GRAND GORGE: A Crossroads village that gets things done!
Heading north on Route 30 as you leave the hamlet of Roxbury, you'll see the sign pointing you to road that leads to John Burroughs Memorial Field and his burial place, Boyhood Rock, as well as Burroughs' beloved summer cottage, Woodchuck Lodge. Keep heading north and you're tracing the path carved by Leni Lenape natives centuries ago, a journey that the locals have long called "The Long Woods."
In just a few miles, you enter the busy crossroads hamlet of Grand Gorge, located at the intersection of two centuries' old thoroughfares, now State Routes 30 and 23. Grand Gorge boasts a vibrant, service-oriented business district. Unlike cookie cutter shopping malls, Grand Gorge business people pride themselves on old-fashioned service to individuals. In Grand Gorge, someone will still pump your gas, clean your windshield, and point out her favorite place to eat. Grand Gorge’s beautician makes house calls! Whenever you stop by, whether to eat, shop, get your car serviced or attend an event, you’ll find that spirit of customer service in Grand Gorge. That friendly unassuming character belies the amount of commercial activity situated at these crossroads: whether you need to do your laundry, get a hair cut or put a new addition on your house, you can probably get it done in Grand Gorge — and have a homecooked meal while you do it.
First founded by an industrious Scotsman, John More, in the 1780s, the hamlet
was long named "Moresville" for this prolific, hard working farming
and mercantile family — the More clan, now thousands strong, still
has its own family association and reunions. Grand Gorge’s quintessential
character as a bustling crossroads community remains the cornerstone of its
identity, from those earliest settler days, when families travelling the
turnpike from the Hudson to the West naturally came to put down roots at
this intersection created by the “grand gorge."
The arrival of the railroad in 1872 kept this Catskills "hub" right at the heart of commercial and tourist traffic. It was shortly after that, in June 1874, that Moresville officially changed its name to Grand Gorge, both to avoid confusion with similarly named towns in New York, and also to reflect the hamlet’s uniquely nestled topography.
Thorughout the 19th century and into the 20th, the hamlet was a thriving and constantly evolving place: tanneries, creameries, mills, shoe shops, smiths, schools, churches and the Hose. Co. made for a bustling community with several prominent families. But the village has also always been an inviting place for those striking out anew to settle and take up a trade or set up shop. In 2000, a community-minded group of Grand Gorge residents formed the Grand Gorge Community Action Group (GGCAG) to initiate Community Improvement Projects and revitalize the village. In partnership with the Town of Roxbury, the GGCAG has installed beautiful signage at all four village entrances. The community playground and ball field at the Civic Center have been restored.
In the milder months, you’ll see flowers boxes abloom along Main Street, and during the holidays, lighted Christmas wreaths. The Civic Center, restored by the Town of Roxbury and Grand Gorge residents, is a keystone of village activity, hosting senior meals, community events and parties, and village meetings. The Halloween and Christmas parties and community breakfasts held there are growing each year and warmly anticipated by the whole community. As part of the Town-sponsored Main Street Revitilization project, funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission and the New York Main Street Program, six village business district facades will be re-designed to recreate the look and feel of Grand Gorge decades ago while creating a visually appealing experience for residents, shoppers, and visitors. The GGCAC is also organizing more streetscape enhancements, including banners, landscaping, benches, and signage.