My Day at Undercliff Picnic & Beach areas

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Staying within the same state park, Palisades Interstate Park, I was now about 7 or 8 miles north of the George Washington Bridge, at the Undercliff Picnic & Beach area. Yes I said beach, for those of you familiar with the Hudson River. Back in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s over 1 million bathers came to the park every year from NY City and the surrounding areas of NJ to go swimming in the Hudson River. Those from NYC came by way of ferry boats.

Then after the George Washington Bridge was built in 1933, the ferry traffic dropped by about 50% and so did the park's attendance. Because of the bridge and more NY City pools being opened to the public, less and less people from NYC came across the river to NJ to go swimming in the Hudson at the 3 beaches within the park. Eventually in 1941 the Undercliff beach and bath house closed down.

The bath house itself was built in 1922 and it was the middle one of 3 bath houses that were within the park, with the northern one at Alpine boat basin and the southern one at Englewood boat basin. The Undercliff bath house along with the one at Englewood had a stone lower level and the second floor and roof was made of all wood. Eventually the upper wooden structures decayed over the years and collapsed leaving only the stone ruins.

LOOKING SOUTH ABOUT 8 MILES NORTH OF THE GW BRIDGE

WHAT IS LEFT OF THE UNDERCLIFF BATH HOUSE

FROM ON TOP OF ONE OF THE STAIRWAYS LOOKING DOWN INTO RUINS

LOOKING OUT OF ONE OF THE MANY WINDOW OPENINGS

INSIDE THE FIRST FLOOR RUINS


WHAT THE BATH HOUSE AND BEACH LOOKED LIKE IN 1932

A LONE SUNFLOWER ON WHAT IS LEFT OF THE BEACH

ANOTHER SECTION OF THE UNDERCLIFF BEACH

MY CROSSOVER SUV CHEVY EQUINOX AT THE PICNIC AREA

Where some like to lay on the beach, take a cruise, stay at a resort, or visit some far off exotic location, I prefer to explore the local history of this area of the United States. Too often people go to far away places for vacation and ignore all of the wonders that are close by. That is not me. I enjoy the beautiful spots that I can drive to. - Til' Next Time, Robert

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Recent Comments

63

Love the ruins of the old bath house ... wish it was in MY yard ... It would make a gorgeous contemplation garden and a great outdoor event space! M

Sounds great Melody! It is a big open space that gets a lot of sunlight in the morning only then the cliffs and trees behind it block the sun from Noon time on.

Nice blog and interesting history about the park itself.

Thank you, I enjoy history and especially when it relates to the places I visit.

Those are always the best! I have been out to Texas where the Alamo was, very cool remains there as well. Been to several other places as well, but not recalling what they were, was a very long time ago. Mostly relating to the Civil War.

Cool! Civil War sites I haven't experienced yet! But I do want to check them out!

Hi, Kholmes! Glad you got to visit the Alamo [remains]. As us native Texans say ...we don't hold it against you for not being from Texas as long as you come over as soon as you could! When our eldest son was at Duke University many moons ago, my wife Ana and I would drive from our home here at Houston, take some back roads or divert from Interstates to see old places like Vicksberg or Ballengrath Gardens, Ft. Sumter and Savannah, maybe visit Ashville, The Vanderbilt place,though meandering around Duke, Chapel Hill, Raleigh. We would sometimes stop and just look at the old tobacco leaves drying houses! Our middle son lives in Dana Point, Calif so we've done a bit of driving from Houston to there and back and seen the likes of Sedona, the Canyon, Casa Grande, Tumbstone, even Ajo and Yuma. Take care and for having come to the Alamo, I am now following you!

There was a quite interesting school project my son had to do when he was younger. Where's Stanley, I don't know if you know about Stanley, but he is a flat paper figure and my son had to do a project with Stanley at a historical site and pictures taken of him. So I have a friend that lives in Texas and I sent his Stanley that he made to her and she took pictures of him at the Alamo! Very cool project. I think the adults did most of the work though. Lol. He does all his own work now (15 yrs old), that wasn't the norm for us.

Thanks for your reply and have a wonderful day.

Kim

It was a while ago, my Dad's from Alabama and my Mom was from Tennesse. My great Uncle took me around to a bunch of great places, names of them have left me though. Only store what I really need to. Lol, usually history isn't one of them. I love science and math.
Hope you get to some and if you do, put some pics up!
I still like to hear about it.
Take care,
Kim

Great pictures, thanks for sharing a little history with us Robert.

You are welcome. I love sharing views and knowledge about local history. :)

Wow, VERY interesting! You'd think at least a few beach lovers would still go there. Looks like a neat place. Great post, Robert! Love the pictures too!

Actually though no one would go swimming in the Hudson anymore, there are some people who do hang out on their beach chairs during the summer months of June - August. But not many people know about that place which makes it cool for those of us that do. :-)

LOVE the photo looking out from the window and the sunflower. Some people might think it odd that we take photos of ruins. Who cares. Still think a wine excursion would be good for you. You go down one side of the lake, stop at Watkins Glen to hike and have dinner, spend the night in a B&B and go up the other side the next day. Just a thought. Heading to upstate today. Quick trip before I go back to LI next weekend....and the dreaded GW bridge. :-)

Sounds like a nice thought! Need a traveling buddy on this wine, lake, and B&B excursion? :-) You spend more time up here lately, perhaps you should move back? - Have a safe trip. May you not run into any traffic.

NO, not moving back--they tax the air up here I think. :-) Construction, as usual, on I 81. Also, there was a tractor trailer whos cab was totally burned out. I can't imagine that the driver survived. Trailer was fine. Might do that wine trip again next year. I'll be up in LI next weekend for my daughters 40th. I adopted her when I was 2. LOL.

Love the pictures and the resumé, thanks for sharing Robert, greets Loes

You are welcome Loes. I'm happy you enjoyed the history and photos.

Great photos, Robert! There is enough history in this area to keep you busy for a long time to come. :)

I know! I only scratched the surface during the past 2 weeks.

so very interesting

Thank you Neil

We take a lot of day trips. Going to see things that are close to home. Thanks for the photos.

Most times the real beautiful sights are within our immediate areas.

Welcome back by the way.

Thank you Chris.

very nice thank you for sharing the photos AM

You are welcome. We should always start our days with beautiful scenes.

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