Mohonk Mountain House

I love Mohonk. I’ve been coming since I was a kid and it is still just as good. Mind you, it is expensive beyond expensive, but you are paying for the experience. Food is included, but not drinks. That said, drinks are very reasonable here. Well, reasonable if you are comparing to NYC prices.
I recommend staying in one of the victorian rooms with the fireplaces. It really adds to the charm of your stay. The spa is great, and relaxing. However, I will say that during the 2 hours I was at the spa, not one staff person cleaned up the mugs of tea or plates of grapes that had been left behind by patrons. It left the spa looking messy and not exactly clean.
Overall — I will keep coming back here as it really is such a unique hotel and will be sure to create memories to come.

We drove up today to the gate house, as we had just purchased a second home in the area and been told this place was something special. I had actually been there 20 year ago or so when I was a graduate student on a symposium.
When we drove up a man akin to a carnival barker greeted us and upon us asking if we could speak to someone about the services as the spa or the menu at the restaurant we were told that we were not allowed onto the grounds, nor did he have any information about either the spa services, nor the menu.
We were told if we wanted to speak to someone about either of the above, we have to pay 50 $ to enter the grounds.
Mind we, we can afford 50 $, but the idea that to become a client of this resort we had to pay 50 $ to even understand what they offered seemed a bit odd.
We promptly said, no thanks and were told to turn around and return home. Upon one more try, where I asked «is there no way to see the facilities?» we were told no. I then pulled up on the button to close the window in my, let’s just say British made large sized sedan, the carnival barker put his hand in the window stopping it. We were alarmed and our dog started to bark at his aggression.
He then said, «The President of Turkey doesn’t even get to take a look before staying here. He just accepts what we have.»
So I see. A man who is a borderline dictator, who has killed his own citizens, and is barely considered legitimate by the EU and the US is now somehow being held up as a standard for this place which prevents it from having even the most civil conversation with a potential client.
Let’s just say that we wont be spending any time there, and having it as a location for our wedding is out. Especially sketchy nearly illegitimate murderous dictators are the standard client. It is disturbing to think someone like this is in our neighborhood.
We then called their customer service to ask for more information, and the lady we spoke to, again referenced how they host dictators and potentates which prevents anyone from even discussing the facilities without paying the 50 $ fee.
Too bad we can see their facility from our home, it now kind of spoils the view.

This is a classic old school luxury resort. Lounges, libraries and fireplace-​heated nooks are ubiquitous. The hallways are decorated with historical photos, and there are innumerable programs and activities to keep guests entertrained.
Guest services misplaced my luggage, costing me 45 minutes. I don’t really care, but some people would be irate about something like that.
It’s an old building, but rooms are comfortable and impeccably clean. No televisions, in case you are coming to the mountains to glue yourself to the idiot box.

The mountain house is absolutely lovely, and the surrounding mountains and lake are breathtaking. HOWEVER, 12% of your bill will be charged to you only on your last day, and will not be quoted as part of your room price (presumably so that the owners can avoid paying NYS hotel taxes by styling this charge as an «Administrative Fee»). Accordingly, you’re in for a several hundred dollar sticker shock when you check out, depending on how many days you’ve stayed.
Other specific complaints: (1) the water was not hot in the morning and never got steaming hot (even after I ran it for 20 minutes as instructed by the front desk); and (2) the house is clearly under-​staffed during winter months. I called room service at least five times before I was able to speak to a human, and there was literally NO ONE working in the spa locker room. (Awkward when you need a towel!).
Otherwise, if you’ve got money to burn (even money you weren’t expecting to burn!!) this place is lovely.

Looking for the Perfect family vacation? Mohonk is the place to be!
I went with my sister and my toddler niece/​nephew (2 and 4). While the hotel is a bit on the rustic side– the activities and entertainment more than made up for it! Even though weather wasn’t the best (rainy, warm, and no snow in dec!) — we had plenty to do!!! The kids enjoyed going kids club, swimming in the in-​door pool, and ice-​skating in the pavilion. While they are occupied, we adults had a grand time lounging in front of the fireplace and chilling out with a glass of wine.
Every night– the hotel has free entertainment ranging from country music, bluegrass, to magic show! Our last night– we saw Anthony salazar’s magic show and it was the highlight of our vacation. He was hilariously funny and amazed both adults/​children! We even bought the magic kits/​wands, and continue to entertain our friends with simple yet brilliant tricks! We’re looking forward to our next trip to mohonk, and definitely want to catch Anthony’s magic show!

