Bearsville Sound Studios — Woodstock

Bearsville Sound Studios was founded by Albert Grossman — manager of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and The Band — in the early 1970s on his estate in Bearsville, a hamlet adjacent to Woodstock, New York. The complex eventually grew to include two recording studios, a theatre, and a restaurant, making it a self-contained creative campus. Artists who recorded here included Todd Rundgren (who served as house producer), The Band, Paul Butterfield, XTC, Patti Smith, R.E.M., 10,000 Maniacs, and many others. The studios became a flagship of the Woodstock music community.

Grossman had established Woodstock as a hub for his management empire in the 1960s, and Bearsville was the physical expression of his vision for an artist-friendly retreat away from New York City. After Grossman's death in 1986, the studios continued under various ownership arrangements. The remote, wooded setting and world-class equipment made it a destination for bands wanting to work in seclusion.

The studios have gone through several ownership changes and periods of closure since the 1990s. As of recent years, the facility has operated intermittently and efforts to restore it to full operation have been ongoing. The nearby Bearsville Theater continues to host concerts. The complex is located off the beaten track and is not a public tourist site.