Before dating apps, social media, and swiping right, there was the Catskills. For much of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers escaped to the mountains each summer looking for fresh air, great entertainment, and time with family. But they often found something else entirely: romance.
For thousands of couples, the Borscht Belt became one of America’s greatest matchmaking destinations, where a dance, a walk after dinner, or a chance meeting at the pool could change the course of a lifetime. That remarkable legacy is now the focus of “Catskills Romance: Love and Desire in the Borscht Belt,” a new exhibition at the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville.
“We realized there was this enormous matchmaking machine that connected thousands of people,” said Andrew Jacobs, president of the museum’s board of directors. “It’s such a significant part of Catskills history, yet it’s been largely overlooked. We wanted to tell a positive, life-affirming story that people of every generation can relate to.”
The exhibition traces the relationships that blossomed throughout the region’s legendary hotels and bungalow colonies, where “flirtation walks,” mambo nights, Champagne Hour competitions, and bustling social calendars created endless opportunities for connection. It also explores the behind-the-scenes work of resort owners, tummlers, dance instructors, maître d’s, and social directors who helped orchestrate many of those unforgettable encounters.
For Jacobs, the exhibit offers an interesting contrast to modern dating culture.
“In many ways, this was the dating app of its day,” he said. “People came here hoping to meet someone, but instead of scrolling through profiles, they were meeting on the dance floor, around the pool, or at dinner. It’s such an analog throwback, and I think that’s part of what makes it so fascinating today.”
Beyond the nostalgia, “Catskills Romance” also explores more complex stories of identity, hidden desire, and changing social expectations. Through rare artifacts, vintage photography, and thoughtfully curated displays, visitors gain a richer understanding of both the joy and complexity of relationships formed during the Borscht Belt era.
One of the exhibition’s most engaging features is its growing collection of oral histories. Drawing from nearly 200 recorded stories, the museum is creating animated presentations that bring firsthand memories to life. New stories will continue to be added throughout the exhibition’s year-long run, giving visitors a reason to return and experience something new.
The exhibition itself reflects an ambitious collaboration between lead curator Cristian Petru Panaite, whose exhibition work has been featured by institutions including the New York Historical Society, and co-curator Mackensie Griffin, who has helped shape every major exhibition at the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum. Together, they’ve created what Jacobs describes as a “top-shelf exhibition” that elevates an often-overlooked chapter of Catskills history.
Whether you remember the Borscht Belt firsthand, grew up hearing stories from parents or grandparents, or simply enjoy discovering local history, “Catskills Romance” offers a reminder that some of life’s most important journeys begin with a single introduction.
If you go
What: “Catskills Romance: Love and Desire in the Borscht Belt”
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.
Where: Borscht Belt Museum, 90 Canal St, Ellenville.
More information: 845-879-3561, info@borschtbeltmuseum.org, borschtbeltmuseum.org/catskills-romance
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Before dating apps, love stories began in the Catskills
Reporting by Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Special to the Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Special to the Poughkeepsie Journal | USA TODAY Network
