Lisa Berger, the Ulster County Director of Tourism, came to Ellenville’s COFFE meeting on Tuesday, September 8 to discuss issues relating to attracting visitors to Ellenville and then finding places for them to stay.

First, she addressed issues relating to the Nature Bus, which opened a few years ago to take people up to Sam's Point from Ellenville. The bus route also included Minnewaska State Park. However, as Berger noted, “It has not been a tremendous success.”

There is, she said, one major problem: “With the way it runs, I’m five hours somewhere, but what if it starts raining, or my kids get hungry? So, waiting for a bus is not great. The nature bus is in flux right now due to issues like that.”

Berger went on to say that the service may not operate next year. She pressed fingers of both hands together and said, “Unless we get to a point where the buses feel like this.” In other words that one bus route would match up to another allowing more flexible use of both.

“However, it may be that a shuttle running up to Sam’s point would be doable.”

That’s the focus now.

Berger shifted to discussing gravel biking, an activity that has expanded enormously in the post-Covid era. It’s pretty much what it sounds like – biking on unpaved roads, on rail trails, and on bushwhacked mountain bike trails like the network at Lippman Park in Wawarsing. Berger mentioned having tried to ascend the trail from the back of Berme Road Park up the west side of the Shawangunk Ridge, reaching the Smiley Road that traverses the upper part of the ridge across to Lake Awosting.

She coupled this with noting that Ulster County is now a favorite area for gravel bike riders and will be featuring more and more in guides and videos.

However, she circled back to another issue, which is the lack of a hotel in the village. This is not a complete lack because there are two lodgings on route 209: 81 North, a small upscale boutique, and the storied Village Motel which, despite the owners’ efforts to refurbish the rooms, is not a likely destination for most tourists.

A recent effort to bring the Terrace Motel back to its glory foundered on the enormous cost involved in asbestos abatement. The site was bought and cleared and now awaits a new plan and actions.

Berger said that getting people to visit was one thing, but getting them to stay was another. She urged activity on behalf of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, explaining that Airbnbs can be featured on the Ulster County Tourism website.