The Prattsville Tavern: From "Musta Got Lost" To One Of Catskills Destination Spots

PRATTSVILLE — For nearly half a century, one simple slogan has welcomed visitors to the Prattsville Tavern:

"Musta Got Lost."

When the Cox family purchased the Prattsville Tavern in 1977, at 14573 Main St, Prattsville, NY 12468, the slogan fit the times perfectly. Back then, Prattsville was one of those quiet Catskill mountain towns that people usually found by chance. Tucked among winding roads, rolling hills, and alongside the Schoharie Creek, it wasn't a standard place travelers passed through. If you found yourself sitting inside the Prattsville Tavern enjoying a cold beverage among the friendly locals, there was a good chance you really musta got lost somewhere along the way! 

Next year, the current owner Kenny Cox, and his family will celebrate a remarkable milestone—50 years of family ownership. Over those five decades, they have watched generations of local families grow up, welcomed visitors from around the country, weathered good times and hard times, and they have made the Prattsville Tavern one of the best-known gathering places in the northern Catskill Mountains.

Today, no one has to get lost to find it.

People come looking for it.

Whether they're spending some time in the mountains, leaf-peeping in the fall, snowmobiling in the winter, fishing the Schoharie Creek in the spring, or simply taking a scenic drive through the Catskills while on vacation in the Summer, the Prattsville Tavern has become a destination. It's the kind of place people recommend to friends and family, and make a point to stop at for a meal every time they're in the area.

For motorcycle riders, it's become something of a landmark. Riders from across New York and beyond know the roads that wind through Prattsville offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Just as important, they know there's a welcoming stop waiting for them there. For many, a ride through the Catskills just isn't complete without a stop at the Prattsville Tavern.

That reputation was built the old-fashioned way, with friendly faces, delicious hearty meals, cold drinks, and genuine hospitality. The kind of place where first-time visitors are greeted like neighbors and regulars are treated like family.

On August 28, 2011 Hurricane Irene changed Prattsville forever.

Floodwaters tore through the village, damaging homes, businesses, and lives. The Prattsville Tavern was hit hard, suffering devastating flood damage that forced it to be stripped to its bones before it could be rebuilt.

But just as the mountains have always endured, so did the people who call them home.

Neighbors helped neighbors. Volunteers came from near and far. Friends, customers, and members of the community worked side by side to rebuild not only the tavern, but the spirit of the village itself. When the Prattsville Tavern reopened, it represented far more than another business getting back on its feet. It became a focal point that Prattsville wasn't giving up, and to many it became the heart of the towns recovery. it was a place where people could gather, find a shoulder to lean on, share a meal, swap stories, celebrate milestones, and remind one another that their community was still strong.

As the Cox family prepares to celebrate 50 years of ownership, the old slogan feels different than it did back in the day.

Years ago, you musta got lost if you walked through the doors of the Prattsville Tavern.

Today, people know exactly where they're going and why!

They're going for the food, the friendships, the memories, and the unmistakable feeling that they've arrived somewhere special. In a world where so much has changed, the Prattsville Tavern remains a place where the spirit of the Catskills is alive and well, a place that has welcomed generations, survived one of the region's darkest chapters, and continues to bring the people of the community together.

Sometimes the best places are the ones you accidentally discover when lost, and sometimes they are the places you seek out because you heard great things from a friend. 

Somehow over the years, the Prattsville Tavern has become both. It has kept its roots, while embracing the best of the present. 

I am Looking forward to Celebrating their 50 year milestone with them! till then, I am your Bro LJ James and I will see you around the Mountain.