Mohonk Mountain House – New Paltz, New York
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Mohonk Mountain House / 1000 Mountain Rest Road / New Paltz. NY 12561 / 1-855-883-3798
SLEEPING IN A VICTORIAN CASTLE:
Admit it, you want to stay in a Victorian Castle?
I know I do….did….do.
Allow me to explain.
Family-owned & operated since 1869, the beautifully scenic Mohonk Mountain House is an award-winning resort near the Catskill Mountains.
Located in the middle of 40,000 acres of pristine forest along the Shawangunk Mountains, Mohonk Mountain House resort with leave you spellbound and breathless.
Mohonk Mountain House has grown from a ten-room inn & tavern into the grand Victorian resort it is today, with accommodations for 600 guests!
The legendary castle has hosted more than a century’s worth of distinguished guests, including naturalists, theologians, and business leaders, as well as award-winning actors, artists, authors and musicians. Five presidents of the United States have stayed at Mohonk Mountain House including Chester A. Arthur, Rutherford B. Hayes, William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Jefferson Clinton.
Mohonk Mountain House’s rooms, suites, and cottages are designed to feel like home. You will enjoy old world charm with the comfort of modern conveniences, set among thousands of acres of natural beauty.
My wife, Jennifer, and I stayed in one of the resort’s beautiful Tower Rooms, the most luxurious accommodations in the Mountain House.
Each tower room has its own balcony and wood-burning fireplace. The tastefully decorated room was complemented by antique furnishings and wood tones.
The room was very spacious and provided breathtaking views from all angles, especially from the balcony overlooking the forest and mountains!
I literally took over 100 photos from the balcony alone!
With views like this, how couldn’t I?
I found the room’s color tones of cream, cranberry and browns to be very soothing, as was the soft glow (and aromatic scent) of the wood-burning fireplace at night.
Every detail of our room screamed historic class.
Amenities
- Sleeper sofa
- Balcony
- Wood-burning fireplace
- Telephone with voicemail
- In-room safe
- Air conditioning
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Hairdryer
- Gilchrist and Soames bathroom amenities
- Non-smoking rooms
- Complimentary high speed wireless Internet
- Alarm clock
- Simmons “Felicity” Health Smart mattresses
- 420 thread count Fino Lino Supima Cotton Sheets
- Fino Lino matelasse coverlets and bedspreads
- Plush Terry Cloth Bathrobes
- Refrigerator
Available Upon Request
- TV ($25 per night fee) ** Most rooms do not have televisions. A select amount of TV’s are available for rental. If you require a TV, please be sure to request one as soon as you make your reservation.
Find out information on all accommodation options at Mohonk Mountain House by clicking HERE.
Jennifer and I were only at the Mountain House for one night, so after we unpacked we decided to explore the hotel before heading to dinner.
Everyone we came in contact with was super friendly and accommodating and, since we were there the last weekend of October, we were treated to tasteful Halloween decorations which only added to the castle’s historic charm!
I also noticed how immaculately clean everything was. There were maintenance staff everywhere — tidying up and attending to one thing or another. With service like that it is clear to see why Mohonk Mountain House has been around as long as it has!
DINING:
All overnight guests at Mountain House receive three daily meals in one of the resort’s dining rooms as well as afternoon tea and cookies, and most resort activities.
Rates are per person, per night based on double occupancy. Charges for additional adults and children will be applied to the rate.
For more information on the resort’s policies and customs click HERE.
I was told at check-in that dinner was resort casual, but noticed many people were very dressed up.
** Fun FAQ ** Having read that (one of my all time favorite movies), Dirty Dancing, was filmed here, I couldn’t help but wonder if the dining room Jennifer and I were eating in was where “Baby sat in the corner”! 😉
Both Jen and I were in awe of the size of the dining room and how busy it was for a Sunday evening!
Dinner comes with your choice of appetizer, entrée, dessert and a standard beverage (alcohol is an additional cost and will be charged to your room).
For our appetizers we ordered the Sprout Creek Toussaint Cheese with Cumin Pappadam and Tomato Chutney and Mohonk Tossed Salad with Roasted Parsnips, Turnips, and Beets. Served with our appetizers was a piping hot loaf of herb bread with garlic aioli — absolutely delicious!
