TRR photo by Tom Kane Irene and Paul Griffin survey the Meadows property. (Click for larger image)

By TOM KANE

FOSTERDALE - Little did we know what a beautiful piece of property the Recreation Farm Society was, located on 17B just beyond the Fosterdale blinking light. Its 77 acres are largely shaded and sheltered by the foliage of large trees and bushes. The site has been sold and renamed the Meadows.

During its tenure as the Farm Society, no one but the members of the society were admitted to the resort. Now, however, it will become a public resort and conference site, featuring restaurants, meeting rooms, recreational activities and entertainment. The site is under renovation and managed by Paul and Irene Griffin, owners of the renowned Griffin House Bed and Breakfast in Jeffersonville.

No strangers to tourism, the Griffins have three partners in their venture with the Meadows: Vincent James Verdi, a Cochecton contractor who restores large hotels around the country, John Mulligan, a Westchester electrical contractor who also works in large hotels and Richard Baumert, the general manager of the Harrison Conference Center in Glen Cove, Long Island

"These men bring all their expertise and skills to this project," Paul Griffin said.

Open a little over a month, the Meadows has hosted a number of events by local groups. "This is a wonderful place and will be a real asset for the Town of Cochecton and the entire area," said Helene Indelicato, wife of Sal Indelicato, Town of Cochecton supervisor. "It will be wonderful to hold functions and larger gatherings in our town, like weddings and bar mitzvahs."

	TRR photo by Tom Kane Irene and Paul Griffin, surveying the porch of a cottage at the Meadows, discuss their plans for the new resort. (Click for larger image)

Indelicato, along with a group of friends, was hosting a baby shower for her daughter-in-law, Lisa Indelicato. The group of about 15 women was having lunch in the resort's smaller dining room.

"We have a larger dining room that can seat about 80 people," Irene Griffin said. She and the wife of the resort manager, Susan Blanke, cooked and served the food buffet style.

"We're looking to accommodate businesses who want to hold conferences and workshops," Paul Griffin said. "We have seven buildings altogether and could dedicate one building to a company's meeting."

The Griffins are beginning to book groups for next summer.

"People are starting to realize that we are open for business and they're beginning to contact us," he said.

A commercial about the Meadows will soon be aired on local TV channels.

The Meadows received its liquor license a week ago. "We'll be open for dining for the public very soon," Paul Griffin said. "We've been working very hard on exteriors and interiors and have made a lot of progress in the last few weeks."

Wolfgang Blanke, the caretaker, was manager of the resort for 26 years. He and his wife live on the property.

"We still welcome club members of the former Recreation Farm Society. Many of them have come to stay and others are planning to," said Irene Griffin.

Music and entertainment will be a prominent theme at the Meadows. Both the Griffins have considerable experience in the entertainment industry. Paul was the lead trumpet in the Concord band for many years and Irene still sings in the few hotels that remain. Irene was also a veteran soprano at the Delaware Valley Opera in Narrowsburg where she sang many formidable lead roles.

"Once the dining room is open, we'll open a cabaret with live music on weekends and special holidays," Irene said.

Irene has been singing regularly at the Griffin House for the last five years.

The resort has 39 rooms available for occupation. "We hope to expand other rooms in the future," Paul said. "We have seven buildings altogether but there are a few building we aren't using yet." When all the building are opened, the resort will have 80 units.

	TRR photo by Tom Kane Meadows general manager Paul Griffin, on right, converses with a guest to the new resort. (Click for larger image)

The resort has a swimming pool and shuffleboard and is surrounded by long hiking trails that can be used for cross-country skiing.

A few months ago, a Hassidic group expressed a desire to purchase the property. The news brought a crowd of concerned local residents to the town meeting. They feared that the Hassidic group would build a bungalow colony and take the property off the tax rolls.

The representative of the Hassidic group told town residents that they had no intention of building a bungalow colony but wanted the property as a retreat for their rabbi and his rabbinical students. After one more appearance at the town meeting, the group withdrew its offer to purchase the property.

Then Griffin and his partners came forward.

For information and reservations, call The Meadows at 845/932-8259, or visit them on the web at www.catskillmeadows.com.