BETHEL — Bethel Woods Center for the Arts has plans to develop large-scale camping facilities on their property that could host thousands of guests for multi-day concerts and music festivals.

The potential project would be built out in phases over several years, but could ultimately include more than 4,600 campsites that could accommodate some 13,000 campers per event, according to documents submitted to the Bethel Town Board.

As a 501(c)(3) concert venue and cultural center, Bethel Woods’ 800 acres includes the Woodstock Festival site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bethel Woods is applying for $8 million in federal grant funding through the Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development to help finance site work and infrastructure for the project.

Bethel Woods asked if the Town Board could write a letter in support for their grant application.

Bethel Councilmember Bill Crumley asked if the board would have any input from the public. Code Enforcement Officer BJ Gettel said Bethel Woods was only seeking a letter of support for their grant application and any project would still need to go before the Town Planning Board for approval, which would include public hearings.

If approved, site preparations would include earthwork and sediment control plus water lines, sewer lines, permanent bathroom and shower facilities and pump stations.

Bethel Woods estimates a total capital investment of $20.2 million. They say that their past experience with on-site camping, particularly during the Mysteryland Electronic Dance Music Festivals several years ago, generated millions of dollars in direct and indirect economic output for the area.

“Their [Bethel Woods’] reputation precedes them,” said Deputy Supervisor Vicky Simpson. “I would be happy to support their endeavor to try to get grant funding for this project in the future.”

Bethel Woods estimates that in the first full year of a pilot phase they would have 528 campsites that could host around 1,475 campers at a time.

In addition to the 16,000 capacity pavilion, Bethel Woods is one of the few facilities in New York State to hold a mass gathering permit for up to 30,000 people.

“We are very excited that the camping project at Bethel Woods is forging ahead. By opening up our grounds to overnight guests, we can allow the local community and visitors alike to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of our region and further our efforts to revitalize the Catskills,” said Bethel Woods CEO Eric Frances. “Not only will people be able to camp at the site of the original 1969 Woodstock festival, we will work to provide complementary programming and experiences to inspire the next generation in much the same ways as the original festival.”

In the town board’s letter of support for the grant application, Bethel Supervisor Daniel Sturm said, “The Campgrounds at Bethel Woods represents the next logical step in developing this important venue as it continues to recover from the closures, delays attendance constructions and other effects of COVID-19. Camping is key to the resilience of the area and to the sustainable quality of tourism within the region.”