This is our second year coming here for a winter weekend getaway. The views are breathtaking and the food is superb, whether you choose the traditional dining or the buffet you are sure to walk away satisfied. There’s no television which came as a shock the first year, but now i think it’s cool. No tv forces you to take advantage of all of the activities they have available. Ice skating, skiing, archery, fitness classes, hikes, etc. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Also, random, but I love the bathroom! It’s small but decked in shiny white porcelain with a deep bathtub.
The walls are really thin though, so you can hear people talking in the room beside you but you are hardly in there anyway.

Beautiful place for a weekend getaway! Came here end of November for a birthday weekend getaway with my boyfriend. We decided to drive up there so we can go on our own time and not have to rush to catch transportation. The drive wasn’t too bad. If you drive up during the night time, just be careful when you get closer to Mohonk because they don’t really have much lamp posts out there. Also watch out for deers that may randomly pop out!
All the staff we encountered were super friendly and super nice. Keep in mind the place is old so the floors do tend to creek. Also the walls are thin so you can hear some of your neighbors talking. Another major point, NO TVs. So if you’re the type to always to turn on the TV during a getaway, think again if you’re deciding to come here.
There’s a lot of different activities you can do here. You can either do your own thing or join in their scheduled events. They have printed scheduled sheets available for you so you can plan ahead. I do recommend rock scrambling. Originally, when the guide described it to us, we didn’t think much of it. But when we went, it was more intense than we imagined. I would suggest to bring gloves suitable for rock climbing. You’ll be climbing up, down, and sideways through large rocks. Since it was cold and the rocks were big and rough, it can take a toll on your hands if you don’t have any gloves. We also did the rock scrambling (as they called «The Labyrinth») through the Sky Tower. That one is definitely more intense. They have mini ladders underneath large rocks, you’ll have to climb through tiny spots and crevices, and do lots of walking. If you’re into these kinds of things, I would definitely recommend going through this route! Just make sure you’re dressed appropriately and have the gloves!
The food was good as well. They have buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We did do a sit down dinner menu once, which we didn’t think was all too special. We actually thought we would have been better off doing a dinner buffet. They also had tea time where they serve teas, coffee, and snacks mid afternoon. Nice little break especially if you get a chance to go outside and sit in the rocking chair to enjoy the view.
Be sure to bring your cameras because the views are just amazing. I’m sure this place is beautiful during the fall foliage, which I would love to see. This place is great for families and couples of all ages. I would like to go back and see everything bloomed to its beauty. Check out their website for weekend deals.

I like coming her for the hiking. I’ve never stayed in the hotel or eaten in the restaurant so I can’t say much about those things. However the hiking is really fun. I particularly come here for the rock scramble. It’s a trail where you are literally hiking over boulders is not like rich climbing where you are climbing up a wall. You are going over, around, in-​between, and in some cases underneath huge rocks. On the parts where you are climbing upwards there is usually a ladder. One of the top posts is called the lemon squeeze because you really have to squeeze yourself through a small opening of rock. It can be dangerous so just be careful. There are multiple trails that you can hike of varying difficulty. There is also a lake by the hotel. If you are not staying at the hotel you have to park by the main road entrance and you can either take a 20 minute walk up the mountain to the hotel/​trail start area or you can wait for a shuttle that is supposed to run every 15 minutes. The day I went was kind of slow though. At shuttle pick up spot by the hotel there is a restroom and snack area. They sell freshly made pizza there. The pizza is packed with a huge amount of cheese. So if you like that it’s a nice post hike snack. One tip if you are doing the rock scramble, bring some gloves and wear good shoes with grip. Your hands can get pretty work out by the end of the hike.

