One of the attractions for visitors to the Catskill Mountain House was to walk to the nearby Kaaterskill Falls. There was a small mill pond just up Lake Creek from the falls, and, for a few coins, the miller would open the gate on the dam, "turning on" the falls. As business at the Mountain House grew, so did the number of visitors to the falls, and in 1852 Peter Schutt built his own boarding house for 50 at the top of the falls. It was enlarged to a full scale hotel in 1881. It remained in operation to 1963, long after the larger and grander Catskill Mountain House and Hotel Kaaterskill had closed their doors. It was so badly decayed by the time the state acquired it, it was burned to the ground in 1967 and its grounds added to the Forest Preserve.

	Visitors arriving by carriage at the original Laurel House
	The original Laurel House's porches
	The original Laurel House and Kaaterskill Falls from Prospect Rock
	The Laurel House after its expansion
	1909 Postcard of the Laurel House Lobby
	1909 Postcard of the Laurel House Ball Room
	Kaaterskill Falls and the Laurel House
	Kaaterskill Falls and the Laurel House from a 1900 lantern slide
	The Laurel House at night
	An engraving of the Laurel House
	The mill pond dam
	The mill pond, Round Top just visible through the trees
	Looking out from the original Laurel House over a morning fog in the gorge. The Spray House at the top of the falls is just beyond the fence.
	Cover of Laurel House Brochure from the 1950's "A magnificent holday resort 2400 feet above sea level in the beautiful Catskill Mountains"
	Laurel House Dining Room (1950's)
	The cabaret at the Laurel House
	Steps leading to the rear portico, walkway led to the right to Kaaterskill Falls
	The rear portico, on the Kaaterskill Falls side
	The Laurel House, not long before it was burned by the state in 1967.
The Catskill Archive website and all contents, unless otherwise specified, are ©2000 Timothy J. Mallery.