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Resorts World Catskills recently joined with the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project to unveil a new dedication to the former Concord Hotel, Breezy Corners, and Kiamesha Lake where the new fully integrated resort stands today, as it continues to honor Sullivan County’s historic role as a regional destination.
Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East, delivered remarks at the Thursday, June 13th, unveiling before a crowd of more than 100 guests on the lawn outside The Alder Hotel. Other speakers included Marisa Scheinfeld, Founder and Project Director of the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project, and Isaac Jeffreys, the organization’s Public Relations & Visual Coordinator, and Jimmy Parker, former owner of the Concord Hotel.
“Resorts World Catskills is committed to honoring Sullivan County’s legacy as a destination as we continue to operate as a state-of-the-art, fully integrated hotel-resort,” said Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East. “The Concord was an icon that not only welcomed generations of families but also played a vital role in history as the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his last interview. We are proud to have worked with the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project and our partners in Sullivan County to honor and recognize that history.”
The Concord was a staple of the Borscht Belt, which was comprised of a string of resorts frequented by Jewish-American families. The region became one of the nation’s hottest vacation destinations, known for its world-class entertainment. Hollywood icons Carl Reiner, Mel Brook, and Joan Rivers are just some of the names who got their start performing at hotels, including the Concord, from the 1940s through the 1960s. Jewish families helped build the region as other resorts in the nation barred them from vacationing there. On March 25th, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. attended the Rabbinical Assembly at the Concord as a show of solidarity between Black and Jewish communities at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. That night, he would give what was his last interview before he was assassinated less than two weeks later, on April 4th, in Memphis, Tennessee.
While the Concord was demolished in the early 2000s, RWC has carried on its role as a beacon for the region. The hotel-casino has become a dining and entertainment destination beyond its casino floor, hosting comedians, concerts, and boxing matches. Last summer, RWC wrapped up a $40-million, Rees Jones-led renovation of two golf courses previously part of the Concord: the Monster and the Old Continental. The newly redesigned Monster has become one of the hottest golf courses in the northeast since the renovation.
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