I really wanted to love Mohonk. My partner and I booked a room for our honeymoon and were sorely disappointed.
In summary: there was very little acknowledgment that we were just married in terms of our accommodations or how we were treated. We were given a room at first that was tiny and charmless, but thankfully was moved to a nicer room with a fireplace. The food was less than good. Few selections at dinner. We were seated at a table with a red ribbon. The server told me «happy birthday.» Alas, the red ribbon did not mean anything at all. The food was cold, not at all interesting. They had run out of beef at the carving station.
We were half OK with this until thenext day at the lunch buffet which we paid $ 150 for after finding out it was not included in the room rate. Suffice it to say that it was again a lackluster experience. The waiter who had such a horrible attitude demanded I pay upfront for a glass of white wine that I ordered, never came around to check on us, and generally treated us like pariahs. Gratuity is included on your final bill so if a server is terrible they are still rewarded.
The morning after our first night we woke to smoke in our room. Apparently the person in the suite next door had burned a fire without opening the chimney and smoked out their room. I have asthma and had trouble breathing. The entire floor, it seemed, was smoked out until we decided to pack our bags and go at 3 pm.
The lackluster service, the mediocre food, the fact that the hotel caters to families to the exclusion of couples, with children running around everywhere, in the pool, etc… made it a less than ideal holiday.
And to put the icing on the cake, the mediocre spa. I have no idea how this was voted the best spa by Conde Nast: All you need to know is that there is one mineral pool (outside) that fits maybe 8 people for a massive hotel. Moreover, the spa relax room is meant to be quiet. I had arrived there with the intention of relaxing and reading but was driven out when two very loud women who had total disregard for the other guests held a nonstop full-​voiced conversation. Even the employees come into the area yelling names, rather than doing it discretely. The tea is served in paper cups, there is no fruit or anything else to encourage dawdling. It’s the opposite of luxury (ie: Claremont Hotel in Berkeley).
This place is a TOTAL rip off or else they are coasting off a reputation they no longer work hard to earn. We spent nearly $ 1000 for one single night with add-​ons, money that would have been better spent out of the country somewhere. Anyone who has experienced true luxury will scoff at the low value at Mohonk. It’s way overrated. We left one day early and tried to make the best of the rest of our honeymoon at home where the food is excellent.
I suggest making the eating spaces smaller so that it feels less like a mess hall and more like a cozy dining experience. I suggest hiring servers who truly love their jobs and honor guests appropriately. Would be great to have adults-​only hours at the swimming pool (beyond the one hour currently allotted)… and to have food worthy of the $ 150 per meal price tag.
When we told the valet that our experience was only so-​so he suggested we enjoy the outdoors more. I’m sorry, but we have gorgeous grounds right outside our house. You cannot charge exorbitant rates for nature alone.
Perhaps for the city dweller who rarely travels, this place could be considered amazing, but for those of us who are well-​traveled and have some idea of what «luxury resorts» look like it was a complete let-​down, especially for a honeymoon.

We only stayed for one foggy night. And because of all the fog, archery was canceled. not that I was too disappointed about that because I was already disappointed with other things. Here continues my very disorganized series of thoughts on Mohonk Mountain House:
Kindling a fire is extremely entertaining, especially when there are no TVs in the rooms to distract you. I played with fire for about an hour and it was more fun than watching Survivor.
The fish in the lake are way more into feeding time than the one domesticated betta fish I had. For a dime, you can get a handful of fish food to toss to the cold, ravenous fish. Before you even realize the food has hit the water, a school of 30 fish are already at it like a free curved TV giveaway on Black Friday. The food gumball machine only accepts dimes and I wish I had more than 20 cents.
It’s a federal crime to duplicate the room keys. They are actual metal keys that you must insert and turn to unlock your room door.
We didn’t actually go hiking. But simply exploring the wet, slippery grounds with visibility of about 20 feet was not for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the gift shop and its impressive collection of high quality animal puppets. I spent a good amount of time puppeteering all 10 – 15 animals. I also spent a great deal of time solving a Guthrie’s robot cube they had.
The food was good. Even though 3 meals were included with our way overpriced overnight stay, we did buy a $ 13 cheese plate that was surprisingly worth it. It was more cheese and crackers than we could finish in one sitting.
To my disappointment, daily tea and cookies felt like an awkward high school reunion. It was probably because there was another event going on at the same time where people wore name tags. We were just there for the tea and cookies but felt super out of place because there were people hugging and screaming each other’s names like they hadn’t seen each other in at least a day. We drank our tea in silence.
I don’t think I could’ve stayed for more than a day. Maybe it was the fog. Maybe it was the lack of modernization. Maybe it was just too eerie knowing that I was in the middle of a forest on the side of a mountain. I just wasn’t feeling it.

