Mohonk Mountain House sits at the top of a mountain range called the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, NY. From New Paltz (exit 18 on the NY interstate 87) driving west, you see the Smiley Memorial tower. It is a landmark rich with history. We live in the area; we have spent days at the hotel enjoying a meal but never an overnight.

Last week, Mohonk had a “Superbowl Special”. Our friends were celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary so we treated them and us to the “special “. From the moment we arrived and left our car with valet parking, it took about 5 minutes to be given our room keys. (Two couples/ two rooms). Our rooms were on the first floor, facing east. Each room had a wood burning fireplace and a balcony with two rocking chairs. It was a bit cool to sit and rock but I had to do it for a while just to live in the moment. Forty-three years ago, when we moved to the area and visited Mohonk for the first time, there were “down the hall” bathrooms in-line with the era of construction. I am happy to report, we had ensuite bathrooms.

Our rooms were clean and updated yet they reserved the historic atmosphere of the grand age of Mohonk. The bathrooms were comfortable in size and clean. We did not expect “Tower Rooms” for the price we paid but it must be stressed that the size and quality of our rooms were well beyond our expectations! :)

We have experienced mostly "Ok" meals in the past at Mohonk but this dinner was noteworthy. The choices available on the menu were varied, the blend of flavors in the squash soup outstanding, and the smoked duck breast superb. Each of us praised the quality of the meal. The attention to detail from the restaurant manager, Peter, made our dining experience exceptional. The breakfast buffet was varied and the food of the same exceptional quality as dinner. We have eaten several meals as “day guests” but this time the choices and quality matched the surroundings and atmosphere of the hotel.

Every employee we met was friendly, welcoming, and interested in making our stay special. We were greeted with smiles, eye contact, and friendly hellos. We felt like the reigning monarchs of this historic castle.

Because of the season, the vibrant flowers of the gardens were asleep, but the rugged rocks, vistas, and walking trails were accessible to us. There were many activities we chose not to do. Instead, we read, talked, explored the hotel, and soaked up the atmosphere.

Spirited sport enthusiasts were watching “THE GAME” in several locations. We dropped in on one location after our marvelous dinner. Later, we shared conversation with our friends beside our own fireplace. Sleeping late and enjoying a feast the next morning for breakfast, we left Mohonk.

My bucket list has an item checked off. Mohonk Mountain House is a special place in the beautiful Hudson Valley. We are very pleased that we had the opportunity to completely experience, the landmark we gaze at every day.

A trip to this resort was my Christmas gift to my husband. We drove there (albeit, quite a long drive for us) for the "Jazz on the Mountain" weekend. We had a great time. The price per night included three meals and the entertainment. We thought that the price was great for what it included. Each meal included 2 appetizers, the main course and dessert for each guest. You could pick off a menu with a select few items, which were phenomenal. The chef was excellent and the ingredients were always fresh. I am sure the restaurant is probably one of the top in the State. Alcohol was charged extra. You could eat in the formal dining room, the main dining room (buffet) or in your room. Be careful, however, because the meals are served during specific times, so you have a small window of opportunity to enjoy each meal. I strongly suggest calling the resort before your arrival to make your dinner reservations. Have a schedule ahead of time so you can be sure to enjoy all three meals and the amenities. With the room, which was beautiful and had a real wood-burning fireplace, we had access to the workout facility and free admission to the shows. The Jazz artists that performed were excellent and included Grammy-award winner Paquito D'Rivera. You did not have to pay extra to see the shows. The show started on Friday night, followed by three shows on Saturday, three shows on Sunday, and the final show on Monday morning. It was definitely worth it, especially for jazz lovers. Check out their website www.mohonk.com, for upcoming specials and packages. I would like to go back during the Spring or Summer, just to enjoy the beauty of the mountains. The only reason I did not give this an Excellent rating is because the rooms could use a bit of an update and because I felt the resort was a little drafty at times. Of course, it is a 142-year old mountain house, so that should be expected. If you go during the winter time, pack an extra sweater and some outerwear. You definitely want to enjoy the outdoors.

My husband surprised me with a one night stay in the Mountain View Suite and it was amazing!!! The room was immaculate and had so many features you could only dream of.
The first floor had a living room with a wood-burning fireplace, balcony, flat-screen TV with DVD player, full bathroom, and a small area with a fridge and Keurig coffee maker. The gorgeous spiral staircase led us to our circular bedroom with a king-size bed and flat-screen TV that popped up out of the cabinetry.  The bathroom was huge with a large soaking tub, enormous glass-enclosed shower, and dressing area with vanity. The curtains in the room were remote controlled. The room had speakers throughout to play music.
The food at the hotel was great. Plenty to choose from and all
delicious.
The spa was fantastic and definitely worth a trip.
The views throughout the hotel and the grounds were amazing. The staff was pleasant.
I have to take off one star though for the types of guests this hotel attracts. Way too many people walking around thinking they were better than everyone else. I actually had one woman turn the four-sided rotating shelf on me at the store while I was looking at something. And continued to turn it like I was not even there. So minus one star for some very rude guests. But don't let that stop you from going. This hotel is a must see.

This is a most unusual property, set on a Mountain top with a grand view of the area. We were there in the summer and there are many wonderful outdoor activities. I loved the mountain biking, and the day hiking around the property was great for all the family. It is an older property but very well maintained. The food in very good and overall the service at the hotel is excellent.