Borscht Belt
Comedy history · 7 facts, each from at least two of 8 independent sources · last reviewed 2026-10-17
The Borscht Belt was a resort area in Sullivan and Ulster Counties whose resorts served mostly Jewish New Yorkers.1,2,3,4,5 That venue is where Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, and Joan Rivers each launched their careers.6,7
Size and Location
At its height, the area held 538 hotels along with 50,000 bungalows.1,2 More broadly, the Catskills resorts stretched across three counties: Sullivan, Ulster, and Orange.4,7
Visitors
In the middle of the 20th century, the region drew Jewish vacationers in great numbers.7,8
Notable Hotels
One Borscht Belt resort, the Pines Hotel, stood in South Fallsburg, New York.2,6 In Swan Lake, the Stevensville Hotel was a famed destination.9,10
Sources
- The Borscht Belt (borschtbelthistoricalmarkerproject.org)
- A Look at What's Left of the Abandoned Borscht Belt Hotels (hvmag.com)
- Hudson Valley Resort and Spa, closed since October 2018, bought by Brooklyn group – Daily Freeman (dailyfreeman.com)
- The Borscht Belt Was a Haven for Generations of Jewish Americans (smithsonianmag.com)
- Woodstock, but make it Orthodox: A Jewish music festival comes to the Catskills - New York Jewish Week (jta.org)
- Photos of New York's Abandoned 'Borscht Belt' Resorts - Business Insider (businessinsider.com)
- New stand-up shows aim to revive the Borscht Belt's Jewish comedy legacy - New York Jewish Week (jta.org)
- Young Jews Are Bringing the Catskills Back to Life | Hadassah Magazine (hadassahmagazine.org)
- Former Stevensville Hotel has a new owner - Sullivan County Democrat (scdemocratonline.com)
- Swan Lake Historical Marker | Borscht Belt History (borschtbelthistoricalmarkerproject.org)
Updated November 12, 2026.