History, Traditions

and Heritage

A LITTLE ABOUT THE LAND IN THE SKY

Onteora sits on 1,400 pristine acres in the heart of the NY Catskill Forest Preserve in Catskill Park (which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2004), with elevations reaching over 2,000 feet. Our location inside the ”blue line” gives us the unique opportunity to truly know the great outdoors. Our Orchard Lake with its native trout and other exciting fishing combined with our rugged land and trails makes OSR the prime place for the Boy Scout Summer Camp Program. While sneakers is where the rubber meets the road at home, your adventures at Onteora will lend themselves towards strong outdoor shoes.

The property on which the Reservation is located has a long and rich history, which begins with the Lenni-Lenape Indians. They used the Sun Trail to go from the Hudson River to the Delaware. Later that same trail was enlarged by John Hunter and in 1815 became known throughout the area as the Hunter Road. Since it was the first road in the area, many traders and farmers made great use of it. In the 1880's the property became one of the favorite fishing spots of the area and a man named Todd Hammond built a large manor house on the property overlooking the lake and developed the lake and streams for trout fishing.  The Orchard Lake Club was formed by New York City businessmen to enjoy the trout fishing and beauty of the woods. 

By the turn of the century, what is now the Al Nassau area of the Reservation was then a small town consisting of five houses, a logging camp and a mill for the Resherif Lumber Company.. To this day, the foundations of the houses and mill can be seen.

During the "Roaring 20’s" the area was the property of the New York Trout and Skeet Club. Many people came to the area from the city to fish and vacation. During WWII, however, due to the rationing of gasoline, the club was forced out of business. When put up for sale in 1942, the club was bought by Mr. Charles R. Vose for $20,000. He used it as a private retreat until 1956 when the Nassau County Council bought the property with the help of a donation from Mr. Alfred H. Capery. Many generations of Scouts and Scouters have enjoyed the property since its purchase and the establishment of the base camp in 1956.