Monticello Racino, Casino Prosperity, and Tuxedo
Gambling fascinates me. It’s so duplicitous. The commercials for casinos try to trick you into believing that casinos are peopled with thin, elegant people, their bright white smiles and shimmering dresses. Gambling will save our town. Gambling will be the death of our town. People are genuinely excited about inserting a dollar bill, losing, and then inserting another dollar bill.
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One day this fall I headed up to Sullivan County for my last taste of Big Kev’s Barbecue* before winter sets in. I detoured past the racino in Monticello. It has video slot machines, but awaits the full-blown casino license. I took these pictures of every building that is adjacent to the track, leaving out the auto repair business, which seems to be doing fine, and the topless bar, also still in business.
“This facility is going to be a magnet for socializing” said Cliff Ehrilich, vice president of operations for Mighty M Gaming at Monticello Raceway, back when the track opened as a racino in 2004.
Back then, Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce President Jacquie Leventoff viewed the racino as a major positive for business in Sullivan County. “I see what it represents for the people of Sullivan County,” she said. “The businesses will benefit. Gas stations, restaurants, motels . . . employees and paychecks.”
I don’t know — I didn’t expect glitz and glamour, neon on the buildings. But I kind of didn’t expect that every business adjacent to the casino would be closed, except one (a mechanic shop), or that every home would be abandoned.
Four casinos have closed in Atlantic City this year. Meanwhile, Tuxedo, New York, waits to see whether it will be offered one of up to four casino licenses, by the New York state gaming commission, to build a 1.5 billion dollar casino resort. The closure of casinos has increased online gambling sites’ demand. The plethora of games and gamers at https://content.yardmap.org/ is an example. People look for authorization in online casinos as well. Therefore, only legitimate casinos can survive, both online and offline.
I don’t live in Tuxedo. But I’ve always considered it the gateway town to Harriman State Park, in a way none of the other Harriman towns are, because it’s so central, it’s so pretty, it’s historic, and it’s convenient. The trail that spans the park begins (or ends) at the railway platform. You can get your trail food right across the street, and make a day — or weekend — of it.
But I’m not sure Tuxedo, New York, is living up to the potential of a Trail Town, and I hope some day — maybe after the casino license is awarded elsewhere — Tuxedo sits down to map its future as an outdoor town, where you can hop off the train from the city, rent some camping gear, follow a map or catch a shuttle to the park’s miles and miles of trails, and drop in at a great place to eat afterwards.
It would take a lot of thought, a bit of an investment, and a real commitment to showing off this town, and this area of the state, in the best way possible.
*Big Kev’s Barbecue is a place I discovered by accident a couple years ago. Turning the corner of 17B out of White Lake, it was like a mirage, a long stream of blue smoke rising out of a truck, into a pouring rainstorm. Big Kev has parked his operation at the far edge of a weekend flea market, and back then there were no picnic tables, let alone a building, to eat at, so you had to eat off the hood of your car. Now Big Kev’s upgraded, and has a trailer near the same spot. He’s open through Thanksgiving Day, and closed for the winter. Find him on Route 7B in White Lake, New York (Corner of 17b & Royce Road). It’s really worth the trip.
You are so right. Casinos feed into people’s addiction to gambling, believing they can win. It’s all about GREED from the developers all the way down to the bettor. They should learn from Atlantic City with all the casino closings. And where is the community prosperity??? We need more natural areas , undeveloped for everyone to enjoy.
Suzy:
Thank you for your insightful post. It so true, gambling brings in the worse people into a neighborhood and it sucks the life out of everything there. Fat cat politicians can then justify bigger budgets for their own pet project so they can hire their mistresses and the gaming commission gets rich off the back of poor and middle class people. Keep it up Suzy!!!
The abandoned buildings remind me of Tuxedo… Red Apple Rest, Duck Cedar Inn….empty storefronts in town….without the resort, we’re not far behind Monticlello.
thank you for your concern…please remember you leave from wherever you leave from to enter our world – we do not do the same – so….please do not tell us what we need to improve as we are quite content with out your intrusion…thanks: the folks and critters of sloatsbug/tuxedo – get lost please somewhere else…
Don, I was wondering when I’d hear from you!
Great site Suzy! I hope people listen to what you are saying before it’s too late. I’ve been enjoying the beauty and wildlife in this area for 40 years. The Harriman and Sterling Forest area is truly a blessing that no one should ever take for granted.
Casino gambling is available in Atlantic City, Yonkers Race Track, Bethlehem PA, eastern Connecticut, and probably coming to the Meadowlands and other places in NJ. And of course you can bet any time, on any thing, on the internet. Instead of Tuxedo playing the ‘me too’ game, they should market what they have that these other places don’t have and never will, and that of course is proximity to the beautiful protected public lands in Harriman and Sterling Forest.
the sloatsburg and tuxedo area has no industry to provide tax relief – those little homes on 7 lakes drive that you pass on the way to reeves meadow pay over $12,000/yr property tax – i’m on the last portion of johnsontown rd and pay over $17000/yr…many are over $20,000/yr.
industry is generally welcomed by the locals – including casinos…we tire of the predictable liberal bs (no hunting, casinos et. al.) heard from those getting off the train or bus with their stupid walking sticks. you are generally viewed with amusement at best…
peace
I’m guessing you have no love for the Indiana Bat. :0)
yea, yea and yea the little guy and his friends that caught ebola a few years bat (sic) still got the deer, coyote and other critters running away from the hikers as they trek thru their home…
I grew up in Tuxedo and still return all the time to enjoy the beauty of the area. Last season I taught my son to ski at Tuxedo Ridge (where I learned way back when) and plan to buy season passes for the whole family this year. My parents had a business in the area for many years an employed a lot of local people. I think there is a way to both protect and preserve the beauty of the area and provide for jobs and property tax relief. Casinos are not the answer. Working with the natural capital of the area – that is the best opportunity.
what “natural capital”? selling maps and nut bars ? those that like the natural outdoorsy stuff do not spend …never have…that’s why they recreate in the free-o outdoors …no $ there – none – only liability when they need to get dragged out…
Don, in 2013 outdoor recreation had an economic impact of $646 billion in the US. Outdoor recreation supports 6.1 million jobs and a combined $80 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.
In New York State outdoor recreation supports 130,000 jobs in New York, generates nearly 800 million in state tax revenue every year, and produces 11.3 billion in annual retail sales and services. That’s a lot of nut bars.
Those are facts, whether you witness them personally or not. If I drive to Jim Thorpe PA to hike Glen Onoko, I’ve paid a park entrance fee, I’ve bought lunch and beer, a couple cups of coffee and street parking. I bought a candle from the nice lady at the bed and breakfast. I might get a nut bar and a “stupid stick” while I’m at it. It all adds up, and it’s because in little Jim Thorpe, they had the vision not to stick a casino on the Lehigh River.