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 Hunns Lake Road in nearby Stanfordville 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.
{ 12 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.
My whole family is sick over this, we grew up on this ranch, these people were our family and we made many friends over the years, people we called family as well! We were there twice a year and couldn’t get enough of it. It’s such a shame what these people did to Roseland. My whole family was in tears watching the sadness. RIP Roseland Ranch, a place that we will always hold in our hearts and never forget. <3
Thank you for informing all of the people of this sad news. Roseland will missed by so many. It was place were visitors went for serenity and fun. Of all places on earth, I think it was the closest to heaven. As guests, that returned there often, and; hoped with all thier hearts that the ranch would be reopened, we truly appreciate knowing the facts instead of wondering when we could vacation there again. To Chickie and family, we will never forget the great times we shared at your home and all the memories we made. We love you guys! And of course, Indian, Coda, Winchester, Nsync, Foggy, Whiskey, Colorado and Bonaza, we miss you too!
Worked at Roseland in late 50′s and early 60′s with my friend Al. Had some super times and made life long friends. Had a sweetheart of a horse to wrangle with. Lots and lots of people got married as a result of meeting there! It was like family! Sure getting to be a lifetime ago!
In some ways I wish I hadn’t looked up the Ranch as in my mind and heart the place was still going on as I remember it.
Spent the fall of 1987 at the ranch. My wife and I have great memories because we arrived in a big snowstorm and were put up for the night. No electricity and were closed and had gas. So dinner was all the steaks we could eat and icecream before it melted. Left the next day (Sunday) and came back the following Sat. They had put up the electrical crew from all over so they were the first one’s to have power. We spent most of our time with Sonny. Where did he go after the sale?
Jack;
Soon after the Ranch closed, Sonny had an E-maill address and was writing about how upset he was that the ranch had been closed. It was only later I found the site and wrote to him but never got a reply as I think it was closed. Would have liked to have made contact as he might know the whereabouts of some the people I worked with back in the late 50′s and ’60′s. I do know of three of the people from that time.
Back when I was working there most the Guest were single ladies who didn’t want to do the “Bars” to meet guys!
On the big three day weekends, we Wanglers were asked to invite some of our male friends so there would be a better balance of male to female. A lot of my buddies got married and I came close.
In the winter, every year they would have a big Ball in NYC and it was like the gathering of of a super large family! In the Spring of 1961, I got recalled to the Air Force and never returned to live in the East; but even now, 51 years later, I smile with the memories of Roseland and the people.
When I was a child… I knew one of the owner’s daughters, should of been a pen pal lol but I guess when your that young you don’t really know much… LOL My family met 2 people and stood friends with them. Sadly the last time I visited was 1992… You take for granted the time in between then and now… I never got to go back … even though I wanted to… RIP Roseland…