Bungalow colonies date back to the turn of the 19th century, when Jewish farmers throughout the Catskills began renting rooms and cottages to seasonal borders. The idea caught on and families began to build and operate larger developments that became known as summer resorts for the Jewish community. 

By the 1950s, there were a half million residents occupying the so-called “Jewish Alps” every summer. The larger resorts, either small hotels or bungalow communities, were known for all-inclusive amenities like meals, entertainment and childcare. 

- EMILY NONKO