Fire at iconic Nevele hotel causes ‘extensive damage’ to main building
A second fire within months at the iconic Nevele Hotel in the town of Wawarsing is under investigation.
More Stories
A second fire within months at the iconic Nevele Hotel in the town of Wawarsing is under investigation.
The main building of the defunct resort was engulfed in flames early Saturday morning, according to Ulster County Fire Coordinator Michael Gaffney, who said the structure suffered “extensive damage.” The building once housed the main lobby, kitchen, dining room and theater of the popular Borscht Belt hotel.
News 12 was given several videos of the fire on Arrowhead Road by viewers, showing heavy flames and smoke at the site. Fire officials say multiple fire departments from Ulster and Sullivan counties responded and spent hours containing the blaze so that it didn’t spread to any other buildings on the property that remain intact.
As of Monday, plumes of smoke could still be seen from the rubble.
The Nevele was built in 1901 and closed more than a century later, in 2019 – after the Catskills became less popular to vacationers from New York City. Since then, the site has switched owners and the buildings have been damaged by vandalism, fire and appear significantly deteriorated.
A fire at the iconic site last March destroyed the “Winter Building” and Saturday’s blaze is at least the fifth involving defunct Borscht Belt hotels in recent years. Police say they don't know what caused the Nevele fires, but that the properties are known to have squatters and ghost hunters.
Residents News 12 spoke to are skeptical about the cause.
“It’s kind of shady to me,” says Michael Barrett. “But what do I know?”
“It seems strange,” Steve Duffy says. “It’s been abandoned, awaiting for things to develop.”
According to media reports, 1100 Arrow LLC purchased the property in 2023 with plans to redevelop it. Online county records show it was purchased for $5 million but no information is listed for the owner.
The Town of Wawarsing Building Department says no plans have been submitted for the site to date.
The Ulster County Sherrif’s Office and state police are investigating the fires.
State police say the blazes at other Borscht Belt hotel sites were found either not to be criminal or closed due to a lack of leads.
News 12 attempted to contact the reported developer for the site, Somerset Partners LLC, but didn’t receive a response. News 12 was unable to find contact information for 1100 Arrow LLC.