Our main entrees consisted of Grilled Prime New York Strip Steak with Truffle Mashed Potato and Bordelaise Sauce and Roasted Sous Vide Chicken Breast with Chanterelle Mushrooms and Pearl-Onion Ragoût.
Again, everything was delicious and presentation was flawless.
Even though we were both full, we couldn’t pass up dessert!
I ordered the Banana Foster Pound Cake French Toast and Jennifer indulged in the Brownie Hot Fudge Sundae. Luckily we both went for a nice long walk the next day, so any guilt was averted! 😉
SPA:
The next day I was scheduled to receive an (80 minute) Mohonk Red Manicure and Pedicure. Unfortunately I woke up with a bad migraine so Jennifer more than happily agreed to take my place! As guests of the resort you have access to the Spa wing which includes a steam room, sauna, outdoor heated mineral pool, indoor pool and relaxation areas. No cameras are allowed inside this area, but from what Jennifer explained, everything is spectacular, especially the service.
As a matter of fact, Mohonk Mountain House was just rated The # 1 Resort Spa in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler 2013!
This award is one of many (and I do mean MANY). A complete list can be found HERE.
Mohonk House’s spa is a world of soothing tranquility. They create an atmosphere for relaxation, rejuvenation, and reflection.
The spa is designed to be both eco-friendly and calming, offering a variety of treatments that address your specific needs.
There are 16 restorative treatment rooms, a solarium with stone fireplace, an outdoor heated mineral pool, comprehensive fitness center, and more.
For complete information on Mohonk Mountain House’s Spa click HERE.
RESORT ACTIVITIES:
Overnight guests at our Mohonk Mountain House get to enjoy a wide range of activities as part of your rate.
For generations Mohonk Mountain House has provided hiking, boating, swimming, and much more to guests. Learn more about the extensive list of activities HERE.
Overnight guests have unlimited access to over 85 acres of upstate New York hiking trails throughout the year.
Winding their way through thousands of pristine acres, these hiking trails offer stunning views of Lake Mohonk, Sky Top Tower, the Catskill Mountains and more.
Guests can take guided hikes, participate in a walk with the resort’s naturalist, or even order a backpack picnic for longer hikes.
Since we didn’t have much time, we decided to do a simple beginner’s stroll around the lake.
The scenery was beyond stunning! I so wish we had more time to keep exploring! Next time for sure.
***GOOD TO KNOW*** One very cool fact about Mohonk Mountain House is that people who aren’t able to stay overnight can purchase a daily ground pass which provides access to all the resort has to offer. Click HERE for more information.
HELPFUL LINKS:
- About Mohonk Mountain House
- Accommodations
- Dining
- Activities
- SPA
- Reunions
- Weddings
- Groups
- Special Package Offers
- Day Guests
GAY & LESBIAN FACTOR: Over the years I have reviewed quite a few properties and not once have I ever received a welcome letter addressed to both my wife and I. This simple, yet poignant gesture meant so much to both of us. Mohonk Mountain House went above and beyond making us feel welcome. This included a surprise gift bag full of interesting books, body lotions, T-shirts and candy. During dinner they even sent out a special dessert in my honor. These little touches are, in actuality, HUGE. They made us feel like royalty and true guests of honor, and the best part is —- they make all their guests feel this special, not just the media! Mohonk Mountain House has everything going for it. The historic charm & beauty. The location. The amenities and best of all a caring staff. THAT is the heart and soul of what makes this resort award winning year after year. Put it this way, if Jennifer and I weren’t already married, we would have chosen Mohonk Mountain House as our wedding venue. It is magical in every sense of the word. I wholeheartedly “OUT” Mohonk Mountain House as Lgbt friendly and worthy of our business.
I remember as a teenager, thumbing through European brochures, and being SO in awe of the castles that seemed as common as houses here in the states.
I always wanted to stay in a castle. Little did I know my first castle stay would be in New York, not some far away land.
Driving the main road to the resort you can’t help but feel as if you are being transported to some magical fairyland.
Yes, it has that distinct east coast feel, especially in the heart of the fall season with blazing colors greeting your eyes around every corner, but the second your eyes catch a glimpse of Mohonk Mountain House, you may as well be in some fairyland. It is as if you enter a portal into a secret world.
Yes, I always wanted to visit a Victorian Castle.
The kind that exists in exotic brochures and wanderlust dreams.
Now I have and I cannot wait to return!
Desiree Sousa
Owner / Editor in Chief
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