Zoom Flume Water Park
Less than a mile down the road. Ride 300-foot slides, raft through 10,000-gallon-per-minute rapids, float the Lazy River, and brave the Black Vortex and the Mighty Anaconda.
In and around the village
East Durham & the Irish Alps
East Durham is known for its Irish heritage — locals call it “more Irish than Ireland.” Here’s what’s within a few minutes of Gavin’s.
What is there to do near Gavin’s in East Durham? Within minutes: Zoom Flume water park (under a mile), the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre, Our Lady of Knock Shrine (under 2 miles), Guaranteed Irish USA, K&K Ranch horseback riding (under 10 minutes), Hull-O Farms and Blackwalnut Farm — plus Irish pubs and summer festivals.
Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre
A cultural hub for Irish Americans: Irish Park, Gaelic football and baseball fields, an Irish cottage, a 9/11 memorial, the John E. Lawe Memorial and what’s billed as the largest brick map of Ireland in the world. Home to annual festivals and the feis. mjqirishcentre.com
Our Lady of Knock Shrine
Under two miles away: a serene Roman Catholic shrine with handcrafted monuments and stained glass from Donegal, Ireland, opened in 1989 to honor the 1879 apparition at Knock, County Mayo — the Gavins’ home county.
Guaranteed Irish USA
The largest Irish import store in the U.S. — hand-knitted goods, crystal, books, gifts and specialty foods.
K&K Ranch Horseback Riding
Less than 10 minutes away. Guided trail rides across 100 acres of Catskill woods, fields and hills for every skill level.
Hull-O Farms
Family-owned since 1779 and a National Bicentennial Farm, with summer farm tours, a fall corn maze and homemade treats.
Blackwalnut Farm
About a mile away: an organic farm stand open Memorial Day through Thanksgiving, with pick-your-own berries and flowers and CSA memberships.
Pubs, shops & foliage
East Durham has Irish pubs, restaurants and gift shops, and in autumn the drives, golf courses and hiking trails come alive with fall color.
The Irish Alps
Why East Durham is “more Irish than Ireland”
Irish New Yorkers have summered in these hills since the 1920s. By 1960 roughly 40 Irish-run hotels and boarding houses operated around East Durham, and the village had “seventeen places to hear music, seven nights a week.” In 1977 Jack Gavin co-founded the East Durham Irish Festival with the East Durham Vacationland Association, which later built the Michael J. Quill Centre. Read the full story on our history page.
The festival calendar
- Memorial DayEast Durham Irish Festival — the 50th in 2027
- JulyCatskills Irish Arts Week (mid-July)
- Late JulyGreene County Youth Fair, Cairo — free admission
- AugustEast Durham Feis (Irish dance competition)
- SeptemberCatskill Mountain Thunder motorcycle & music festival, East Durham
Golf
Golf courses near Gavin’s
Eight courses within about 40 minutes — two of them roughly 10 minutes away. For more regional ideas see day trips.
| Golf club | Town | Phone | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderhart Golf Club | Freehold | 518-634-7816 | ~10 min |
| Sunny Hill Golf Club | Greenville | 518-634-7698 | ~10 min |
| Windham Golf Club | Windham | 518-734-9910 | ~15 min |
| Christman’s Golf Club | Windham | 1-888-294-4053 | ~15–20 min |
| Catskill Golf Club | Catskill | 518-943-0302 | ~20 min |
| Rainbow Golf Club | Greenville | 518-966-5343 | ~20 min |
| Colonial Golf Club | Tannersville | 518-589-9807 | ~30–40 min |
| Rip Van Winkle Golf Club | Palenville | 518-678-9779 | ~40 min |
For more local events and tourism information, visit greenetourism.com. Back at the inn: on-site activities · property map & directions.
Reservations open all year