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Romance in the Catskills
The Emerson Inn & Spa
Article by Norm Goldman
Art Work by Lily Azerad-Goldman
 You certainly have to be daring to name your inn after
one of the most famous American literary figures, Ralph Waldo Emerson, who
had a profound influence on many members of the American Conservation
Movement such as Thoreau, Muir, Olmsted, Whitman, and the Catskills’ own
John Burroughs.
Remember, it was this movement that led to the
establishment of the 600 square mile Catskill Forest Preserve that surrounds
the inn and which began with the publication in 1836 of Emerson’s brilliant
essay
"Nature."
 However, this is precisely what
The Emerson Inn & Spa did when they purchased an empty and forgotten
1874 Victorian home located in the Catskill Forest Preserve that initially
was known as the Cockburn House.
A home that we were informed has some history attached
to it, as it was located directly across from the Mount Pleasant train- stop
of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad that would disgorge travelers to the
neighboring resorts for more than a century.
In addition, the 24-room inn is just minutes away from
the small rural community of Woodstock, New York, where for over one hundred
years a steady flow of artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, actors and
dreamers have flocked.
As for its physical attributes, it is quite apparent
that lying at the heart of the design of the Emerson are the key elements of
spaciousness, stylistic purity, and impeccable service, all contributing to
a most romantic and private stay.
After all, without these key ingredients, the inn would
never be able to claim the title as being one of the most luxurious in the
Catskills, according to such prestigious publications as Travel & Leisure
and New York Magazine’s annual 52 Great Weekends issue.
Every suite is a work of art depicting five unique
themes of the 19th century, African, Asian, Persian, Victorian, West Indies
Colonial, and containing the most luxurious amenities- Frette linens and
robes, oversize towels, Hermes toiletries, plush feather beds, down pillows,
remote controlled air conditioning, and Aiwa Stereo Sound systems.
Guests are further welcomed with added personal touches
as picturesque fruit baskets, bottled spring water, and monogrammed
stationary displaying their names.
It’s little wonder, when I asked Ilene Marder, the
public relations representative of the inn, what romantic activities would
she suggest to her guests? Her immediate reply was-
“Stay in bed and have dinner in your room!” With all of
the above amenities, you have to agree, why would any romantic couple want
to venture out of their rooms!
If you were to succinctly describe the Emerson, perhaps
you can compare it to Helen Hayes’ description of the adjacent village of
Woodstock, when she stated: “it is a unique spot in the world, isn’t it?
Throbbing with creation, flashing with genius-and so placid and countrified
withal.”
From the moment you enter the inn’s main lobby located
in the parlor of the original home, you experience a grand sense of escape,
visualizing the era of steamer trunks, telegrams, and exotic ports.
Every season casts its special light on the inn, the
snowy white- mountain- tops of winter, glorious wild flowers of spring and
summer, and the magnificent foliage of fall, all reinforce the inn’s
assertion stated in their brochure-“nature cannot be surprised by undress.
Beauty breaks in everywhere.”
ACTIVITIES
The inn’s recreational facilities revolve around its
elegant spa that offers more than forty options, including holistic and deep
tissue massage, hydro and aroma therapies, Vichy shower, hot stone therapy,
detoxification mud & algae wraps, oxygen facials, cosmetics, and stress
recovery programs.
In addition, there is a well-equipped cardio-exercise
center, yoga classes, indoor resistance pool and whirlpool.
Dean Gitter and Emily Fisher, the Emerson’s owners,
also own
Catskill Corners, located across the street from the inn, containing the
world’s largest kaleidoscope-the
Kaatskill Kaleidoscope (according to the Guinness Book of Records), as
well as The Amazing Dondoakahedron.
For shopping, Catskill Corners is likewise the site of
a marketplace offering an indoor main street of unique specialty shops that
combine pleasure with fun and adventure.
Of course there is also the mystique of the village of
Woodstock that has been a magnet for over a hundred years, dating back to
Ralph Whitman, who had purchased 1, 500 acres of farmland above the village,
that eventually led to the first utopian art colony,
Byrdcliffe.
There are no shortages of year round
activities in Woodstock.
Be sure to attend one of the concerts offered by the
oldest continuous summer concert series in the United States the
Maverick Concerts. If you are interested in theatre, check out the
Bird-in-a-Cliffe Theatre. The
Woodstock Film Festival is something you certainly shouldn’t miss.
If you are into physical activities, ample
opportunities abound, such as hiking, horseback riding, skiing, jogging,
fishing, and even experiencing the thrill of riding the rapids of
Esopus Creek, a nearby town in Tinker, in an inner tube.
DINING
Another major draw of the inn is its formal dining
facilities that were chosen for the “Best Award of Excellence,” after it had
received the Wine Spectator’s basic award of Excellence for the past two
years. Noteworthy is that it is the only dining facility in the Hudson
Valley Catskills to have received this accolade.
The inn boasts a wine collection featuring more than
700 labels from 13 countries comprising some 5200 bottles.
Focusing on “nouvelle cuisine,” and European service,
artistically created dishes are presented on Wedgewood, Limoges chinaware
and Waterford crystal.
Diners feast on some of the most imaginative and
original dishes - roasted loin of lamb with a parsnip puree, port glazed
white asparagus, pomme galette, chanterelles, black trumpet mushrooms, dried
figs and a truffle jus, or the grilled Hudson valley duck breast served with
toasted coconut and almond pilau, sautéed bok choy and a soy-ginger sauce.
My wife and I had a chuckle, when we noticed that the
inn’s cuisine also included purée fava beans. As my wife was born in Egypt,
she often makes this delightful dish for me, pointing out that it is the
national meal in Egypt and generally served with pita bread.
The Egyptians call this “foule madammas.”
I guess you never know when some staple food becomes a
delicacy in another country!
Additional Information
The Emerson Inn & Spa
146 Mount Pleasant Road
Mount Tremper, NY 12457
Tel: 845-688-7900
Fax: 845-688-2789
Email:
the.emerson@usa.net
Review of An Excellent Book on the History of Woodstock
Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & Arts
Norm and Lily Azerad-Goldman are a unique husband and
wife team, writer and water colorist, who write and paint about romantic
destinations.
Basically, they meld art and words in order to create
an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of
the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom-made’ for the
story-original story and original art.
They can be contacted at:
l.goldman@sympatico.ca
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