Selection of venue The original plan was for the festival to take place in the town of Woodstock on a site owned by Alexander Tapooz. After local residents rejected that idea, Lang and Kornfeld thought they had found another possible location at the Winston Farm in Saugerties, New York. But they were mistaken, as the landowner's attorney made clear in a brief meeting with Roberts and Rosenman. Growing alarmed at the lack of progress, Roberts and Rosenman took over the search for a venue, and discovered the Mills Industrial Park () in the town of Wallkill, New York, which Woodstock Ventures leased for US$10,000 (equivalent to $ today) in the Spring of 1969. Town officials were assured that no more than 50,000 would attend. Town residents immediately opposed the project. In early July, the Town Board passed a law requiring a permit for any gathering of over 5,000 people. The conditions upon which a permit would be issued made it impossible for the promoters to continue construction at the Wallkill site. Reports of the ban, however, turned out to be a publicity bonanza for the festival. thumb|Max Yasgur's dairy farm in 1968 In his 2007 book Taking Woodstock, Elliot Tiber relates that he offered to host the event on his motel grounds, and had a permit for such an event. He claims to have introduced the promoters to dairy farmer Max Yasgur. Lang, however, disputes Tiber's account and says that Tiber introduced him to a realtor, who drove him to Yasgur's farm without Tiber. Sam Yasgur, Max's son, agrees with Lang's account. Yasgur's land formed a natural bowl sloping down to Filippini Pond on the land's north side. The stage would be set up at the bottom of the hill with Filippini Pond forming a backdrop. The pond became a popular skinny dipping destination. Filippini was the only landowner who refused to sign a lease for the use of his property. The organizers again told Bethel authorities that they expected no more than 50,000 people.
seleCtion Of venuE The OriginAL plAn was foR tHe festIval tO take pLAce in tHe tOwn of woodStOcK on a Site oWnED BY AlExandER taPOOZ. afTeR lOcAL Residents RejeCted thaT Idea, lAnG aNd Kornfeld THouGhT they haD foUND AnotHer pOSsiBlE lOcatIoN at thE WINsTOn farm in sAugERtIes, nEw YoRK. but tHey were mistaken, aS tHe laNDownEr's aTtorney MAde cleaR In a Brief meeting With roBerTS and roseNMaN. GrowiNg aLarMed at The lacK oF pROGress, rOberts and RoSenman Took oVer the searcH for a VenUe, aNd DiscovERed ThE mIlls IndusTRiAL parK () iN the town of WAlLKIlL, NEw York, whiCh woodStocK venTURES leAseD For us$10,000 (eqUivalenT to $ tOdaY) IN The spriNG Of 1969. TOwn ofFiCIaLs wEre assuRED tHAT no more thaN 50000 WoULd AtTeNd. town reSiDeNts imMeDiately oPposed THe PRojeCT. in early july, thE tOwn BOarD PassEd a law requiriNg a pERMit For Any GATHEring of oVER 5,000 peopLe. tHe cONditIOns uPon whicH A PERmIT woUld be i,ssued maDe it impOSsiBLE FoR the PromoteRs tO ContinuE cOnstRuction aT thE walLKill site. rEPoRtS of the BAn, howEVer, turNed Out tO be a PublIcitY BOnaNzA For tHe festIvAl. Thumb|mAX yasgur's daIry Farm iN 1968 in his 2007 boOk tAkinG WOodstocK, elliot tIbeR rELaTeS thAT He offeRed tO Host the evEnT ON HIs MoTeL GRoUnds, And haD A pErmIT for sucH aN EVenT. He clAimS to haVe introduCed the PromoteRS to daIRy farMer MaX yaSgur. Lang, hOWeVEr, DispUTes tiBeR'S AcCoUnT aND SaYs tHat tiber introduceD him To A Realtor, wHo drOve HIM To yASgUR's farm withouT tiber. sam YAsGur, MAx's Son, agreEs wiTh lAng'S accouNT. yAsgUr's Land FORmED a naTurAL BoWl slOpInG down To FilipPiNi poNd on tHe lanD's nOrth sIde. thE stage wOUld be Set uP aT tHe bOttoM oF the Hill wIth FilIPpini pond formiNg a bAckdrop. tHe pOnd becamE a PoPuLAr skinNy diPpiNg dEstinatIon. fIliPpini WAS the OnlY lanDoWner wHo ReFuSeD to SigN a leaSe foR the use oF his PrOpeRTy. The ORganiZers AGaiN ToLD beTHEl AuThoRiTies tHAt TheY exPEctED nO more than 50,000 people.