Lake Katrine: Farming and Architectural History

Lake Katrine is in the Catskill region of New York State. Agriculture, historic farm architecture, and Kingston history give the area several concrete points of interest. Recreation in the Town of Ulster offers another way to explore the community. Farms and markers are located in Lake Katrine; the parks and boat launches are in the Town of Ulster.

Farming and Architectural History

The Healing Acres is a farm in Lake Katrine. The farm’s apiary produces honey, making agricultural production a tangible part of the local landscape. This offers a different focus from the area’s history: here, a product is at the center, while the historic sites tell stories of earlier settlements and buildings.

The De Meyer-Burhans-Felten Farm has a stone house and a 19th-century timber-frame house alongside a New World Dutch Barn. The three building types form a clear architectural theme: the houses and barn can be viewed as distinct elements of a historic farm. The farm’s history also stretches far back. Successive Kingston families farmed it for nearly three centuries and took part in the Hudson Valley’s market economy. Here, architectural history and agricultural continuity complement each other, without reducing the farm to a single type of building.

Kingston History Along the Thruway

The “Kingston Area” historical marker is located at the Ulster Travel Plaza on the New York Thruway (Interstate 87), on the right when traveling south. It explains the Dutch settlement history of Wiltwyck, later Kingston, as well as the proclamation of the New York State Constitution in Kingston on April 20, 1777. The two topics offer different historical perspectives: one describes the early history of the settlement, while the other covers a precisely dated political event. The marker thus leads from the history of a place to an important date in the history of the state.

Recreation in the Town of Ulster

Charles Rider Park in the Town of Ulster has a concrete boat launch and parking for 50 vehicles. Robert Post Park offers a wider range of facilities: picnic tables and charcoal grills by the water, a playground, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and bocce areas, a fishing platform, restrooms, and two pavilions. Dogs are allowed and must be leashed. Play, sports, picnicking, and fishing are all available here.

Another option on Esopus Creek is on Sandy Road near Washington Avenue. It has a kayak launch, parking, a fishing platform, and picnic tables. The facilities have different focuses: Charles Rider Park centers on its launch and designated parking capacity; Robert Post Park combines several recreational options; Sandy Road brings together kayaking, fishing, and picnicking. These differences can help you choose among the places based on your plans for the day.

Find the Right Vacation Rental

When looking for a vacation rental in Lake Katrine, you can start by considering what you want to focus on during your stay: historic farms and architectural styles, Kingston history at the marker, or recreation in the Town of Ulster. Include the specific places you plan to visit in your search, and distinguish between Lake Katrine and the Town of Ulster. This way, you can choose where to stay based on your travel interests rather than relying on a general search term alone.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Stone Ridge, Clintondale, Boiceville, Wallkill, New Paltz, Saugerties, Phoenicia, Rosendale.

For the broader travel overview: Ulster.