I’ve been coming to Mohonk for 22 years now. Every November, when its finally time to drive up that big twisty hill, I still get chills thinking about the amazing good times that week to be had. Mohonk is THAT special.
We come as a group of 60 – 65 people of all ages (all family) and have pretty much grown up coming here. We go to Mohonk for 5 days over the week of Thanksgiving and its magical everytime. Although expensive, you receive world class food and service, along with all the amenities you could ever dream of. The spa, hiking, snow tubing, gym, pool and getting cozy in the library with a good book all make for a dreamy long weekend. Yes, the rooms are for minimalists. You do not come to Mohonk to watch TV or know what time it is because while you’re here that shouldn’t matter. See you in a few weeks, Mohonk!

Pros: I just returned from a week at Mohunk Mountain House. Mohunk is gorgeous. I found natural magic lurking in every corner of Mohunk’s land. From the horses, to the roses, to the jumpy koi, to the foliage, to the leafy maze uphill, I felt like I was living in a secret autumnal garden paradise.
I wish I had time to take part in all of the activities offered on-​site due to the program I was participating – because their offerings sounded amazing.
One con: The food at Mohunk was delicious and diverse, but there needed to be more gluten free and dairy free options for dessert and in the hot meals.

I have stayed here several times and this is a little slice of heaven tucked away in the beautiful mountains of Hudson Valley. A popular getaway for city folk and travelers from around the world to stay in this luxurious and relaxing grand mansion ranked in the top 100.
If you are a guest, you can take a boat on the lake, partake in some putting on the green by the hotel, go rock scrambling and hiking, take a leisurely stroll through their meticulously manicured gardens, get lost in their shrub maze, climb the twisty tower at the very top of the mountain, have a romantic dinner prepared by award winning chefs, or tour the historic mansion. The spa on site is exquisite. Yoga is offered outside overlooking the lake, you can horseback ride the trails or in the winter go ice skating in the covered arena.
This is the perfect getaway for couples looking to relax. This is by far my favorite hotel in the world.

Very nice place. Great place to hike. Lunch buffet is overrated but you won’t be disappointed once you start hiking.
I would love to come back here in the summertime. It would be awesome to swim at the lake.

We just returned from a 4 night stay at Mohonk, and read all the Unilocal reviews before we went — some we agreed with, and some we didn’t. So, we felt an obligation to add our own voice –
First, the pros. The scenery is second to none. The views are breathtaking in every direction, and the lush landscape is a rarity in this day and age. Endless trails for hiking, biking and exploring are a welcome change from treadmills and gyms.
The spa is excellent. Got massages and used the steamroom and mineral pool, and everything in the spa was a delight.
The service was uniformly great — every staff member we encountered was friendly, helpful, pleasant and courteous, without exception. I can scarcely recall a more eager group at any hotel or tourist experience.
Now for the negatives. Keep in mind that all of this is viewed through the prism of what this place costs — which for us was almost $ 1000 a night once taxes and gratuities are added in. IF the costs had been half this much (or less…), our reaction would have been tempered. But, if you’re going to charge this much, you are raising the bar on expectations… so here goes…
The food. Oh dear. The food.
It was middling even in the best of circumstances. You are charging us extra if we want lobster? Really? For $ 1000 a night? The fine dining venue had nice service, and again the staff was always amenable to any request, but the food was NOT up to the level of this kind of pricing. Not by a longshot. When you are this close to gourmet centers like Manhattan, and you want to charge this kind of money, your food preparation has got to be A-​game. The butter should not come out of the fridge in little packets. The jam should not be a small plastic container of Smuckers. There should be more than one kind of bread in your fine dining restaurant. There should be SOME kind of late night (after 11pm) food option available. I could go on, but you get the point.
The rooms. Clean. Working fireplace (we think — we never actually used it because it’s August…). Lovely view. Small balcony with rocking chairs (which are a nice touch). But small rooms. Again — $ 1000 a night. You don’t include an automatic turndown service for that kind of money? You know what a Manhattan hotel would give you for $ 1000 a night? An included hooker. And she would turndown the room before leaving. Just sayin…
Nighttime after-​dinner options. There are only two or three. A movie, and a one-​hour entertainment (music, dance, etc). Sometimes, there is a s’mores cookout for families as well. All of this is done by 11pm, at which point, the place becomes a ghost town. Now yes, maybe they focus more on the early morning aspects, for those who want to hike, swim, boat, etc… but we were consistently looking for things to do at night to the point where, one night during our stay, we went to town and saw a movie.
Anyhow, the place is lovely, and sprawling, and friendly. The food is mediocre, and rooms are small. Would we go back? Not for this price, but perhaps if there was a drastic sale of some kind.

