Meet ‘Trout Town, USA’ — The Tiny NY Village With Fly-Fishing Lore, Alpaca Farms & A Brewery Inside A Firehouse

Roscoe, New York is the ultimate bait — and we’re already planning our swim upstream to check it out. 🐟 This tiny Catskills village has built its entire identity around rivers, trout, and a kind of old-school outdoor culture that once defined upstate New York. Street signs feature fish, fly shops feel like museums, and conversations casually revolve around water levels and evening hatches...it feels like “something’s in the water” but in a good way. Just two hours from NYC , Roscoe sits at the center of some of the most storied trout waters in America — yet it somehow still feels quietly undiscovered. This is Trout Town, USA : a place where fly fishing is folklore, weekends move at river speed , and après-adventure means diners, distilleries, alpaca farms, and a brewery inside a former firehouse . Why Roscoe earned the name “Trout Town, USA” -------------------------------------------- First and foremost, Roscoe’s reputation starts with its unique geography. The village sits at the exact meeting point of the Beaverkill River and Willowemoc Creek , which merge at the famous Junction Pool — one of the most written-about fly-fishing spots in North America , and only just steps from Main Street. From there, the waters fan outward...literally. Within minutes, anglers can access five legendary trout streams , including the Beaverkill, Willowemoc, and branches of the Delaware River , plus smaller tributaries that wind through forested state land. It’s the rare place where you can cast a line in nearly every direction — no long drives, no complicated logistics and that fishers from all over the Northeast come to check it out. That density and access to the water and is exactly what turned Roscoe from any ‘ol fishing stop into a renowned angler destination — and of course made the “Trout Town USA” title stick. A Catskills village built on fishing lore ----------------------------------------- Roscoe isn’t about chasing trends, and truth be told, its whole culture is based in tradition. This is where American dry-fly fishing culture took shape , where named pools appear in decades-old angling books, and where opening day on the Beaverkill has been compared to a holiday. Local lore runs deep. There’s even a mythical two-headed trout known as “Beamoc,” said to live in Junction Pool — born, according to legend, from the collision of the Beaverkill and Willowemoc currents. You’ll hear the name mentioned with a straight face and a grin...ask someone around town about it to get a reaction that’s worthwhile. The area’s history is so deep that neighboring town Livingston Manor is even home to it Dette Trout Flies , the oldest family-run fly shop in the world which dates back to 1928. Fly fishing for beginners...and everyone else too ----------------------------------------------- Roscoe may be legendary among serious anglers, but its rivers are far more beginner-friendly than the lore suggests — as long as expectations are set and the right water is chosen. As mentioned earlier, Junction Pool is Roscoe’s most iconic spot since it’s easy to access and impossible to miss— so it’s a great starting point to watch how anglers read water and move through a river. Historically pressured and more technical, it works best as a rite-of-passage stop rather than a beginner’s only fishing destination. For first-timers, the real learning happens on Willowemoc Creek . Stretching from Livingston Manor down to Roscoe, the Willowemoc offers forgiving flows, clear riffles and pools, and straightforward roadside access along Old Route 17 . Guides consistently point beginners here thanks to its mix of stocked fish and wild browns and brook trout, plus plenty of room to practice without pressure. The Beaverkill River still plays a role, too — just selectively. While its famous named pools below Roscoe can be technical, gentler upstream sections and broader public-access pools provide classic Catskills water that’s approachable with guidance. That accessibility is by design as well. Roscoe openly markets its five marquee trout streams as welcoming to “both seasoned anglers and those just picking up a rod,” and the town backs it up with fly shops, outfitters, and guides who build full beginner days: a short casting lesson, a carefully chosen stretch of river, and enough flexibility to move if conditions change. The natural wow factor of Roscoe goes beyond the fish ----------------------------------------------------- Fishing may be the headline, but it’s not the whole story. Crystal Lake Wild Forest offers calm, swimmable water and shaded trails, while the iconic Beaverkill Covered Bridge makes an easy picnic stop straight out of a Catskills postcard. Nearby stretches of the Delaware turn into lazy summer tubing routes, while low-key hiking trails radiate out from town for anyone craving woods without crowds. What keeps people coming back is the lack of polish—in the best way. Roscoe feels less curated than Hudson and less performative than Woodstock, yet still dotted with cafés, jewelry shops, and cozy places to stay that quietly cater to design-minded weekenders. Eating, drinking & the little details that make Roscoe feel like Roscoe ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Roscoe’s food and drink scene is small, unfussy, and deeply satisfying—the kind that slots perfectly into an after-river rhythm without trying to be more than it is. Roscoe Beer Company , housed inside a former firehouse, acts as the town’s unofficial gathering place. It pours local favorites like Trout Town IPA, and yes, there’s an actual trout tank inside, reinforcing the fact that even happy hour here comes with a fishing backstory. Just down the road, Do Good Spirits anchors Roscoe’s craft side with award-winning Bootlegger 21 Vodka, Gin, and Bourbon, tying modern distilling to the Catskills’ Prohibition-era past. Then there’s the Roscoe Diner —arguably one of the most famous diners in New York State and a true rite of passage for anyone passing through. French toast, homemade pies, bottomless coffee, and decades of Catskills lore come standard, whether you’re fueling up before the river or winding down after a long day outside. Northern Farmhouse Pasta, Grizzly Bagels, and The Junction cocktail bar round out the scene, while the Roscoe Farmers Market (Sundays, May through October) brings the town together with produce, baked goods, and small-batch finds. What really seals Roscoe’s personality, though, are the small, unmistakably local details. The Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum preserves the town’s angling legacy in a way that feels living rather than dusty, while the nearby Roscoe O&W Railway Museum houses a restored “trout car” once used to transport live fish for river restocking—a niche slice of history that somehow feels perfectly on-brand. Just outside town, Buck Brook Alpacas offers hands-on farm visits and fiber goods, a soft, unexpectedly charming counterpoint to Roscoe’s rugged outdoor energy. Where to stay in “Trout Town, USA” ---------------------------------- Have we sold you on a visit yet? Well if so, picking out lodging is the fun part...everything leans cozy, character-driven, and close to nature: * Creekside cabins and campsites along the Beaverkill * Reynolds House Inn , a Victorian guesthouse in the heart of town * The Red Rose Motel + Tavern , a restored 1930s roadside classic * Boutique stays like The Yarra for food-forward, intimate escapes Source: https://secretnyc.co/trout-town-usa-roscoe-ny-small-town/