Mohonk Mountain House & Mohonk Preserve
Scattered
around the world are hotels of such stature and
history they can quietly sit without the need to advertise
heavily to attract tourists and visitors. They are so
famous that they are just known, their accommodations
are sought after and their reservations lists are usually
full. Each has a unique attraction bringing people to
them, a distinct ambiance and distinctive hospitality
that sets them apart from all other places in the world.
They just are the best of the best, the reason for the
trip not just a place to stay while on a trip.
Mohonk Mountain House is one of these
very special places.
First constructed in 1869 on the deep
blue waters of isolated Lake Mohonk high atop the Shawangunk
Ridge, this 251 room Victorian wood and stone castle
is the sole survivor in the competition of the great
New York mountain resorts. The Mountain House and its
surrounding thousands of acres of protected lands were
the creation of Albert and Alfred Smiley, Quakers believing
in the pure life and healthful regenerative powers of
nature. Beyond the hotel, Mohonk offers 85 miles of
hiking trails, tennis, golf, swimming in the lake, golf,
horseback riding, carriage rides, spa services, children's
programs and all manner of low impact winter sports.
The Mountain House itself is a marvel
of wood and stone work. It's interior and exterior surfaces
are the pallet for exuberant rustic Victorian details.
The main stairway rises straight up in an explosion
of plainness and functionality subtly overlaid with
the pride of workmanship an overwhelming belief in the
absolute beauty of wood. The paneled walls of the public
rooms glow with rich oak and pine and in the cooler
months the great fireplaces are ablaze with scented
woods filling the parlors with another warm glow. On
any of the 238 private balconies or any of the many
public porches you must sit in one of the countless
rocking chairs to have a true Mohonk experience. Sit
rocking gently and people watch, enjoy the sun and the
brisk clean breezes caressing you and fall into a nap
only to be surprised at how relaxed you feel when you
awaken.
Mohonk is that kind of place, it invites
you to relax into a totally different aesthetic, to
experience life in a simpler and more gracious time.
Walk the trails up to the Observation Tower atop the
ridge for an extraordinary view of the Shawangunks and
Hudson River Valley. Scramble about in the boulders
or stroll the easy carriage paths, take a paddle boat
out onto the lake or join in a group ride on horses
down at the barn. Take a carriage ride out to the lookout
points for a leisurely journey into the landscape or
wander on your own, Mohonk is about the incomparable
landscape and being outdoors in regenerative nature.
It encourages you to suspend your hectic life for a
little while and enjoy yourself and your companions.
You are lulled past your disbelief in your ability to
relax and recline into a slower pace. The formal gardens
lure you to sit and look and the rustic crafted "buena
vista" huts out on the trails trick you into stopping
and gazing out at the world. By the end of your stay
the unique castle, the extraordinary grounds and the
spectacular setting will win you over.
Not the least expensive place to stay
and not a place you can just drive up to for a room,
Mohonk Mountain House is more than worth the little
effort and dent in your credit card to experience. You
can go in for the day by purchasing a "Day Pass"
at the gate, a real bargin for hikers!
Mohonk is the final remnant of a time
and philosophy of hospitality that has all but died
in our frenetic world. It's a throwback to a belief
that a sense of place and differentiation are important.
Mohonk is the last grand and glorious New York mountain
resort that attracted Presidents and the top of society.
Mohonk offers classic music concerts and afternoon teas,
walks in nature and the pleasures of polite social interactions.
Mohonk is the last unspoiled resort shunning commercialism,
rooted in its belief of stewardship and preservation.
Go to Mohonk for an afternoons hiking or a weekend stay,
you'll be transformed.
Located just 90 miles north of NYC,
provides visitors access to 6,500 acres including cliffs,
forests, fields,ponds and streams, and to a network
of over 100 miles of carriage roads and trails for hiking,
running, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross
country skiing. The Internationally renowned "Gunks"
cliffs contain over 1,000 technical rock climbing routes.
Come to the Visitor Center -- free
of charge -- for trail suggestions and directions, or
take in our exhibits on local wildlife and geology.
If you’re a first-time visitor
and want to know what’s here and what you can
do, the Visitor Center is the place to start!
Especially for kids! Your children
can unearth bones and feathers in our discovery touch
box, or play puzzles and games in the Kid's Discovery
Corner. Learn at our interactive computer station how
weather affects the Shawangunk Ridge, or take a short
walk on the short, self-guiding trails just outside.
Mohonk Mountain
House - arrive at the main entrance on Mountain
Rest Road and take a shuttle bus onto the property.
A day use fee provides access to the grounds.
Mohonk Preserve - Preserve lands are open 365 days a year, sunrise to
sunset. Start at tie Visitor Center on Route 44/55 or
at one of the access points. Day use fee collected. |