Views and history in NYC Metro make this place hum with customers. All inclusive situations are typically my thing, especially if it limits my food options. Don’t think local, mindful, organic as the volume of customers here is healthy and there isn’t the demand this, not happening!
Quite family friendly and decent customer service. It unfortunately leaves a constant taste for more as a guest here. More beyond options as the era that created it isn’t what sustains is so afternoon tea rituals are retained but none of the formality or quality that typically goes with it.
Anyway, enjoy as you can here. Hike, paddle a boat on the lake, ride a horse, and enjoy a carriage ride even.

I spent three days here on a work retreat, and on the positive side it is absolutely gorgeous here. The views, the grounds, the rooms — all lovely.
For the price (and let’s face it, it’s not cheap, so that comes with expectations), I was disappointed. The food options are almost exclusively buffet, which means mass-​produced and kept warmed. Everything was too salty. The beef from the carving station was a bit raw in the middle and had a strange vinegary taste. The eggs in the morning were watery.
The service from all the staff was what I can only describe as weird. I felt as if we were either way over attended to (the moment I put my fork down someone was there to clear my dish — they actually startled me a couple of times) or ignored. We also finished an activity around 10pm and were chatting as we walked to the elevator to go back to our rooms. As we were waiting for the elevator doors to close, a woman literally sprinted to the elevator to tell us that there were children at the resort and to please keep it down. Nevermind that we would have shortly been in our rooms and going to sleep, but we weren’t even rowdy. No one seemed to care about the late night hallway noise (slamming doors, loud conversations).
I don’t mean this to sound snooty, but when the price for this resort is what it is, I expect to be treated as a valued guest, but during my entire stay I felt as if I was an interloper. I would rather spend the money where I will be treated nicely and made to feel at home.

This place is absolutely amazing. Go here. NOW. The views are superb. It is impossible to see everything and climb every trail in one day. I’ve been here several times as a kid with my family and went again recently on Father’s day. The views were even more spectacular than I remembered. We took the advanced route, where we literally climbed over and under rocks, climbed through crevices that you can barely fit through (be warned: not for the faint of heart), and made it out at the top, victorious. If you’re not quite the outdoors guru as I am, there are many other less treacherous paths to explore with equally beautiful views.
I have never actually stayed at the hotel, but from the outside, it’s gorgeous. There is a lake, where you can paddle boat, canoe, paddle board, swim, etc. There are gardens and a horse stable nearby as well. There was a wedding taking place on the premises, and it seemed like a phenomenal place to get married.
The only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars is due to the price. I wasn’t staying in the hotel or eating in their restaurant, so the cost was $ 26 per person for a day pass. If this is out of your price range, there are many other places nearby to go hiking that are free or much cheaper. I wouldn’t suggest this as your weekly go-​to hiking adventure, but I absolutely encourage you to experience it at least once in your life.

