Highmount, NY: A gentle crisp breeze, bluebird skies, and the gentle hum of the gondola’s bull wheel. As gala goers boarded the cars to reach Belleayre’s summit we kept thinking, “This is what fall in the Catskills is all about!”

This time of year is a Catskill Center favorite as we celebrate our unique organization and community at the Fall Gala. This year’s venue was Belleayre Ski Center in Highmount, NY. The lodge, hillsides, new gondola, and smooth tunes by The Swingaoos prompted feelings of fall nostalgia and an excitement for the outdoors.

 The gathering brought out friends, family, partners and longtime Catskill Park advocates. The Gala features a rousing 100th Birthday Celebration for Catskill Center founding President Sherret S. Chase, who was saluted with the singing of “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow”.  

Past Board Chair and driving force behind the creation of the Catskill Interpretive Center, Ettore “Jim” Infante, received the 2018 Ginsberg Award. And Executive Director Jeff Senterman spoke about 2018 and 2019: “We are thrilled to celebrate 49 years of hard work for the Catskills at one of the region’s favorite attractions (Belleayre Mountain Ski Center). Thank you so much to all the friends and businesses who supported the Catskill Center on this special occasion. We look forward to twelve months of festivities in 2019, as the Catskill Center celebrates its 50th Anniversary.”

The collection of people at the Catskill Center’s Fall Gala, reminds us just how lucky we are to call the Catskills home and to have such an amazing community involved with all the Catskill Center’s activity. Thank you to all who came to show your support.

Photos + text: Andy Mossey