What
As much an intimate gathering ground as it is a place to retreat into wild flora and wood fired cooking in the Catskill Mountains, the new property at Inness has somewhat instantly become one of the greatest escapes of the Hudson Valley. To call it a hotel would be selling it far short: even in Inness’ soft-opening phase in late summer 2021, the 225-acre property already includes 28 standalone New England-style cabins, a 12-room modern-meets-Dutch-Colonial farmhouse with a guest kitchen and individual fireplaces, a 3-acre organic farm and orchard, local farm shop, 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, pools, and high-end sports outfitter on property. A cedar-walled, stone-floored wellness building still to come will also have a spa, gym, yoga studio, and outdoor soaking tubs. A restaurant on property, currently centered around open-fire and Mediterranean-style cooking, is open to both guests and the public, serving lunch, dinner, and drinks atop outdoor tables with a 360-degree view of the area’s two surrounding mountain ranges.
Who
Taavo Somer, the architect and founder of Friends & Family, a creative agency with design projects including New York City’s Bowery Hotel, Freeman’s restaurant, and The NoMad Hotel, is Inness’ operator and founder. He partnered with designers Post Company, and development team CBSK Ironstate and Lee Pollock. Miranda Brooks created the Inness landscape design, with a goal of continually blending and juxtaposing the indigenous plants with the indoor and exterior elements, finding a balance between the cultivated and manicured and the overgrown and untamed. Outdoors are as important as indoors at Inness: The project was named after the New York-born landscape painter George Inness, known as the father of American landscape painting.
The Route
The way to Inness from New York City is a lot of beautiful rolling hills. Going through the Minnewaska State Park Preserve along the way, there are a bunch of beautiful overlooks to pull over and stop at. What makes the area even more special is the gorgeous historical homes you pass, plus upstate businesses like Westwind Orchard and Arrowood Farms Distillery and Brewery, and the charming little towns such as High Falls and Stone Ridge, which are worth detouring through. The hotel is 2 to 2.5 hours from New York City, depending on what time you leave. Leaving at sunrise, means hitting no traffic, then—if you're inclined—grabbing breakfast at a nearby diner and taking a hike. By the time you’re done adventuring, it’s time to check in. Still in its pre-opening, Inness does not have breakfast available yet except for pastries in the farmhouse, but they are more than willing to accommodate taking bags while you sit by the guest pool (in addition there will be another pool soon, available to members and locals who have Inness memberships to use the golf course, etc.). The hotel serves lunch, but if you’re going to do one meal of the day there, go for dinner: The sunsets are so vivid, they’re worth the trip alone.
The Scene
The property has a nice combination of wide open spaces which provide is plenty of privacy and quiet, and some communal areas meant to allow for meeting people or enjoying the scenery together. The cabins certainly give you the highest sense of privacy and your own little space. The farmhouse has 12 individual rooms, and the communal rooms downstairs are big enough to gather but with so many nooks that you can carve out space of your own. Antiques and custom furniture are everywhere, and there is a porch area, a pool table and a little game room, a small bar set up for happy hour that’s self-serve, and then the truly communal part is up on the hill at the restaurant. There are picnic tales set in a circle where everyone gathers around at sunset—the highlight. It’s a mix of locals who want to stay over with their families just for fun, and visitors, many of which appear to be city transplants that also have a shared appreciation for nature (and style). For an area that seems remote, Inness has a strong sense of community. There are local artists, editors, advertising creators, and more who come and enjoy the landscape and meet and mingle.
The Design
There is such a harmony among the vastly different types of structures—the designers kept them distinct but unified. Some are very contemporary, Scandinavian-reminiscent structures that fit perfectly into the rolling hills and the scenery, then chic black cabins pair well but make things more modern. Each has a bespoke kitchen with cupboards designed by Plain English and British Standard. The cabins themselves sort of disappear and fall into the shadows of the landscape. A favorite part is the farmhouse building, which is the inn with the 12 bedrooms. Built brand new of course, it recreates elements of a historical farmhouse. All the tables and chairs and furniture are slightly different but look like they came from incredible estate sales or antique stores, a smart combination of old and new.
The Surroundings
It’s a real open-sky area where you can see, looking in one direction, the Catskill Mountains, and in the other direction the Shawangunk Mountains. When the sun sets west over the Catskills and the sky is this intense pink and orange, then you can look the other way and see the light hitting the ‘Gunks and casting pink colors in that direction. So you have a 360-degree view that’s constantly changing. The whole idea of the landscape architecture is having it be a natural space, so winding paths are cut into the long grasses and there are beautiful weeping willow trees.
The Dress
At preview time, Inness brought a mix of people getting dressed for fun, and then many people who were outfitted for the golf course and the brand new tennis courts. Overall it’s what the young Hudson Valley and city set would wear to an upstate restaurant or orchard on the weekend: long flowy dresses and jumpsuits, that kind of thing.
The Food & Drink
For its first iteration, the restaurant’s food is all done over an open flame. They have a wood-fired grill outside, and a Mediterranean vibe to the menu—shrimp and chicken skewers, halloumi, crudite. The service right now is done simply, with much of the ordering digitized and then the food brought to your table. An interior restaurant will be opening in the future. The indoor bar is not open yet, but the farmhouse offers an honor-system bar with wine, beer, and some liquor beautifully displayed for guests to make their own drinks. Or if you decide to walk over to the restaurant, you can order a drink out to your lawn chair. Before and after dinner, you can have a drink and take in the views.
