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Sullivan County Casinos: A Threat to the Ridge - Individually and in combination, the Mohawk Resort and Casino at the Kutsher's site; the Stockbridge Munsee band of the Mohican casino, slated for Bridgeville; and the Cayuga Casino planned for the Monticello Raceway site, represent development on a scale that is unprecedented in our County and the region. This is a regional issue, not just a Sullivan County issue!


Town of Wawarsing (Village of Ellenville)

Historic Kelly farm barns scheduled for demolition.A proposal to open casinos in Ulster County includes a 225-acre site two miles on the slopes of the Ridge, south of Ellenville on Route 209. Current proposal includes a one million square-foot facility to include parking for 3,000 cars and 100 buses, trucks, and recreational vehicles. The land in question lies against the ridge in fragile wetlands including Sandburg Creek. The plan includes 600 hotel rooms and 155,000 square feet of gambling space. In addition to high demand for limited water resources and the threat of increased pollution from cars and buses, the proposed casino would severely impact already high traffic patterns along Route 209, as well as routes 52 and 44/55 which cross the Shawangunk Ridge. The picture above shows the historic Kelly farm barns that are now scheduled for demolition.

The future of this project now rests in the courts, where a consortium of groups opposed to casino gambling in New York State has successfully halted further progress on sites in Erie, Sullivan and Ulster Counties. Additional rulings are now pending at the State Supreme Court. A citizens group, Ulster County Citizens Against Casino Gambling, is helping to spread the word about the proposed Wawarsing casino.

What you can do:

Get Involved:

  • Contact us and let us know your skills and how you would like to participate
  • Write letters to local and state officials
  • You can also contact John Adams. He is a contact for people concerned about farmland preservation in Wawarsing, and those who support an alternative vision of economic revitalization for Ellenville & Wawarsing, through the development of responsible ecotourism and the Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway.

Sandburg stream on Kelly farm. this stream goes right through the middle of the casino property!
Sandburg stream on Kelly farm. This stream goes right
through the middle of the casino property!

A survey concluded that sending hand-written letters to elected officials is the best way to get attention, and may be the best way to keep a gambling Casino from coming to our region. Just tell them in your own words why the Catskill Casino Resort is a bad idea for Ulster County and in particular for the Shawangunk region. In addition send a copy of your letter to the editors of local papers.

The Honorable George Pataki
Executive Chambers, State Capitol
Albany NY 12224
518-474-7516

Honorable Gale Norton
Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C. Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20240

George T. Skibine
Director, Office of Indian Gaming Management
Bureau of Indian Affairs
c/o U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C. Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20240

The Honorable Charles Schumer
111 W. Huron St., Room 620
Buffalo NY 14202
716-846-4111
www.senate.gov/~schumer
202-224-6542

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
28 Church St., Suite 208
Buffalo NY 14202
716-854-9725
www.clinton.senate.gov
202-224-4451
Mr. Richard A. Gerentine, Chairman
Ulster County Legislature
244 Fair Street
Kingson, NY 12401

James V. Doloway, Supervisor
Town Hall
P.O. Box 671
Ellenville, NY 12428

Site of proposed Catskill Casino Resort. (Currently used by Grand Prix Horse Jumping)
     Site of proposed Catskill Casino Resort.
     (Currently used by Grand Prix Horse Jumping)

Related links:
www.casinowatch.org
www.ncalg.org
View of Ridge. Site of proposed casino and parking for 3000 cars, 100 buses, trucks and recreational vehicles.
Related news articles:

  • State judge upholds casino legislation

  • Ellenville casino developers attempt to woo skittish community

  • Tribe blew casino deadline, Parete says

  • Casino meeting raises hopes
    • Contact: Shawangunk Ridge Coalition, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah NJ 07430;
    201-512-9348 x25; Email: info@shawangunkridge.org