Kutsher’s Will Be Reincarnated as Catskills Yoga Retreat

Postcard showing Kutsher’s Hotel in 1955. Image by Flickr Commons

By Gabe Friedman June 30, 2015

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

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO