9. Brunel Sculpture Garden, Boiceville, NY
It’s hard to believe, but there is another unique outdoor sculpture park just fifteen minutes away from Opus 40. Brunel Sculpture Garden in Boiceville, New York is a surreal array of sculptural forms, gardens, and buildings. The park was designed and created by the New York City photography industrialist Emile Brunel who made his fortune with the early development of the one-hour photo process.
By the mid-1920s Brunel headed to the Catskills and purchased an old hotel and the surrounding sprawling property. The hotel, Le Chalet Indien became a celebrity destination for the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Max Ernst, Irving Berlin, and a slew of actors, writers, artists, and politicians. Brunel used the grounds as his sculpture studio, creating work featuring his personal interest in the Native American aesthetic. The eclectic collection of sculptures are scattered throughout the property among lovely botanical gardens. Today the gardens and sculptures are open to the public by donation. While visiting, you can also check out the Ashokan Reservoir, the site of many towns that were drowned to create New York City’s water supply.