This page will eventually be chock full of interesting stuff about Yulan and Sullivan County.  For example: Did you know that the Nest is only about ten miles from the site of the original Woodstock? (See below!)  Or that the town renovated in the first season of TLC's Town Haul (Jeffersonville, NY) is right up the road?  No lie!

In the meantime, here's a few tidbits 'til we get more...

WOODSTOCK 2005 So we mentioned that the original 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held just up the road... this is a picture of the famous farm located just across Hurd Road from the  performance site.  The actual hillside where everything took place isn't terribly photogenic at the current time, as it's now the location of the new Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center, which is currently under construction.  Estimated opening date for the performance center is July 2006, and the New York Philharmonic is rumored to be playing at the opening festivities.

YULAN, NY, 12792 - Yep, this is downtown Yulan.  Don't laugh, this little four-way intersection used to be quite the hot spot.  In its most popular days, Sullivan County was the regular summer getaway for thousands of people from the City, and Yulan sported a large number of summer guesthouses, most of them on Washington Lake.  (A number of these beautiful old houses still exist as private homes and B&B's.)  The spot shown here was called Times Square because of the bustle that would occur here every year.  There was also a general store by the same name here, located next to the post office (the little yellow building above.)  If you're interested in a nostalgic look at Yulan and the rest of the Town of Highland back in the heydays of the Catskills, go to http://www.ecki.com/highland.  They've compiled a great online collection of old, vintage postcards of the area, including a few of our Montgomery Lake.

ECCE B&B

Just a mile or two down the road from the Nest is a bed & breakfast called Ecce (pronounced ET-chay), which is the Latin word for “behold.”  Behold, indeed… Ecce is, no doubt, one of the most beautiful and accommodating places you can stay in the world, never mind in our area.

Glenn’s Mom & Dad had a trip planned in late September 2005 to visit the Nest and attend the area’s Von Steuben Day Parade and Festival.  Since the house wasn’t quite done, the foursome (Bill, Glenn, Harry and Inge) booked rooms at Ecce for the weekend.  Talk about a pleasant surprise… the rooms are elegantly appointed and spotlessly clean.  The house was beautifully renovated in 2004, and is the essence of inviting and cozy.  And owners Alan and Kurt are, without a doubt, the finest innkeepers and hosts we’ve ever encountered… not only do they ensure that you are comfortable at every turn, but your stay will include a gourmet breakfast dish that you choose from their amazing menu.  The Eggs in the Clouds and Stuffed French Toast are must-haves that are worthy of a five-star restaurant.

And then there’s the view.  Ecce is perched on a bluff that overlooks the Delaware River, which stretches off for miles in each direction.  It’s easily one of the most beautiful vistas we’ve ever encountered… the kind of spot where you can just sit and soak it all in for hours at a time.  Add to this the sweet, gentle breeze that is almost always present, or that the occasional bald eagle may soar by.  Who knew that paradise could be found in Sullivan County?

If you are looking for a quiet, romantic get-away without a ton of distractions, then you have to go to Ecce.  Trust us, you’ll be glad you did.  For more info, visit their website www.eccebedandbreakfast.com.  

THE ROEBLING BRIDGE

Designed by John Roebling (who would go onto to design and build the Brooklyn Bridge), this is the oldest wire cable suspension bridge in the US.  Built as part of the D&H Canal system, the center channel of the bridge was originally filled with water and carried boats past one of the busiest points on the Delaware.  Today, the towpaths where mules once pulled barges across are now walkways, and the center canal carries a single lane of automotive traffic between the villages of Minisink Ford (part of the Town of Highland and right down the road from Yulan) and Lackawaxen, PA.  The bridge has been perfectly restored and a small museum about the hey-day of shipping up and down the Delaware is located on the New York side.  For a great, in-depth article on the bridge, go to: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/motorcycles_adventure/108917.  It's a pretty amazing feat of engineering, located at a beautiful spot on the Delaware.