From its earliest days, New York was making appointments with history. Once a muddy trading post, Wall Street would become the center of the financial universe. More than 90 Revolutionary War battles were fought on New York soil. George Washington, an inveterate traveler of the state’s eastern half, was inaugurated as America’s first president in New York City in 1798; he gave New York state its moniker, calling it the “seat of empire” in 1794.
If Henry Hudson set the state’s economic machinery in motion in 1609, the rapid industrialization that followed the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 sent it into hyperdrive. With the trade and commerce came great wealth, which industrialists and entrepreneurs gilded into castles and mansions along the Hudson River and Long Island’s “Gold Coast.”
New York also gave rise to American summer tourism. In 1896, the New York Times recalled pre-Civil War Saratoga and “its well-known springs” as a place where “Southerners came in great numbers.” Above all, there were the wilderness resorts of the 1800s, where Victorian-era vacationers and conventioneers flocked to grand mountain lodges in the Catskills and the Adirondacks.
Outmoded in the 20th century, virtually all of these majestic properties fell to decline, neglect and ultimately fire. Indeed, the story of New York’s historic hotels and meeting destinations could be as much about ghosts as about the living. The properties that remain, however, are true treasures—and as meetings-worthy as ever.
Last Resorts
We should all look so good at 99 years old. Fresh off a nine-year, $42 million makeover, the 136-room Otesaga Resort Hotel is still the grand dame of the Upstate New York meetings ball.
Located some 70 miles west of Albany in the heart of all-American Cooperstown, the hotel, its monumental Georgian edifice occupying 700 feet of scenic Lake Otsego shoreline, celebrates its centennial next year.
Marking the occasion, according to Bob Faller, director of sales and marketing at the property, will be a huge party for the New York Press Association.
“It’s the very first group that walked through our doors in 1909,” he says.
With 12 flexible meeting and conference rooms, The Otesaga (derived from the Iroquois word for “a place of meeting”), is ideal for groups of up to 350. Open from mid-April through the end of November, the property also features the championship Leatherstocking Golf Course, one of the Northeast’s premier public courses.
Ever popular with groups, The Otesaga did 1,000 covers on Mother’s Day, while 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Rich “Goose” Gossage dropped by, and the beat goes on. Describing his recent reprinting of the property’s inaugural 1909 brochure, Faller says, “the trees are taller, but otherwise the view is unchanged.”
For first-time visits to the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, try to avoid any advance peeks at brochures or websites. That way, you’ll emulate the experience of Victorian-era vacationers who journeyed to this wilderness resort (whose name means “lake in the sky”) in horse-drawn carriages via a narrow, winding road—and enhance the first-time wonder of seeing its fantastical architecture.
Founded by the Smiley brothers in 1869 and still in the family, she’s the last of the grand Hudson River Valley resorts, and her Old World magic is all the more precious for it. Rising seven stories above a glacial lake, the 265-room Mohonk’s array of balconies, gables, turrets, and spires easily evokes Hogwarts Castle of Harry Potter fame.
Four U.S. presidents top Mohonk’s list of distinguished conferees; with 14 conference rooms and 2,400 square feet of dedicated meeting space, the property remains a premier New York destination for retreats and corporate events of all sizes.
“We use the phrase ‘the same, only better’ to describe our ongoing efforts to remain timeless yet current,” says Mary Lou Race, director of sales at the property.
Modern touches include property-wide high-speed Wi-Fi and a nationally acclaimed, 30,000-square-foot spa.
Race also notes how Mohonk’s sprawling 2,200-acre property “supports meetings by offering extensive recreational options, ranging from golf to rock climbing, plus more than 40 team-building events.”
On-site amenities abound, including a garden maze, an outdoor skating rink with a 39-foot-high stone fireplace, and the incomparable Labyrinth Trail, an exhilarating boulder scramble ending dramatically with a sheer vertical ladder climb up the “Lemon Squeeze” crevice. The reward at the top? A stunning six-state view.
Like the Catskills, the Adirondacks were once graced with grand resort hotels. Two of the greats were the Hotel Champlain and The Sagamore, both of which had a phoenix-like ability to recover from ravaging fires. Ultimately, the Hotel Champlain became Clinton Community College, but four reincarnations later, The Sagamore’s rich tradition continues.
An instant hit with international travelers when it opened in 1883, the hotel fronts Lake George on the private 72-acre Green Island, within the borders of the 6 million-acre Adirondack State Park. With 350 rooms, this sprawling ocean liner of a hotel is a big number in its own right, and that includes conference facilities.
Planners have 25,000 square feet of meeting and function space available in three different locations. In the hotel itself, there are six meeting rooms; the conference center has a 10,800-square-foot ballroom with banquet seating for 800; and for VIP exclusives, the Hermitage, formerly a carriage house, has a boardroom and 10 deluxe lofted bedroom suites.
