Roscoe, New York is about two hours from North Jersey, and it’s also known as Trout Town USA. This idyllic village in the Hudson Valley is the type of getaway destination that is the perfect antidote to the often hectic pace of NYC living. As busy and loud as it can be in our area, it is quiet and serene in Roscoe. When a Hoboken couple invited The Hoboken Girl team to check out their Airbnb just outside of Roscoe, called Stonewater Pines, we just had to say yes. Read on for more about Stonewater Pines — our latest Airbnb review, as well as things to do when you’re in the Catskills near Roscoe, New York.
This is an editorial series about Airbnbs and our experiences there. If you’re interested in having your Airbnb editorially reviewed, email hello@hobokengirl.com.
The Journey to Stonewater Pines
Stonewater Pines is a four-bedroom property located on 60 acres in Sullivan County, NY. Hoboken couple Liz and Justin own the property, which started out in the 1970s as a simple, red, A-frame home. The original owner was a pilot who scouted the plot while flying and positioned the home to take advantage of the incredible views, Liz says.
Liz says that what she and Justin like most about Stonewater Pines is that it is a blend of creature comforts and natural beauty. “We used to believe that since we lived in an urban setting, accessing true natural beauty and the accompanying serenity required a lot of planning, excessive travel, and less-than-desirable accommodations,” she said.
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“Discovering this 60-acre property only 2 hours away from Hoboken and NYC was a revelation, and we were determined to fill the house with unique & luxurious creature comforts that one would expect from a five-star stay. Simply put, we like to think that Stonewater Pines is where the great outdoors meets the great indoors!”
The property is cut through by the Beaverkill River, and the home’s design means the incredible views can be enjoyed from basically anywhere inside. But if that’s not enough, there are several private hiking trails on the property so guests can get up close and personal with nature.
Sullivan County’s best is on display here, as there are waterfalls and a spring-fed pond on the property, too. “The pond is on the last leg of the trail, about 200 yards from the house,” Liz said. “It is brimming with wildlife so, we set up a trail cam to peek in on the animals that pass through. We occasionally post a “Trail Cam Tuesday” story on our Instagram account for those who are interested in checking it out! ”
Some animals native to the area include toads, snakes, turtles, hawks, salamanders, rabbits, and wild turkeys. There is an eagle’s nest nearby, and we hear that flashes of white as the birds fly by are a frequent sight. We saw several deer on the property, and some fly fishermen in the river.
The natural beauty of the property is certainly a draw. But we’d be lying if we didn’t mention how tastefully and comfortably the home is furnished. With four bedrooms and three full bathrooms plus an outdoor shower, this home would be a good choice for a family getaway or a couples’ trip. The house sleeps eight and there’s plenty of room to spread out: even the parking area has space for four cars. Each bedroom is decorated with an eye for detail, and two bedrooms have private decks. The high-end linens and locally-made Beekman 1802 bath products throughout the home take the stay to the next level of comfort.
There are cozy corners throughout the house perfect for setting up a laptop for remote working or rolling out a yoga mat, plenty of which are stocked in the home. There are board games, books, a record player, and many streaming services available to enjoy on the smart TV.
A deck wraps around the entire back of the house, with the outdoor shower on one end and a large seating area complete with Adirondack chairs on the other. The outdoor shower cleverly has a shelf at just the right height for a shower beverage, perfect for the transition from a day spent outside.
Stepping down from the large seating area is a wooden bridge over a small creek that leads to the rest of the property. On the immediate other side of the bridge is a fire pit. The house is stocked with dry, cut wood, so it’s up to guests to BYO s’mores ingredients. Continuing on, guests will find cleared trails through the woods. Blue markers with the Stonewater logo call out the trails, so there’s no worry about getting lost.
A cozy Friendsgiving, a multigenerational get-together, or a wintery New Year’s Eve dinner party come to mind when looking at the expansive kitchen, kitted out with a coffee bar, a Viking range, and all the other bits and bobs that make a cook happy including serve ware like platters and pitchers. Everything is neatly labeled, making it easy to find a utensil or clean up. The bar setup is in the great room: a wine fridge and every type of glassware await, in multiples. A grill is on the back deck, so the griller-in-chief can still take in the beautiful views while captaining the meal.
The main dining area has a big table that seats eight, while three more seats at the kitchen island make great overflow seating. The breakfast nook has still more seating, which would be great as the Kids’ Table ™ or for working on a puzzle.
Check out more about Stonewater Pines on the property’s website, or book directly through Airbnb or VRBO. Discounts are available for stays longer than seven nights.
