We’re excited to share some wonderful news: The Ashokan Center has been named the 2026 Tourism Business of the Year by the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The award recognizes businesses and organizations that make a meaningful contribution to Ulster County, and we’re honored to have Ashokan recognized among this year’s outstanding honorees.

For more than a decade, Ashokan has welcomed people from near and far to experience the Catskills through music, nature, history, education, and community. From students arriving for immersive outdoor education programs to families gathering for camps and festivals, musicians coming together for Music & Dance Camps, and visitors attending public events, weddings, retreats, and conferences, Ashokan offers something a little different from the traditional destination experience.

At the heart of that experience is our 385-acre campus in Olivebridge, where forests, fields, streams, trails, historic buildings, a covered bridge, and the Ashokan Reservoir landscape create a setting where people can slow down, explore, learn, and connect.

Our public programs also bring visitors into the region throughout the year. Events such as the Summer Hoot, Winter Hoot, Maple Fest, Earth Fest, Old Time Rollick, and Ukulele Weekend welcome attendees from across the Hudson Valley and beyond, while our Music & Dance Camps bring musicians and dancers from around the country to the Catskills.

And because Ashokan is a nonprofit organization, the impact of that visitation extends beyond a single event or weekend. Revenue from our programs and private events helps support our broader mission to inspire learning and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music, and art.

This recognition belongs to the entire Ashokan community—our staff, artists, educators, volunteers, event partners, campers, students, guests, supporters, and everyone who has helped make Ashokan what it is today.

We’re grateful to the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce for this honor and, most of all, grateful to everyone who continues to visit, participate, and help us share this special place with the world.

We look forward to celebrating with the other 2026 Business Recognition Award honorees on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Diamond Mills Hotel & BLACKBARN Hudson Valley in Saugerties.

Here’s to the people and experiences that make the Hudson Valley such a special place to visit—and to many more years of welcoming people to Ashokan.