Ukrainians revive historical local landmark

Resort, closed since June, re-opens

By SONIA OWCHARIW

GLEN SPEY, NY — The blue and yellow flag still flies above the Ivan Franko statue at the MountainView Resort on High Road, but the annual Ukrainian festival, which usually brings in thousands of people, didn’t happen this summer. Many factors were stacked against the historical and sprawling Upper Delaware Valley resort. A looming foreclosure in June, a restructuring of the old regime and an array of other structural problems put the traditional festival on hold.

“I’m so excited and happy that the resort reopened, because I have many fond memories especially since my wedding was at the resort,” Glen Spey resident Christine Shablovsky said.

The resort officially re-opened its gates on August 22 with a special Kiev quartet ensemble, called Ukrainian Barvy. The concert commemorated Ukrainian Independence Day. A new governing body is also taking form, as repairs are being made to improve the festival site and get it ready for the fall, according to MountainView Resorts LLC President Yuri Blanarovich.

“We are moving forward with the first phase of plans to get this resort in shape. We are focusing on fixing the existing plumbing, air-conditioning ducts and leaking roof at the main course so that we can have fall events, conferences and meetings accessible to the public,” Blanarovich said.

The June foreclosure had a familiar ring for the Glen Spey Ukrainian community, since the camp has had its shares of problems in the past. Six years ago, the not-for-profit camp was almost sold to Camp Achim Hasidim, however, a court injunction prevented the camp from being purchased by the group in the summer of 2001.

The Ukrainian American Cultural Foundation retook control of the property but, according to Blanarovich, the foundation was left with a trashed resort with considerable damage, vandalism and piles of garbage from the tentative owner, who used the camp in the summer of 2001.

The resort resumed its annual operations and summer festivals up until this year. In July, MountainView Resorts took possession of the property.

Valerie Nicholas travels once a year from Florida to revisit old memories and friends, but was disappointed when the festival was cancelled this past summer. “My father brought us here as children. I have been coming here for over 30 years with my sisters and now my own children. Tradition is very important. The customs that my father taught me, I have passed onto my children,” Nicholas said.

With new management, MountainView Resorts and the surrounding woodlands are being revitalized, and Blanarovich is confident about the future.

“We are looking for partners and expertise to help build this resort into something that not only the Ukrainians will use, but also a wider community and other ethnic groups. The resort can accommodate different festivals and we would like to run three to five festivals a year,” Blanarovich said.

Phase two of rebuilding plans include removing the existing swimming pool and building a new, larger 25-meter pool near the main house, repairing other existing buildings such as the dance hall, bar and carriage house, and working on the sports field.

“This resort means a lot to the Ukrainian community. Generations grew up with the festival and camping by the lake. The memories that I had as a child coming here every summer are something I want my daughter to experience,” said Ukrainian festival-goer Maria Komoroski.

According to Blanarovich, phase-three plans include the addition of an amphitheater and kiosks for vendors, county fairs, flea markets and conventions. In addition, there are proposed plans for an additional hotel, senior citizen complex, a retail strip mall, boat docks, restoration of the lake and a cell tower.

“Our goal is to make MountainView Resorts a nice and peaceful place to visit and to create an atmosphere that’s beautiful, soothing and relaxing, but more importantly, to return the Ukrainian festival for next summer,” Blanarovich said.

The camp, which sits on 142 acres, is comprised of approximately 22 buildings, a lake and the historical Ardmore Mansion. Constructed during the 1900s, the property was originally owned by Singer Sewing Machine president George Ross Mackenzie, who was the founder of Glen Spey. The Ukrainian organization bought the land over 50 years ago as a place to vacation and keep the Ukrainian culture alive.