Fierce battles of the French and Indian War once raged in the surrounding area. Today, groups at The Sagamore can safely enjoy a wealth of indoor and outdoor leisure activities, including championship golf, European-style spa treatments and sailing—all the better to whet the appetite for dining at no less than seven on-site eateries.
“The Sagamore has always provided guests a tranquil environment tucked away from the pressures of the business world,” says Kevin Rosa, director of marketing and sales at the resort. “Groups can clear their minds, savor the recreational benefits of the great outdoors and settle into a comfortable environment to concentrate on their business.”
Chateaus, Palaces and Castles
Does it get any more Gotham than the legendary Plaza Hotel, home to Eloise (the exuberant and precocious 6-year-old character of the book of the same name) and likened by Donald Trump to the Mona Lisa? Well, even this fabled 1907 chateau at Central Park’s southeastern corner, which celebrated its centennial last year, was not immune from the development dollar, but $400 million and three years later, the hotel has come through its lobby-to-roof makeover and is back in business.
Yes, there are now condos here—reportedly, all but one unit has been sold, including one for $50 million—but The Plaza remains a hotel, with 282 rooms under the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts flag and opulence including Louis XV-inspired decor, gold-plated faucets and room rates starting at a $1,000 a night. And as far as meetings and events go, the property is poised for a revitalized era of magnificence.
The centerpiece attraction is the restored landmark Grand Ballroom, which was the setting for countless historic events, including Truman Capote’s 1966 “Black and White Ball” and Mick Jagger’s 50th birthday bash in 1993. Seven new meeting rooms on the third floor bring total available space to 21,000 square feet, capable of hosting up to 700 guests.
The Waldorf=Astoria in Midtown Manhattan, an internationally recognized icon of New York elegance for decades, is one of the city’s premier Art Deco masterpieces, along with edifices like the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center. Two of the hotel’s grand emblems are located in the lobby: a giant floor mosaic by Louis Rigal and the famous nine-foot-high, two-ton clock made by the Goldsmith Company of London for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.
The 1,245-room property has long lured the elite with its urban palace-like splendor, hosting notable guests ranging from U.S. presidents to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, as well as staging some of the most opulent events in the world. The hotel’s 60,000 square feet of event space is complemented by a soaring four-story ballroom, haute cuisine and unparalleled service—and private interactive dinners can be arranged with executive chef John Doherty in a reserved area of the hotel’s kitchen.
Like The Plaza, the esteemed property, which is a member of Historic Hotels of America, has completed major upgrades in recent years, pouring more than $300 million into a renovation and restoration.
Just north of New York City, Westchester County was the destination of choice for wealthy Gilded Age industrialists to build their mansions and castles. Tarrytown, in particular, was a hotbed; the former “Millionaire’s Colony” once boasted more than 65 grand estates. Today, John D. Rockefeller’s Kykuit and Washington Irving’s Sunnyside are among several permanent architectural landmarks.
Groups looking for that regal connection can opt for the Castle on the Hudson. Built between 1897 and 1910, the 31-room, hilltop Gothic citadel comes complete with towering stone walls, turreted alcoves and 10 acres of manicured gardens and grounds. Truly royal, too, is the paneling in the Oak Room, originally from a Parisian house belonging to Louis XIV.
Just 30 minutes from Manhattan, the property, which can be rented in whole, is a Fortune 500 meeting and retreat favorite, especially popular with the banking and pharmaceutical set. The castle’s advantage, says Gilbert Baeriswil, general manager, is “intimacy and exclusivity.”
Flexible meeting spaces include the Great Hall, the Caramai Ballroom and the rosewood-paneled Arthur D. Litt Library. Groups can also meet informally by the pool or dine in one of the three rooms of the on-site Equus Restaurant, including the Garden Room, with its magnificent river and Gotham skyline views.
New York’s 1,000 Islands region is home to two castles perfect for unique events.
With the magnificent St. Lawrence River as its backdrop, Singer Castle on secluded Dark Island in Chippewa Bay is the 1905 realization of Singer Sewing Machine executive Frederick Bourne’s dream. The turreted, 29-room edifice’s star attraction is the Royal Suite—actually an entire wing of the castle—available for overnights, while the elegant Tea and Rose Gardens can be used for weddings and other events.
Built from the same locally quarried stone around the same time was Boldt Castle on Heart Island in Alexandria Bay. A gift of love from hotelier George Boldt for his wife, Louise, he abandoned the 120-room Rhineland-style castle following her sudden death. Now fully restored and open from May to October, the property lends a singular romance to outdoor events.
A New York Estate of Mind
If you want to get your Great Gatsby on, the Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference Center on Long Island’s historic North Shore is the place to go. Once the country home of the Pratt family (of Standard Oil fame, the precursor company to Mobil and Exxon), this landmark 55-acre estate begins with a quarter-mile arrival experience turning in from Dosoris Lane, made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the original Sabrina.
