Kutsher’s Will Be Reincarnated as Catskills Yoga Retreat
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Nobody puts Kutsher’s in a corner. After closing in 2013, the former Borscht Belt hotel — famed as the inspiration for the fictional “Dirty Dancing” resort — is to be reincarnated as a $250-million yoga center.
Indian billionaire Subhash Chandra plans to turn the defunct resort into a yoga and wellness center. His vision edged closer to becoming reality last week as he attended the groundbreaking for the 260,000-square-foot site, according to .
Kutsher’s opened in 1907 and became a haven for Jews who were shut out of gentile vacation clubs through the mid-20th century. It is known to Jews and non-Jews alike as the inspiration for Kellerman’s, the fictional resort that was the setting of the classic 1987 film “Dirty Dancing.”
Kutsher’s continues to live on through film: The documentary “Welcome to Kutsher’s: The Last Catskills Resort” was released on DVD and on-demand services last week.
But those who are holding their breath for a chance to visit in real life should inhale — and then exhale slowly. Construction of the new center will take around 12-18 months. Once open, week-long packages could cost around $2,000. Chandra plans to open four more similar centers across the U.S. in the coming years.
Yoga enthusiasts with “Hungry Eyes” be warned: The center is based upon Ayurvedic principles, one of which is healthy eating. “It’s a very well-known fact that this country needs help in the health and wellness space,” Chandra, who is worth $2.8 billion, told Bloomberg. “I hope I’m not politically wrong in mentioning th
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
