It finally had to happen.
It was a prize on Jeopardy. It was where people came up every year for a few days or a week to get a taste of country life. It was where friendships and even families were formed. It was where people met and rode a horse for the first time and fell in love with it for the rest of their life.
It was Roseland. Roseland Ranch Resort.
It was… because last week they tore it down.
Up until a few years ago I would drive by and see people splashing in the pool right by the road or going off on a trail ride or skiing, but it was only after Roseland closed and I started Pine Plains Views that I became aware of how much of a following this place off Hunn’s Lake Road had. People would write to ask what was going to happen to the property as if I had any information that it was going to reopen. They had a Face Book page and a discussion board on Topix with thousands of messages. After I posted new still pictures there would be a flurry of visitors to PIne Plains Views.
Every day there would be at least one or two visitors to Pine Plains Views to look at Roseland and leave the site without looking at anything else. It was odd.
So, last week when I heard that the cranes and bull dozers had arrived, I went there and finally shot some video.
Here is where my story started back in 2008. I was driving by Roseland and I saw this sign.
Pine Plains was in an area of summer camps and bungalow communities where people from the City came to get a taste of “country”. It was also the home of the dude ranch, Roseland Ranch, recently closed and now up for sale and development.
It still attracts its own very lively discussion forum on the Internet of people who visited and worked there over several decades. At the moment there are over 3,500 posts!
Update: As of November 17, 2008. I have not been able to get the results of the auction. I don’t think anything happened.
Update: March 8, 2009. I drove by and took some pictures:
Not all that much has changed. The auction sign was taken down. The ranch sign fell, or was taken, half-way down.
It looks so empty. I never knew much about Roseland, but when we drove by there was always activity and people looked as if they came up to have a good time and succeeded. Horses are a major part of my life and I enjoy seeing people introduced to riding and learning to care for horses.
Update: November 1, 2009:
So many people have visited this website just to find out more about Roseland Ranch that I decided to take a little drive this afternoon and shoot some Fall pictures.
Then I went down the road to the main entrance I saw a new For Sale sign:
Update January 22, 2011
After the snow, it’s beautiful but there are no human or horse tracks in the fresh snow….
The sign is still there, the snow is fresh...
Did the cowboy have a name?
The Cowboy Does Not Look Pleased!
He looks pissed….
No Ski Tracks in the Snow
Not a Horse to be Seen
Not a Person to be Seen Either...
I wish I had more to show and tell the people who have come to Pine Plains Views looking for good news about Roseland. All I can offer them is a warm invitation to explore the rest of the website!
Pine Plains was in an area full of camps and resorts. Right in Pine Plains itself, where the Lions Club is now located, was Camp Stissing Lake. I just discovered that there is an active page on Facebook for Camp Stissing Lake. You can see what the site of the camp is like now by seeing the public beach where they start the Stissing Sprint Triathalon. Take a virtual tour of Pine Plains on Pine Plains Views.
In the surrounding area are the remains of dozens of summer camps and some are still in business. I hope to bring some stories about them into this website because they were an important part of the history and culture of the community. And who knows? They may become part of its future.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
It is to bad that it had to come to this. Back in the day the ranch had hundreds of guests a week, it also bought lots of money to the town of Stanford.
Hey get your facts straight , the ranch is I. Stanfordville, ny.
Spent years there every fall with many friends and family Our kids grew up looking forward to our chilly morning rides. It is sad to see this, but a sign of the changes in the simplicity of the world.
Rest in Peace Roseland you will be in our memories
I’m disturbed by the images of machines haphazardly demolishing TONS worth of abandoned buildings rather than SOME of it being repurposed! I’m sure somebody (Peter Wing comes to mind) would have LOVED some of this!
What did they do with the Roseland Ranch sign?
I spent many weeks and long weekend vacations and getaways at Roseland Ranch and I am shocked to find that it closed. I remember:
Big card games with lots of money on the table on one of the February Holiday weekends.
The Chinese Buffet at night with lots of ribs and fried rice.
The platter-sized pieces of veal for Saturday lunch.
Huge breakfast buffets with every breakfast food there is.
Family shows on Saturday night, then family dancing (wedding music), then adult dancing, then rock music for the teens at midnight.
At least five meals a day with huge snack trays in the lodge between meals.
The massive fireplace and tree-length logs that were always burning in it in the main lodge.
The over-stuffet chairs, couches and lounges in the main lodge.
Snowmobiling over miles of trails through open terrain.
Most of the staff being family members.
Horseback riding, skiing, hiking, relaxing by the pool.
Spacious rooms and great service.
At least five meals a day.
Did I mention at least five meals a day with 24 hour snacks and drinks.