops of bluestone that make up the mountains. This was the perfect way to end my brief stay in the Catskill Mountains.
I will be back, always ready to discover something new—any time of year.
For more information on Estates by Brophy,
visit galebrophy.net
