 |
| |
|
The
History of the
Antrim Lodge |
|
|
|
|
|
| Established
in 1890, the Antrim Lodge consistently
has been an important fixture in
Sullivan County, attracting people from
all over to the mountains and streams of
the Catskills. The Antrim began as a
boarding house where couples and
sportsmen would come to stay to explore
the local area and enjoy a relaxing
weekend with good food and good company.
As it grew in popularity, it became the
inn of choice for visitors to the area.
The
restaurant, and particularly the bar,
also became very popular with visitors
and local residents alike, especially
fishermen, and soon became the meeting
place for people after a day on the
streams. As Ed Van Putt writes in The
Beaverkill: the History of a River and
Its People: |
| |
| "Frank
Keener owned the Antrim Lodge, a
fisherman's hotel, which enjoyed
a valued relationship with
angling writers, who would visit
the bar and mix with the
colorful characters who fished
the Beaverkill. The bar, with
the mounted trout lining the
adjoining walls, became known as
"Keener's Pool". This
is understandable as it was a
famous watering hole for anglers
who often stood three and four
deep waiting for a drink to take
away the river's chill. At the
bar, stories were told of fish
caught and lost, and big trout
tended to increase in size in
proportion to the number of
drinks consumed. And it was part
of local lore that some of the
biggest trout ever taken from
the Beaverkill came out of
Keener's Pool." |
|
| |
| Soon,
in the Antrim was born the legendary
two-headed trout, the Beamoc, who
couldn't decide whether to swim towards
the Beaverkill or the Willowemoc after
their confluence at Junction Pool.
Similarly, anglers enjoyed debating
which was the better stream.
In
celebration of the outdoor tradition of
the area, especially its angling, the
Two Headed Trout Dinner was initiated at
the Antrim. On the Saturday nearest
opening day of fishing season, April
1st, the Dinner is held to celebrate the
start of the fishing and Summer season.
It was held each year at the Antrim
until the Antrim closed its doors in
1993.
In
2004, the Antrim began a complete
refurbishment to restore the building to
its glory. The renovation plans respect
the history of the Antrim but modernize
it with contemporary necessities such as
private baths in each room, internet access, in-room
television and in-room voice mail,
Nevertheless, the Antrim will stay true to
its roots as a traditional inn with a
restaurant and bar. It promises to be a fine venue for anyone to come
and enjoy time in the country whether it
be for angling, hiking, canoeing,
horseriding, biking, engaging in other
outdoor activities or sitting by the
fire reading a book. Offering excellent
food, warm service and a great
environment, the Antrim will soon be the
perfect getaway. |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