Things to Do in the Area
The home is located a short drive from the town of Roscoe, known as Trout Town USA for its incredible trout fishing. A few more minutes down the road is Livingston Manor, another charming town along Willowemoc Creek. There are dozens of hiking areas and outdoor spaces to explore.
Fly Fishing
The Beaverkill River and Willowemoc Creek are known to be some of the top trout fishing locations in the US. Fishermen in this area popularized the sport of fly fishing, which is how Roscoe got its name as Trout Town USA. Whether it’s your first cast or you’re a seasoned angler, local outfitters have guided excursions to fit the bill. Many offer equipment-provided beginner’s clinics.
- Baxter House Outfitters | 47 Stewart Avenue, Roscoe
- Beaverkill Angler | 64 Stewart Avenue, Roscoe
- Trout Town Flies | 66 Stewart Avenue, Roscoe
- Dette Flies | 13 Main Street, Livingston Manor
Museums
Catskill Fly Fishing Center + Museum | 1031 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor
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What started as an idea around a kitchen table is now a modern museum and history center, offering training, fishing trips, and education with the goal of preserving the legacy of the region’s fly fishing legacy. This museum sits on 53 acres and has an art gallery and a traditional bamboo fishing rod-making space. There’s a covered pavilion for picnics and naturally visitors are encouraged to explore the property and even fish in Wulff Run, the section of Willowemoc Creek that runs through the museum property. The museum is open Friday through Monday from 10AM – 4PM, year-round.
Roscoe O&W Museum | 7 Railroad Avenue, Roscoe
This museum is dedicated to the New York Ontario + Western Railway, which ran from 1868 to 1957. The museum building holds artifacts from the railroad and the Rocklands area. This rail line was used to transport ‘trout cars’ — while running routes from Upstate New York to Manhattan and Long Island, the trout cars could dump trout into streams and other waterways when the trains crossed a bridge. The museum has a trout car and caboose on display. The hours of the museum are from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend, Saturday 11AM-3PM and Sunday 12PM-3PM.
Animals
Buck Brook Alpacas | 12 Bestenheider Road, Roscoe
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This is the place to get up close and personal with alpacas. Guests can feed, walk, take photos with, do yoga with, or just hang out with alpacas. Private tours of the facility are available, as are fibercraft workshops using alpaca wool. The farm has a farm store and food trucks frequently show up on weekends. Reservations are required for many activities. Stay up to date with the farm via social media.
Beaver Kill Trout Hatchery | 8 Alder Creek Road, Livingston Manor
This is a fifth-generation family-run trout hatchery that stocks ponds and restaurants throughout the area. Guests can pay to fish in the ponds from April 1st till Labor Day. The on-site market sells fresh and smoked trout.
Catskill Fish Hatchery | 402 Mongaup Road, Livingston Manor
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation maintains 12 fish hatcheries throughout the state. The Catskills hatchery produces over 100,000 pounds of brown trout annually. The facility is open to visitors on weekdays 9AM-4PM and weekends 8AM-12PM.
Where to Eat
Catskills Coffee Lodge | 28 Cottage Street, Roscoe
This country-chic spot is owned by sister duo Jessica and Jeannine England, who combined their shared hospitality experience into this new venture. Jessica worked with Montclair, New Jersey-based coffee roastery Java Love to come up with the cafe’s signature blend. “I like really bold flavors so there’s still a bit of that,” she said. “We ended up with a mix that’s 75% Guatemalan and 25% Sumatran.” The tea is locally sourced from Harney & Sons, based in Millerton NY. The cafe serves baked goods, sandwiches, and sweet treats, all baked on-site in the space, which used to be an auto parts store. We tried the summer herb quiche and several sweet treats. The creekside location makes it a great spot to eat a la carte and enjoy the sounds of nature while enjoying your goodies. This cafe is open from Thursday to Sunday from 8AM – 3PM.
The Junction | 60 Stewart Avenue, Roscoe
Owners Misty Hackworth and Aaron Blakely met while working in the Brooklyn bar and restaurant scene and discovered Roscoe through their shared passion for fly fishing. The Junction’s menu features comfort food made with seasonal ingredients served alongside local craft beer. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Junction is the world-class cocktails: in addition to the menu there is a daily special frozen mixed drink. On our visit, we enjoyed the frozen special of a yuzu gimlet, which tasted like a tart, sophisticated Slurpee. The Junction is open for drinks and snacks Thursday to Monday from 4PM-12AM, with dinner available from 5PM-9:30PM.
