Mohonk Mountain House, New York
This vacation, try something unique! Head out to a lodge high up in the mountains to enjoy your holidays amidst rugged snow caps, forested slopes and frozen rivers. And one of the best places to kick start your mountain vacation would be at Mohonk Mountain House in New York.
This spectacular mountain side resort features an 18th century Victorian Castle with 265 rooms that sits atop some low lying cliffs next to the Hudson River. Located at a distance of over 90 miles from New York, the Mohonk Mountain House is spread over 2200 acres of green land and is surrounded by the Hudson River at one end and several forests and mountains on the other. Due to its location and surroundings, the entire site has been marked as a National Historic Landmark.
Strategically placed on the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, the lodge is a family run establishment that offers the utmost in comfort and luxuries for its visitors in addition to providing a plethora of activities for guests to enjoy.
Amenities: The lodge was originally built by the Quaker Brothers from 1879 to 1910. Excluding the 265 individual rooms, the lodge houses 28 tower rooms, an indoor heated swimming pool, an indoor spa and an outdoor frozen lake which acts as an ice skating rink.
Dining: The main restaurant of the lodge offers guests stunning views of the northern Catskill Mountains. Summers at the lodge are never complete without the outdoor lunches that are arranged at the “Granary”, which is located on a steep cliff above Lake Mohonk.
As a privileged guest of the Mohonk Mountain House, you can enjoy the “Full American Plan” option which includes three meals a day and afternoon tea as part of the room rate. Check in and checkout is at 2 in the afternoon and guests leaving the lodge will be provided with packed lunches to eat on the way. Those going on nature hikes to the adjacent Mohonk Preserve can arrange for packed lunches as well.
Other Amenities: The main building houses a huge library which contains several interesting books in addition to articles and books written by Mohonk guests themselves. Several TV rooms and public internet booths are available throughout the lodge. Families with children can arrange for babysitting services provided by the lodge.
An on site Kids Club helps take care of children aged 3-12 years and arranges hordes of interactive activities and games to keep them occupied the entire day. A separate Teen Club caters to the older lot and is open during summers.
The other general amenities available on site include a state of the art fitness center, a spa and a gift shop that sells necessary food supplies and other accessories. The amenities of the lodge either come as complimentary or charged services and hence it is advised to check with the reception upon arrival to make sure which facilities are free and which incur extra charges.
Recreational Activities: The Mohonk Mountain House would only suit those who love the great outdoors. Almost all of the lodge’s activities are based outdoors and guests are sure to have a whale of a time!
As winter approaches, the entire lodge and its surroundings turn into a winter wonderland as a thick sheet of snow blankets the entire region. Some of the winter sporting activities offered by the lodge include cross country skiing, snow shoeing, snow tubing, ice skating and skating parties that are conducted at the Victoria Pavaillion.
Come Summer and guests don’t need to worry about not having anything much to do. The summer activities are endless and include hiking, swimming and fishing in the lake, nature walks, carriage rides, rock climbing, biking, horseback riding and boating. Guests can also enjoy games of tennis, golf and croquet on the grounds of the lodge.
Guests can also enjoy various entertainment programs put up by professional artists. Some of these shows include themed nights and parties like the Mohonk Victorian Holiday in December and the Haunted Haunts and Happenings shows during Halloween.
Popularity of the lodge: The Mohonk Mountani House has featured as the backdrop for a number of movies and television shows in recent years. Some of the more prominent appearances include those in The Travel Channel’s “Great Hotels”, the Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Broderick starrer, “The Road to Wellville”, and the Today Show.