I feel strongly that the Mohonk Mountain House is deserving of more than a 5 star review. I believe it deserves a whole other tier for rating purposes… So, I’m going to make one up…
Behold! The SUMPTUOUS TIER:
Instead of stars I will rate on the following in order from lowest to highest: (1) Endangered Beluga Sturgeon Caviar, (2) Bottle of Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru Wine, (3) Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, (4) American Pharaoh Stud Fee, & (5) Swim in the Scroog McDuck Money Pit.
If you’re looking for beautiful surrondings, fun outdoor activities, delicious food, excellent service and all the ammenties to create an incredibly relaxing experience then look no further. The only step you must take first is simple: be rich (or be lucky enough to be there for a work conference like me). Really, the only downside to this resort hotel is the cost:
Day hiking pass: $ 21 weekday, $ 28 weekend.
Lunch/​Brunch/​Dinner: from $ 40-​$ 75, approximately.
Room/​Suite/​Cottage Rates: From $ 400 a night + tax and 15% gratuity.
COST: (1) Endangered Beluga Sturgeon Caviar
I dinned in the main dining hall and the Carriage Lounge during my stay.
The lounge had what they referred to as «light fare». I choose the Bison Steak Sandwich (special), which came with parmesan truffle oil fries. It was so big that if they put any more meat on it there would have been a stampede. Best of all, this «light fare» meal was amazing.
In the main dining hall I had a cornicopia of great tasting food: seared scallops, hand-​pressed lobster ravioli, cornish game hen over a bed of greens, braised beef cheeks and slow cooked prime rib. Not a day goes by that I dont think about how good the food was.
FOOD: (4) American Pharaoh Stud Fee
The food was only eclipsed by the level of service offered by the staff. Everywhere you go you are constantly met with servers/​bartenders/​stewards eager to make your stay more enjoyable with a smile. The best level of service I can recall (in the US, anyways).
SERVICE: (5) Swim in the Scroog McDuck Money Pit
The resort gets real quiet after the dinner hour. In fact, it seemingly melts away into the curvature of the mountain as the lights get dim. Don’t expect a romping good time while a guest at the MMH, but rest and relaxation you will find.
During the day you can fish, go out on the pond on a small boat, admire the landscaping/​flowers, ride horses, golf, hike trails or just sit around on a rocking chair and watch the day crawl by you. A short, brisk walk to the top of the mountain and you’re treated to views far into New England on a clear day… probably worth the price in gold on an autumn day, but not terribly beckoning on an average day. NOTE: Dayhikers are not permitted access to the Mountain House.
ACTIVITIES AND SURRONDINGS: (3) Lamborghini Veneno Roadster
In close, this place has been in service for 147 years. As one can expect with that kind of history, there is an erie charm MMH provides like none other. With it’s crooked halls, classic wallpaper and antique furnishings, I was a little embarrassed to admit that I felt it bared a startling resemblance to the resort in Stephen King’s The Shining. I was amused to have my suspicions confirmed when I overheard a server speaking of a legend that King based his idea for the resort in The Shining on the MMH. In fact, I learned that the writer not only frequents the MMH but, as legend has it, actually wrote the book while a guest in the hotel.
FINAL RATING: (4) American Pharaoh Stud Fee

After a beautiful wedding in New York City, we embarked on our two-​day «mini-​moon» to get some relaxation and downtime before going back to work.
Pros:
Activities: The resort creates a daily schedule of activities, including a house tour, a barn tour, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and a whole lot of other things. The lake is gorgeous and I loved the furniture and gazebos made out of logs.
House Tour: With outdoor activities out of the question, we did the house tour, which began in the Lake Lounge, a beautiful room constructed with American chestnut and filled with all sorts of beautiful antique furniture and fireplaces. The tour guide gave us an in-​depth background on the history of the house and its different wings.
Food: Breakfast and lunch consists of a buffet with all sorts of good stuff, including vegan items for Emily. Like all overnight guests, we were on the «Full American Plan,» which includes three meals and afternoon tea as part of the room rate. The hotel requires guests to dress up a little bit at dinner, including a jacket for men. We enjoyed getting dressed up and eating an excellent meal in such an old-​timey setting.
Suites: We were in the Lake View Suite, which consisted of two rooms and a huge bathroom just renovated. The fireplace was great too.
Wifi: Everywhere in the hotel, we had wifi access.
Cons:
There was no hot water the second morning we were there. I know it’s an old hotel, but for the price we were paying, we should have had hot water. When we told the front desk, all they said was «oh yeah, we know, sorry».
On arrival at 10pm, there was no one there to meet us at the valet. We had to go inside and search around for someone to come out.