Northern Farmhouse Pasta | 65 Rockland Road, Roscoe
This charming farmhouse doesn’t give away that it’s home to some of the best fresh pasta in Sullivan County. Chef and owner Robert Eckert uses New York-grown wheat for the pasta dough. All of the pastas are made in-house and the menu is a mostly Italian selection with some ramen dishes. The ramen makes sense when you think about how noodles are also at the core of a good bowl of ramen! Reservations are encouraged. The pastas have a whole-wheat texture and are eminently slurp-able. Northern Farmhouse is open Thursday and Friday from 4PM-9PM and Saturday and Sunday from 12PM-9PM.
The Walk-In | 67 Main Street, Unit 2, Livingston Manor
Owners Lily Price and Erin Ellis share their Southern-influenced cooking at the Walk-In and its sister restaurant, Neon Croissant, located across the street. For breakfast and lunch, Orwashers bagels and homemade biscuits are the flaky vehicles for decadent breakfast sandwiches. At night, the space turns into the Stumble Out Bar, known for its clever cocktails and seafood dishes. The Walk In is open seven days a week from 7AM-3PM. The Stumble Out Bar is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5PM-10PM. The Neon Croissant is open from 8AM to 3PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The Roscoe Diner | 1908 Old Route 17, Roscoe
This diner was built in the early 1960s and has become a quintessential part of many peoples’ journeys to this part of New York State. The family-run diner is known for its breakfast-all-day menu, featuring oversized French Toast, and its walls, which are covered in pennants from upstate colleges and universities. The multi-page menu has just about anything a person could want, and the Tesla chargers in the parking lot are a fun nod to this timeless spot’s role on an Upstate road trip. The diner is open from 6AM-10PM daily, with extended hours till 11PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
Where to Shop
DROOZ + Co. Catskills | 16 Pearl Street, Livingston Manor
Drooz is located on the ground floor of a bright white farmhouse, the ultimate backdrop for the colorful store inside. The shop bills itself as a modern general store, with cards, gifts, books, games, and knick-knacks for any and everyone, including furry friends. There is a back room for the children’s section. We were able to knock out part of our Christmas shopping in just one visit. DROOZ is open on Sunday from 10AM-4PM; Monday from 11AM-4PM; Tuesday + Wednesday, closed; Thursday from 11AM-5PM; Friday from 11AM-6PM; and Saturday from 10AM-5PM.
Jitterbug | 67 Main Street, Livingston Manor
If the movie Big were a retail store, this would be it. This cozy shop sells children’s toys and games, and has a separate section stocked full of records and CDs. The collection is eclectic and has both new and vintage items. And if the beauty of the Willowemoc Creek strikes, there is another section with plenty of art supplies, from sculpey clay to paints. Jitterbug is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 10AM-5PM; Wednesday and Thursday from 10AM – 8PM; Saturday from 9AM-8PM; and Sunday from 9AM to 5PM.
The WEMOC | 57 Stewart Avenue, Roscoe
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The WEMOC bills itself as a general store, stocking men’s and women’s clothing, home goods, and gifts. Many of the items are from a small village in Mexico, and there is plenty of Roscoe and Catskills swag in stock. The exterior of the building is swathed in a custom-painted mural of a trout, an homage to Roscoe’s roots. The WEMOC is open on Saturdays from 11AM-6PM and Sundays from 11AM-4PM.
The Hound Bookstore | 3 Union Street, Roscoe
Independently-owned Hound Bookstore is just off the main street of Roscoe. The shop is decorated with — what else — paintings and knickknacks of hounds. Adult and children’s books are available, as are postcards and other gift items. There are new and used books and an inviting nook in the back with armchairs for reading. The Hound is open Friday from 12PM-6PM; Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-6PM; and Monday from 11AM-4PM.
Main Street Farm Market Cafe | 36 Main Street, Livingston Manor
This shop is part cafe, part market, and we’re all the better for it. Main Street Farm Market specializes in locally grown and prepared goods, and that includes everything from trout, naturally, to ciders, beers, snack foods, meat, and cheeses. Guests can sit and eat in the cafe, or head out back to sit on the deck overlooking the Willowemoc Creek. Patrons can stock up on goods like snacks, organic meat, locally produced cheese, and more to enjoy back home. The hours are 9AM-8PM daily, and the kitchen closes at 4PM on weekdays and 6PM on weekends.
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Taylor + Ace | 51 Stewart Avenue, Roscoe
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This eclectic shop has vintage housewares and furniture. There are often racks of vintage sportswear in the back, like ’90s-style baseball jackets, so it’s worth a peek to see what’s new. While everything here is vintage, the overall style is bright and welcoming, and the constant influx of new items means that your new favorite thing could be right around the corner. Taylor + Ace is open Friday form 12PM-5PM; Saturday from 12PM-6PM; and Sunday from 11AM-4PM.
