Right here in the small town of Rhinebeck, we have a small forest that has a fire tower. In high school, it was used as a party spot. The police eventually put an end to those days.
Ferncliff Forest is located about 2 miles north of the village. The fire tower was originally from South Carolina and was relocated here about 3 years ago. It's a quick walk up. About a half mile and 100 feet elevation later, there are commanding views of the Hudson River, the Catskill Mountains and the surrounding farm land.
The walk includes a pond and a couple shelters. Closer inspection reveals the remains of many foundations. My guess is that one hundred years ago this land was all farm land.
That first picture is quintessential postcard stuff. Too perftect to be true. But there it is.
ReplyDeleteAlways wondered what Ferncliff Forest was all about, having driven past it nuermous times, heading to see movies in Rhinebeck with a former lay.
Great pictures. Makes me want to own a dairy farm, or goat farm, and smell fresh grass after milking my beasts.
I am an old timer from Rhinebeck...you should mention that the Ferncliff Forest Preserve is a pristine 190 acre tract of land that was part of the Vincent Astor estate and donated to the Rhinebeck Rotary in 1964 (the year I graduate from Rhinebeck High) by Brooke Astor.
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