Among the cultural attractions of downtown Saugerties is a two-story-high mural depicting the town’s waterfront and Catskill Mountain backdrop, crowned with the words “Dump Here Never: Winston Farm Alliance.” It commemorates the successful 1987 campaign by a group of citizen environmentalists to prevent construction of a megadump and incinerator with 315-foot smokestacks proposed for the 736-acre parcel overlooking Thruway Exit 20.
Although it had been owned by the Schaller family since 1961, that acreage is still popularly known by its historical name, the Winston Farm. Local lore identifies it as the site originally envisioned for the 1969 Woodstock Festival, before Michael Lang and company were forced by wary municipal officials to seek permits much farther away, in Sullivan County.
It did, however, become the site of the 25th-anniversary concert known as Woodstock ‘94, which drew a large crowd for “four days of mud and music.” Another effort to turn it into hallowed ground for rock fans, 2014’s Hudson Project, similarly ended in torrential rainstorms, with attendees unable to leave for days because their cars were mired in mud.
Over the intervening years, plans have been floated to build a light industrial park at the Winston Farm, to turn it into a supplemental water source for the town or other applications. The Schallers’ asking price ran as high as $7.5 million at times. But always those plans fell through. Would-be developers found themselves stymied by local zoning restrictions or unable to attract investors.
Last week, however, produced a major revelation: Three locally based investors – all owners of construction and equipment companies – closed on the purchase of the Winston Farm from the Schaller family in May, without fanfare. The price was reportedly reduced to about $4 million. The new owners are John Mullen of J. Mullen and Sons, Anthony Montano of the A. Montano Equipment Co. and Montano Shoe Store, and Randy Richers of New York Drilling Service.
Mullen told the Daily Freeman that the trio has no specific plans for developing the site at this time, although they are considering “an amphitheater for concerts.” “We’re just going to sit on it and improve it, cut some grass; I’m going to put some cows out there for now, and whatever comes up, comes up,” Mullen said.
Noting that the site’s zoning is “somewhat of a challenge,” Saugerties town supervisor Fred Costello added that he was open to “developing zoning changes that are a reflection of the community and its goals.”
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