A LUXURIOUS high-rise hotel that dates back to the early 20th century has been left to rot after owners failed to pay taxes worth millions.
Established in 1901 by famous hotelier Charles Slutsky, the Nevele Grande is situated in the picturesque Catskills region in New York.
Surrounded by two lakes in a valley west of the Shawangunk Mountains, the extravagant property grew over time to become a vacation home for the super-rich.
The Nevele Grande Resort lived up to its grandiose name – at its peak, it had 430 guest rooms and employed a staff of 800.
Within two decades, the resort was extended with new wings and a lot of other lavish features exclusively available for the visiting guests.
In 1964, architect Herbert D. Phillips designed a 10-storey dodecahedral tower, which became the resort’s crown jewel.
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It sat at the main entrance, and its wings were connected by massive underground tunnels.
The tower soon got its famous moniker – "Presidential Tower" – after it was used by US President Lyndon Johnson in 1966
Other lavish amenities included two magnificent ballrooms, several conference halls, and a Hawaiian-themed nightclub, which were excessive – even by Catskills standards.
Those who wished to experience the natural beauty of the property could visit its two natural lakes, which are fed by a 35-foot waterfall.
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There were two golf courses on the site, designed by Robert Trent Jones and Tom Fazio.
The first, an 18-hole course, opened in the 1940s and was later renovated.
A smaller nine-hole course was built later with the Fallsview resort upon the two hotels merging.
The easternmost part of the property was home to the Waikiki indoor pool and a health club, beyond which was an extravagant ski chalet and slope.
Guests had access to a skating rink, a roller rink, a skate and ski shop, a snack bar, and an ornate lobby filled with fireplaces.
But like all good things come to an end, Nevele Grande too met its dark fate soon.
In 2006, the resort was struggling financially – so much so that the Fallsview portion had to be sold to make up for the unpaid expenses.
The main hotel managed to remain open for three more years before closing without notice in 2009 after owners Joel Hoffman and Mitchell Wolff failed to pay taxes on the property.
They had accumulated $342,687.22 in property tax debt.
In 2009, an auction was set up to sell the resort, but was soon called off after a potential buyer expressed intent to seal the deal.
However, the grand hotel remained unsold and eventually fell into disrepair.
In May 2012, Nevele Investors announced the Nevele Grande Resort would undergo a $500 million renovation to turn it into a resort and casino – but the proposal was rejected by the state due to gambling laws.
The company later said it would repair the complex with an aim to reopen in March 2020.
Sadly, just a year and a half later, the developer said the necessary funding hadn’t been secured.
This had left the property’s future uncertain, until earlier this year when 1100 Arrow LLC bought the complex for $5 million.
The move was fueled by plans of a new facility with lodging, accompanied by a 126-unit housing development.
Under the plan, developers now expect to construct a 68-room main lodge hotel, a 60-room condo hotel, and 10 rooms in ledge cottages.
They would also build46 units of single-family homes, 44 units of townhouses, and 36 units of multi-family village estates.
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