PHOTO ESSAY: The Concord Hotel – What It Looks Like Now

By editor, on July 21st, 2011

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So many news articles have been posted about the Concord Hotel, which developers are trying to turn into a casino. They dream of a Las Vegas in the heart of Sullivan County, but have hit many bumps in the road. Currently, the site remains an eye-sore, with debris piled up, vacant buildings, and tall weeds and overgrown grass – in what was once perfect landscaping and beautiful scenery.

The Concord Resort Hotel was a world-famous destination for visitors to the so-called Borscht Belt part of the Catskills, known for its large resort industry in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. Located in Kiamesha Lake, New York, the Concord was the largest resort in the region until its closing in 1998. There were over 1,500 guest rooms and a dining room that sat 3,000; the resort encompassed some 2,000 acres.

The hotel was completely demolished in 2008 and the site remains vacant – besides for the world famous “Monster” Golf Course.

In 2010, financial disputes between the owners led to a legal settlement, splitting property between the parties. Entertainment Properties Trust REIT won 1,500 acres of the Concord site from developer Louis R. Cappelli, who retained control of 116 acres. Monticello Raceway owner Empire Resorts announced plans to explore development of a racino-resort on the property in partnership with Entertainment Properties.

On May 5, 2011 the owners of the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut announced a competing joint venture with Cappelli Enterprises Inc. to build a $600 million racino on the site of the former hotel. According to the statement, the new resort will include a 258-room hotel, 75,000-square-foot casino with 2,100 video lottery terminals, five restaurants, a harness racing facility and grandstand, and a simulcast facility for pari-mutuel wagering.

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HUGE PILES OF DEBRIS ALL OVER THE MASSIVE PROPERTY