Nestled in the Shawangunk Mountains in Kerhonkson, New York, the Soyuzivka Ukrainian Heritage Center has served as a cultural retreat and a “second home” for generations of Ukrainian Americans since 1952. Spanning a wooded campus designed with Carpathian-style architecture, the center features marked trails, busts of Ukrainian historical figures, a wooden chapel, sports facilities, and a main ballroom overlooking a pool.
Originally established between 1905 and 1942 as a sanitarium owned by Scottish-born *New York Times* editor John Foord—which treated patients like literary figures O. Henry and E.B. White—the property was later purchased by the Ukrainian National Association (UNA). For decades, it has functioned as a central gathering place for the Ukrainian diaspora in North America, hosting summer camps, sports tournaments, dance parties, and community events.
Although crowds have grown smaller compared to the peak immigration eras following World War II, Soyuzivka remains a vital tradition for younger generations of Ukrainian Americans. Events like the Labor Day weekend festivities—featuring volleyball tournaments, live music, and traditional dancing—continue to draw crowds from across the region, preserving a unique cultural enclave and union of heritage in upstate New York.
