Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center Opens Its Door

One of the most anticipated moments for the outdoor community in New York State finally arrived on July 1, when the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center officially opened its doors. Decades in the making, the Center now serves as a gateway for visitors to the Catskill Park and Catskills Forest Preserve eager to learn more about the region’s recreation opportunities, ecology, and history.

"The Catskill Forest Preserve is home to breathtaking mountains and pristine waterways that offer an abundance of recreational adventures," said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens, who presided over the ribbon-cutting event. "Now, with the opening of the Catskill Interpretive Center, visitors will be welcomed to the region through a magnificent resource that showcases all the Catskills' has to offer—from hiking in serene mountain settings and fishing in legendary trout streams and reservoirs to awe-inspiring natural beauty and unique cultural attractions."

The Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center is located on Rt. 28 in Mount Tremper, Ulster County. It features a topographic map display of the region, iPads loaded with tourist information, and digital wall displays. The Friends of the Catskill Interpretive Center, working under the umbrella of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, operate the Center seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Center is staffed through a partnership with the Catskill Center, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Catskill Mountain Club, Ulster County Tourism, and Catskill Mountainkeeper.

The Center is named in honor of retired Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey, who championed the opening of an interpretive center in the Catskills throughout his career. As a state assemblyman, Congressman Hinchey secured the original funding for the project in the 1980s. He worked with then-Governor Mario Cuomo to obtain additional funding, secure the property in Mount Tremper, and complete initial site development. Congressman Hinchey most recently helped secure a $380,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant toward building the facility.

That grant, as well as approximately $500,000 from New York Works and $420,000 from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, helped move the $1.3 million project to completion. Ground was broken in September 2014, and the Center opened its doors just 10 months later.

"This glorious day is the fulfillment of a 30-year dream made possible by the passion and persistence of so many dedicated people, from hard-working public officials at every level of government to devoted community groups across the region," said Congressman Hinchey. "The NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development have my heartfelt appreciation for bringing this marvelous center to completion. I am very honored to have it named for me, and delighted that it will introduce many thousands of people to the treasures of the Catskill Mountains."

For more information on the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center, visit catskillinterpretivecenter.org.