Overlook Mountain
Mountain in New York, United States
title: "Overlook Mountain" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mountains-of-ulster-county,-new-york", "woodstock,-new-york", "mountains-of-new-york-(state)"] description: "Mountain in New York, United States" topic_path: "general/mountains-of-ulster-county-new-york" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overlook_Mountain" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Mountain in New York, United States ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox mountain"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Overlook Mountain |
| photo | Overlook_Mountain_south_face.jpg |
| photo_alt | View of the south face of Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, NY with a white house in the foreground |
| photo_caption | Overlook Mountain's south face, April 2010. Fire tower is visible on Overlook's peak, on the right. |
| elevation_ft | 3136 |
| elevation_ref | {{cite gnis |
| id | 959659 |
| name | Overlook Mountain |
| access-date | 2019-06-29 }} |
| prominence_ft | 620 |
| prominence_ref | |
| range | Catskill Mountains |
| listing | {{unbulleted list |
| location | Woodstock, New York |
| map | USA New York |
| coordinates | |
| coordinates_ref | |
| first_ascent | Peter delaBigarre and companion; July 26, 1793 |
| :: |
| name = Overlook Mountain | other_name = | photo = Overlook_Mountain_south_face.jpg | photo_size = | photo_alt = View of the south face of Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, NY with a white house in the foreground | photo_caption = Overlook Mountain's south face, April 2010. Fire tower is visible on Overlook's peak, on the right. | elevation_ft = 3136 | elevation_ref = {{cite gnis | id = 959659 | name = Overlook Mountain | access-date = 2019-06-29 }} | prominence = | prominence_ft = 620 | prominence_ref = | range = Catskill Mountains | parent_peak = | listing = {{unbulleted list |Catskill Top 102 70th |Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskill) 13th | location = Woodstock, New York | map = USA New York | range_coordinates = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_size = | label_position = | coordinates = | coordinates_ref = | topo = | type = | age = | first_ascent = Peter delaBigarre and companion; July 26, 1793 | easiest_route = Overlook Mountain is the southernmost peak of the Catskill Escarpment in the central Catskill Mountains near Woodstock, New York. The centerpiece of the 590 acre Overlook Mountain Wild Forest area of Catskill Park, the mountain is the site of one of the remaining five Catskill Mountain fire towers and the Overlook Mountain House, a hotel which was built at a higher elevation than any other in the range.
Natural history
Overlook Mountain is the southernmost peak of the Catskill Escarpment, which was formed of limestone bedrock by a period of glaciation. It is one of the timber rattlesnake habitats in the Catskills. The summit is covered with red oak, red spruce, and balsam fir trees.
Cultural history
Overlook Mountain was the site of one of the "mountain houses" which were constructed in the Catskills during the 1800s. In 1902 its southern slopes became home to the Byrdcliffe Colony, a utopian settlement with an arts focus.
Fire tower
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ashokan_Reservoir_from_Overlook_Mountain_May_2021.JPG" caption="View of [[Ashokan Reservoir]] from the Overlook Mountain Fire Tower"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/AView_From_Overlook_Mountain_Fire_Tower.jpg" caption="adj=on}} tower was used by fire stewards to more easily locate [[wildfire]]s. The tower, along with the others in the Catskills, were closed for safety reasons in 1988. Overlook's tower was the first to reopen after renovations were completed, on June 5, 1999.<ref name="Catskill Center" />" alt="View From Overlook Mountain Fire Tower"] ::
Mountain House
The first hotel built on the mountain was designed and built by 1833 as interest in tourism in the area increased. The structure was built with the intention to expand it, but was unable to compete effectively with the Catskill Mountain House. The Overlook Mountain House, owned by Robert Livingston Pell and designed by Lewis B. Wagonen, opened in 1871. At 2,920 ft, it was at a higher elevation than the nearby Catskill Mountain House or other hotels in the area. The hotel had capacity for 300 guests, and was destroyed by fire in 1875. The hotel was rebuilt by the Kiersted Brothers in 1875, and faced increasing competition from the Grand Hotel, Hotel Kaaterskill, and Laurel House. In 1921 was the site of a secret organizational meeting of what was to become the Communist Labor Party of America. The hotel again burned down in 1923, and architect Frank P. Amato was hired by owner Morris Newgold to redesign and rebuild it. This design was never completely built, as the hotel's elevation and lack of rail transportation made it difficult for customers to reach the site, compounding owner Newgold's financial difficulties. The State of New York acquired much of the land, and the hotel was boarded up in 1940. Further fire damage in the mid-1960s brought down a rooftop tower which had remained standing until that point. The ruins of the hotel are accessible from the main trail. |title=Ruins of Overlook Mountain House |width=160 |height=170 |File:Overlook_Mountain_House.jpg|alt1=View of Overlook Mountain House|The ruins of Overlook Mountain House have no roof and significant tree growth inside. |File:Overlook_Mountain_House_1.JPG|alt2=Ruined wall of Overlook Mountain House|Courtyard of the Overlook Mountain House. |File:Overlook_Mountain_House_2.JPG|alt3=Ruined stone wall showing blue sky through window holes.|Wall of the Overlook Mountain House. The roof was destroyed by fire. |File:Overlook_Mountain_House_3.JPG|alt4=View of a ruined building with trees growing through and floors missing.|Most of the floors of the Overlook Mountain House no longer exist. |File:Overlook_Mountain_House_4.JPG|alt5=Detaile of ruined concrete wall.|The ruins consist mostly of the walls of the Mountain House. |File:Overlook Mountain House - Front Steps.JPG|alt6=The front steps of the ruins|First view of the Overlook Mountain House on a foggy day |File:Overlook Mountain House - Walls and Windows.jpg|alt7=View of the ruins on a foggy day|A view of the Mountain House on a foggy day |File:Overlook Mountain House - Back to Nature.jpg|alt8=Going back to nature|Nature is slowly reclaiming the entire structure
References
- Overlook Mountain Wild Forest: New York State - Department of Environmental Conservation
- Overlook Mountain Hiking Guide & Map of Trailhead
References
- "Overlook Mountain, New York".
- "Overlook Mountain Fire Tower".
- Kudish, Michael. (2000). "The Catskill Forest: A History". Purple Mountain Press.
- Yasinsac, Rob. (January 12, 2000). "Overlook Mountain House". HudsonValleyRuins.org.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::