Celebrating the Opening of the Bindy Bazaar Woods & Walking Trail at Bethel Woods
League VP Erin Tobin (center) helps cut the ribbon on the Bindy Bazaar Woods and Walking Trail
In 2013, we awarded Bethel Woods Center for the Arts a Preserve New York grant to help fund a Historic Landscape Report. That report helped spur a concerted effort to restore the grounds that had been home to the famous Bindy Bazaar during the original Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. While there is still more work to do to complete the trails, this first wave of restoration represents a true success story for historic preservation. When people visit Bethel Woods, they will be able to explore the area and see historic evidence of how the woods were used during the festival — effectively bringing the past alive in the present.
Our Vice President for Policy and Preservation Erin Tobin was honored to be asked to help cut the ceremonial ribbon before a small group toured the newly completed trails. As you walk through, you’ll find replicas of original wayfinding signage along the trails and interpretive signs that help provide context for the historic site you are exploring. It’s also just a very nice place to take a walk in the woods.
While we were there, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore more of the grounds and check out their impressive museum, dedicated not just to the Woodstock Festival, but to the 1960s more generally. If you’re ever in Sullivan County, it’s certainly worth a visit!
