Mohonk Mountain House
New Paltz, New York
1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, New York 12561
Original Property Opened in 1869
Historic Hotels of America member since 1991
- 2023 Historic Hotels of America® Annual Awards of Excellence Winners
- 2022 Historic Hotels of America® Awards of Excellence Nominee Finalists
- 2019 Historic Hotels of America® Awards of Excellence Winners
- The 2026 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Gardens List Is Announced
- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Is Announced
- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Art Collections List Is Announced
- The 2019 Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Most Magnificent Gardens Announced
- The 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America for a Romantic Proposal Announced
- The 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Announced
- The 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Gardens List Announced
- 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Historic Golf Courses List Announced
- 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Art Collections
- The 2023 Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Afternoon Tea
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Gardens Announced
- 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Historic Golf Courses
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Art Collections List Is Announced
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Historic Golf Courses List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Afternoon Tea Experiences List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Is Announced
- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Romantic Hotels List is Announced
In 1869, rocky cliffs rising above a crystal blue, glacial lake in the Hudson River Valley inspired Albert Smiley to create Mohonk Mountain House as a resort where guests could renew body, mind, and spirit in a beautiful natural setting. Now, over 150 years later, this historic New York hotel is still owned and operated by the Smiley family. What began as a small guesthouse evolved into a Victorian castle with fanciful turrets, local stone, and gabled-frame constructions, set on 1,200 acres of spectacular scenery. The award-winning, eco-friendly spa marks the resort’s first addition in more than 100 years. The 30,000-square-foot spa wing blends seamlessly with the existing building, enhancing the timeless ambiance of this historic resort. A U.S. National Historic Landmark since 1986, Mohonk Mountain House is truly among the most historic hotels in America.
Discover
- Discover the majesty of this Victorian castle resort constructed between 1879 and 1910 and now rated as one of the top spa resorts in the U.S. Designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1986, this family-owned and -operated resort has been welcoming guests since 1869.
- Count the spindles, stairs, and floors while appreciating the craftsmanship of the resort's central staircase, located just off the main lobby. Constructed entirely of ash, each one of the 1,400 spindles was hand turned on a lathe.
- Admire the gallery of photos and paintings that line the unofficial hall of fame outside the main dining room and spot some of the famous personalities that have visited the Mohonk. From industrialists John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie to five U.S. presidents, the resort has played host to many luminaries and was the shooting location for the 1994 film "The Road to Wellville."
Explore
- Explore the Mohonk Barn Museum, built in 1888, which exhibits an array of antiques -- horse-drawn carriages, kitchen and farm tools, and even a 1929 Model A Ford Station Wagon -- once used at the Mohonk. Also learn about classic blacksmithing and carpentry techniques with onsite demonstrations.
- Stroll through the location's Victorian Show Gardens, designed by founder Albert Smiley in 1888. A master garderer conducts guests through the garden, which showcases a new theme each year and utilizes some 300 species of plants and flowers in the presentation.
- Hike to and climb the 100 steps to the observation deck on Sky Top Tower for a breathtaking 360-degree view of Mohonk Mountain House, Lake Mohonk, the Catskill Mountains, and the surrounding valleys. Three routes, ranging from easy to challenging, afford visitors multiple options to reach the tower.
Experience
- Learn about the founding Smiley family and learn about the evolution of the historic Mohonk Mountain House on one of the daily guided House History Tours. Each tour provides an intimate look at some of the resort's most cherished spaces and reflects on the Smileys' long tradition of conservation and preservation.
- Experience the main means of transportation at the Mountain House from its founding into the 1930s with a mule-drawn carriage ride around the grounds. Three tiers of rides are available, including one to Sky Top Tower, and each encompasses some the site's scenic vistas.
- Wander some of the 85 miles of hiking and carriage trails accessible from the doorstop of the Mohonk with routes ranging from short and easy to strenuous. Immerse in the unspoiled forest to find some of the more than 100 rustic summerhouses that reside within the surrounding Mohonk Preserve.
Taste
- Take it outside with a meal at the Granary, a casual dining spot with views of Lake Mohonk and Sky Top Tower. The restaurant was reimagined in 2017 and offers two menus built around locally sourced goods: a lunchtime buffet of BBQ, and an evening cookout of grilled entrees including burgers from local grass-fed cattle, housemade Italian sausage, and charred salmon.
- Enjoy a scoop of Mohonk Mountain Crunch, the resort’s signature ice cream created for the resort's 150th anniversary in 2019 by local creamery Jane’s Ice Cream. The concoction features chocolate-covered pretzels, dark-chocolate fudge, and a caramel swirl on a vanilla base. It's available at the Mohonk and various scoop shops in the area.
- Savor a sip of the Mohonk's signature tea blend during afternoon tea and cookies, served each day at 4 p.m. in the historic Lake Lounge.