The 440-acre [1] Mt. Cathalia ski resort near Ellenville, New York, was acquired this year to become part of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
The acquisition preserves a historic site that served as a rare inclusive space for minority skiers during a period of widespread segregation in outdoor recreation.
Joseph Tso, a Chinese-American Army veteran, developed the mountain into a ski resort during the 1950s [2]. Tso established the property as a destination where minorities were welcomed, providing access to winter sports at a time when many resorts maintained restrictive policies.
State officials purchased the property in 2026 [3] for $3.3 million [1]. The land consists of 440 acres [1] of mountainous terrain that will now be integrated into the existing state park system.
The transition from a private resort to public land aims to expand the footprint of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. By incorporating Mt. Cathalia, the state ensures the land remains protected from private development while maintaining the legacy of the site.
Because the resort was built by a minority veteran during the mid-20th century, the land represents more than just geographic expansion. It serves as a physical record of Tso's effort to democratize the slopes of New York.
“The 440-acre Mt. Cathalia ski resort was acquired to become part of Minnewaska State Park Preserve.”
The absorption of Mt. Cathalia into a state preserve converts a privately held historical landmark into a public asset. This move not only increases the available acreage for conservation and public use in New York but also institutionalizes the memory of Joseph Tso's inclusive business model, highlighting the intersection of military service and civil rights in the American outdoors.