Entering through the manor’s (as it was once known) Georgian colonnade is like walking back in time, with antique fixtures and a grand double staircase enlivening the sensation of a bygone era. The antique bowling alley in the basement evokes past days of idle pursuits, while Mrs. Pratt’s ghost allegedly still roams the upper floors.
But when it comes to business, the property is very much in the here and now. With a modern addition backing the original house, the Glen Cove Mansion has 187 guest rooms, three executive suites and 27 dedicated conference rooms accommodating groups of up to 280. The elegant Empire Room, the property’s largest meeting and special event space, was recently renovated along with the clubby third-floor restaurant, lounge and billiards room. For outdoor events, there’s room for 1,000 guests; the Long Island Film Festival convened here last year.
An outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center and the nearby Glen Cove Golf Club are just part of the property’s recreational and team-building package.
Also on Long Island is the Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate in Huntington, originally the home of international banker and art patron Otto Hermann Kahn. Completed in 1919, the 109,000-square-foot, 127-room Oheka (contracted from “Otto Hermann Kahn”) was designed as America’s second-largest private residence (after the 175,000-square-foot Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.), a title it still holds.
Two years alone went into raising the hill on which the estate was to be built, making it the highest point on Long Island. Set on 443 acres, the massive, French-style chateau was a star of the Gilded Age party scene, as Kahn routinely entertained royalty, heads of state and Hollywood stars.
Kahn’s death and several ownership changes eventually saw the estate slouch into decline and abandonment, but even 100 arson attempts could not bring Oheka down.
In 1984, developer Gary Melius purchased Oheka and its remaining 23 acres. After a record $30 million restoration (the work continues, with plans for a premier restaurant and luxury spa), the 32-room property gained membership in the coveted Small Luxury Hotels of the World club. And with versatile function rooms accommodating up to 400 attendees and majestic outdoor event space, the photogenic movie-star property is ready once again for its close-up.
One may be forgiven for not immediately associating the Bronx with verdant, regal estates, but that perception is quickly set straight by Wave Hill. Built in 1843 in the style of an English country residence, Wave Hill House was once the estate house of this beautifully landscaped and contoured garden and cultural center. Set on 28 acres, the property overlooks the Hudson River across to the soaring glacial-cut cliffs of the Palisades.
Theodore Roosevelt summered here as a youth, and Mark Twain leased the estate from 1901 to 1903; the property’s natural charms profoundly influenced them both. Today, as one of 34 New York City-owned cultural institutions, Wave Hill’s mission is to “celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscapes.”
Available for meetings and conferences, special celebrations, weddings, and photographic shoots (some availability guidelines apply), the estate is a versatile year-round choice, with the added bonus of catering from Great Performances (also at the Plaza). Some large-scale renovations are on the horizon for 2009 or later, which will temporarily close the house.
Of course, there are many more historic lodging, meeting and event venues throughout New York. The 1928 Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina on Long Island; the island ruins of Bannerman Castle near Beacon; the 1887 Sonnenberg Mansion & Gardens in Canandaigua; the 1860 Pleasant Valley Winery in Hammondsport—the list, like the Empire State itself, goes richly on.
For More Info
1000 Islands International Tourism Council 315.482.2520 www.meet1000.com
Albany County CVB 518.434.1217 www.albany.org
Buffalo Niagara CVB 716.852.0511 www.buffalocvb.org
Cooperstown/Otsego County Tourism 607.643.0059 www.visitcooperstown.com
Delaware County COC 607.746.2281 www.delawarecounty.org
Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance 315.536.7488 www.fingerlakes.org
Finger Lakes Visitors 585.394.3915 Connection www.visitfingerlakes.com
Greater Binghamton CVB 607.772.8860 www.binghamtoncvb.com
Greene County Tourism 518.943.3223 www.greenetourism.com
Ithaca/Tompkins County CVB 607.272.1313 www.visitithaca.com
Lake George/AdirondackRegional CVB 518.743.8435 www.lakegeorge-adirondacks.com
Lake Placid/Essex County CVB 518.523.2445 www.lakeplacid.com
Long Island CVB and Sports Commission 631.951.3900 www.funonli.com
New York State Division of Tourism 518.474.4116 www.iloveny.com
Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation 716.282.8992 www.niagara-usa.com
NYC & Company 212.484.1200 www.nycvisit.com
Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau 518.584.1531 www.discoversaratoga.org
Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau 607.936.6544 www.corningfingerlakes.com
Sullivan County Visitors Association 845.794.3000 www.scva.net
Syracuse CVB 315.470.1910 www.visitsyracuse.org
Ulster County Tourism Office 845.340.3566 www.ulstertourism.info
Visit Rochester 585.546.3070 www.meetinrochester.com
Warren County Tourism Department (Lake George Area) 518.761.6468 www.visitlakegeorge.com
Westchester County Office of Tourism 914.995.8500 www.westchestertourism.com
