Plans for the legendary but now deserted Grossinger Hotel and Country Club in New York's Catskills have taken a more expansive turn now that the Royce Hotels group has become part owners with Grossinger's Associates.
The resort, which closed in 1986, will be managed by Royce, which says it wants to make it the crown jewel of its chain. Royce operates eight hotels, including the Governor's Inn in Morristown, N.J.Officials of both companies have announced that the construction that is now under way at Grossingers will cease while new plans and financing are completed. They said they intend to enlarge the hotel to 1,100 rooms instead of the previously planned 500.
It is hoped that 700 rooms will be ready when the old home of comedians, borscht and sports facilities, which opened in 1914 in Liberty, N.Y., is scheduled to reopen next spring.
Grossinger's had about 550 guest rooms and 250 staff rooms when it closed. Many of the old ones have been torn down, others renovated. In addition, the dining room and 20,000-square-foot kitchen have been renovated and a new convention center has been built.
The dining room will be kosher, said Larry Frenkel, the general partner of Grossinger's Associates, but there will be three or more other restaurants offering fare other than kosher to attract a broad range of guests.
Meanwhile, although the indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts, ski slopes and other facilities are silent, golfers still make use of the resort's 27-hole course, and the clubhouse serves breakfast, lunch and drinks.