Speaking from her home in Baltimore, Md., Friday afternoon February 8, Festival Producer Mary Doub told The Independent she had just inked a deal with farm owner John Walsh to hold the bluegrass festival on his 200-acre property on County Route 22 between the towns of Oak Hill and Durham in northern Greene County close to the Albany County border.
      For the last 31 years the festival has been conducted at the Rothvoss Farm on East Ancram Road in Ancramdale. But last month the Rothvoss family sold the land where the festival took place, affectionately known as "the hill."
      Deeds dated January 15 and filed at the Columbia County Courthouse indicate that the Rothvosses sold two parcels, one 225 acres for $4.2 million and the second .49 acres for $150,000 to East Ancram Farm, LLC. The buyer is Daniel Slott, the owner of Mill Farm on County Route 3 in Ancramdale, where he breeds, trains and markets Icelandic horses.
      Anticipating the land sale since early December, festival organizers have been scouring Columbia, Dutchess, Greene and Ulster counties since then. Ms. Doub told The Independent in January that it was impossible for the festival to continue to be held at the Ancramdale site because Mr. Slott had "no interest in the festival at all."
      The Walsh farm is currently used to grow hay, and is probably the only gravel-based soil in Greene County, said Ms. Doub, noting the new location is "very rural" and there is "a little bridge" festival-goers will traverse to get to the site.
      Bluegrass fans will still be able to camp around the music and the view will still be of the Catskill Mountains, but instead of being seen from a hill, the vantage point will be from a valley.
      Forty-five minutes from Ancramdale and near the Thruway (I-87), the new site also comes with a stream for wading and ample lodging nearby, including a five-star hotel for those who don't want to camp--that's about 15 to 20% of those who attend the festival, she said.
      People will be able to drive to the site, so there will be no more need for shuttle buses, though Ms. Doub said she does expect to run a tractor-drawn transport.
      Because of the new site's relatively flat terrain, Ms. Doub believes it will be safer for children; and people with handicaps will have a much easier time getting around.
      "I'm very sad to leave Columbia County, but I feel it's the right thing for the festival, and it will really help Greene County," where the economy relies heavily on tourism, said Ms. Doub. She said the festival attracts people from "all over the world."
      Unable to contain her excitement, Ms. Doub praised Greene County for the welcome it has extended to her: "The people are so nice, it's going to be wonderful!"
      To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@IndeNews.com