The popular Mincha/Maariv area, utilized every Summer by tens of thousands of Orthodox men traveling to the Catskills, will be opening for the 2013 Summer season on Thursday, KolHaolam reports.

Located at the Sloatsburg rest area on the northbound side of the New York State Thruway, the area was designated as “prayer zone” after intense negotiations with community leaders to serve the many members of the Jewish community who travel frequently to the Catskills during the summer months.

Located midway between the city and the mountains, the Sloatsburg rest area has long been a landmark on the drive upstate and has traditionally been the designated Mincha/Maariv spot for the many men who travel upstate on Thursday nights in order to spend a long weekend with their families.

While the Thruway Authority has designated a spot at the Sloatsburg rest area for minyanim, it is important to remember that this area is to be used for prayer only. Peddling of any kind is forbidden at the area and disregarding this rule will create a massive chilul Hashem. [TLS]