Notes from the Owners
Owners since 1998, Don & Sue LaSala have striven to steward this special place with awareness of and respect to, and preserve, conserve and reserve this home birthplace of songs and bands for now and future: keeping this micro-preserve of 4 acres intact & unsullied, the surrounding land pristine as when its peacefulness was inspirational to certain now-world renowned musicians.
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Don L, who is from just north of NYC, is avid guitarist playing rock and country blues & folk since age 13. A lover of a well crafted song, he was a leader & lead guitarist with the seminal original late '70s Northeast jam band, the Hooligan Band, with a recent primitive-folk-rock CD/digital release Home Brew.
His first contact with the Catskills was when he went to the original Woodstock Music & Arts Fair in Bethel, NY in 1969, age 15. Later, as live mix/sound man for the infamous "best bar-band in America" NRBQ in their hay-day in the early-mid 1980s, he often stayed in Saugerties, where most of the band resided. Dates at the Joyous Lake in Woodstock taxed the limits of that tiny venue a few times a year; he worked in live sound with such artists as Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, Jon Sebastian, David Johansen, David Bromberg and many others.
Some original music recorded in the Basement with Don & the Hooligan Band — In the Pink - Hooligan Band.
Don's folk-rock original collection inspired by living in the Catskills and the Adirondacks is Home Brew - Don LaSala.
He is currently working on a sequel to Home Brew, with another batch of original tunes.
The opportunity to purchase Big Pink came in the late '90s.
A good friend who lived in Woodstock told Don about an add placed in the paper that it was for sale by owner. Marveling that such a renowned address was for sale for so little, Don called the owner, a long time bassist and hit it off with him, but couldn't buy at that time. The owner for the next 6 months tried 3 other potential purchasers whose deals fell through, each time calling Don to see if he could buy, finally selling it to Don & Sue for less than asking price.
Susan B. LaSala is a daughter of the Apple towns of the Northern Adironack mountains of NY, a true girl from the North-Country, with keen awareness of the natural forces around her, a devoted protector of the non-polluted, pristine ecosystem surrounding the house.
She can orient you to the migratory birds that are passing thorough, or what kind of harmless (to you) snake in the ferns is, explain important Bear etiquette, recommend hiking trails, natural bug-repellants, clean food sources and sincerely appreciate your music your journey here.
Both have a deep love of the land, of the wild creatures, flora and fauna and the unseen inhabiting this place at this juncture of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley, and are committed to preserving the beauty and magic this land holds.
If You Are Planning to Visit... Parnassus Lane, not a town road, is itself privately owned by various property owners. We own only part of the road before Big Pink and somewhat beyond. A neighbor who can be unfriendly to Big Pink fans is responsible for the "No Trespassing" signs. We are actually friendly folk who appreciate everyone's often moving stories of their connections to this place!
If you end up on Parnassus Lane, please realize you are one of many hundreds of folks coming here. Please respect our and our guests privacy by remaining in the "street front" area and not walking around the property unless invited by us.
So, if you happen to wander up the road, getting "lost" somehow and happen upon Big Pink: and if you need to stop the car, better to do so on the Big Pink side of the road: hey, as you happened upon the place, you might as well take a picture of you and your friends in front! You could even send us one of your favs!
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