The Villa Maria was built as The Fenmore (meaning is “Dear Love”) in 1903 by W.I. Hallenbeck.

Hallenbeck had recently sold his “Hallenbeck’s Hotel” (located just north of Route 23A at County Route 18) to Mr. Walter Renner (Renner‘s hotel).

The Hallenbeck Hotel (Renners) was just around the corner of the new Fenmore (Villa Maria), just as you turn onto County Route 18. In approximately 1945 the hotel was purchased by Mr. Anthony Putignano and the name changed to the Villa Maria. It boasted the largest concrete swimming pool in New York State. It consisted of five modern buildings, accommodating over 150 guests. It was an outdoorsman’s paradise with a private baseball field, tennis courts, basketball courts, shuffleboard, ping pong, bocci, a children’s playground, dancing nightly and also supplied saddle horses for their guests.

The Villa Maria was later purchased by Frank DiNino and family who entertained many famous singers in the 1950s and 1960s. The main building burned down.

In the 1980’s the resort changed hands and most recently it was a Christian summer camp through the early 1990’s. Since then the buildings have fallen into disrepair. In 2013 the five parcels that make up the property were purchased by the Town of Hunter from Greene County, which acquired the property for non-payment of taxes.

In 2014 The Hunter Foundation, purchased the property from Greene County returning it to the town tax roll.

The property was sold the fall of 2017 and the new owners have exciting plans to revitalize including a new hotel with various surrounding facilities on the grounds, such as an event center, swimming pool, movie theater, restaurant and game center.