A historic Victorian castle resort in the Hudson Valley, known for its scenic beauty, diverse activities, and culinary offerings, including fine pastries crafted by Executive Pastry Chef Audrey Billups.
Audrey Billups is the Executive Pastry Chef at the historic Mohonk Mountain House, renowned for her exquisite pastry creations and active involvement in local culinary events.
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Last updated: 7/6/2026, 4:16:11 AM
Key Information
Mohonk Mountain House is a historic Victorian castle resort nestled in the Hudson Valley, offering breathtaking views, abundant outdoor activities, and a luxurious spa. It has been family-owned by the Smiley family for over 150 years, maintaining a historic and personal ambiance.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently describe Mohonk Mountain House as stunning and worth every penny, praising its beautiful setting, charm, and consistently outstanding food. The staff is noted for being warm, professional, and genuinely guest-focused, contributing to a relaxing and non-transactional experience. It is highly regarded as a destination that works equally well for couples, grandparents, and families with young children.
The resort features over 300 rooms and offers extensive hiking and walking trails, including adventurous paths like 'The Labyrinth' and 'The Crevice' leading to Skytop. Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are typically included with a stay, offering an incredible variety of food.
Mohonk Mountain House is a year-round destination. Winter offers snow activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating, while warmer months are ideal for hiking and exploring the extensive grounds. Reviews indicate positive experiences in summer, spring, and fall as well.
Awards & Recognition
Featured in Time Out New York
Featured in The New Yorker
5
4.5 stars. I visited Mohonk in late July as a solo female traveler. As a destination, it's obviously geared more towards families and/or couples and other guests weren't super social, but the service was wonderful, the hotel and surrounding lands are gorgeous, and I felt very safe and comfortable. I really enjoyed The Labyrinth trail, the spa, and exploring the hotel's history and found the parlor porch to be a wonderful place to do a bit of morning remote work or grab a well-made, post-hike cocktail. The lake view was otherworldly in the mist and rain . . .
Food in both the main dining room and the Founders' was quite good with a lot of variety--I really liked the Founders in particular. I was somewhat disappointed in The Granary as it was very meat-centric and the cold salad options were far more minimal than the menu had suggested--not saying it was bad, but definitely seemed most oriented towards feeding burgers and hot dogs to kids who'd spent all day swimming at the adjacent beach. While the picnic concept is nice, it was lacking in healthy choices for those who might want them. It would also be nice if picnic-to-go packed lunches were an option--the limited dining hours made it impossible to do really long hikes and still get fed lunch, and food options for purchase in the hotel were limited.
Lastly, it's also mildly unfortunate that the spa doesn't offer any sort of adults-only outdoor pool besides the mineral pool (which is just a big hot tub, essentially . . .) I know there isn't much space and even small pools are expensive additions, but indoor pools are not the same experience as being able to lounge in the sun on a beach chair and read a book. The swimming beach at Mohonk is small and popular and, as such, really does belong to families. Happy they're able to enjoy it, but I never felt like there was a place I could set up down there without feeling like I was invading someone else's space, so I didn't end up swimming.
All of that said, I would absolutely go back to Mohonk as a solo traveler as the hiking, history, views, service, and food were more than worth it.
This place was absolutely stunning and worth every penny. My husband and I went for one night and will definitely be returning with the whole family. Check in was easy, making dinner reservations was simple, and there was soooo much to do and see around the hotel. The pools were gorgeous and so was the view around the lake. Unfortunately it was pouring when we came but even then it was stunning. The breakfast and dinner was some of the best food I’ve had in my life. The room smelled like rustic fireplace. They are simple and small but you don’t even need to spend much time in there.
There's no question MMH is a serene, scenic, relaxing, and family-friendly all-inclusive resort only 1-2 hours from the hustle and bustle of NYC, however below I list the pros and cons for you to decide if the cost is worth the value.
Pros:
1- The property is well maintained, views are spectacular, and their is plenty to do, from hiking with varying degrees of strenuousness (the lemon squeezy is fun and intense), boat rentals (canoes, kayaks, paddleboats), as well as things like minigolf, archery, and tomahawk throwing. Note that you have to sign up in advance for the latter two activities.
2- The meals are gourmet and the food along with wait staff are excellent to the extent that it feels like you are getting a good return for the cost in this regard.
3- The vibe is a journey back in time, which allows people to reconnect without distractions like TVs or city noise. They have rocking chairs and a nice lake, and pretty much everywhere you look is serene. You will likely leave feeling more relaxed and connected.
Cons:
1- It's expensive. Expect to pay between $2-3,000 per night with fees and taxes. In some respects that is more than an all-inclusive cruise vacation for a week. The rooms and property are old fashioned, which bring some charm, but some may find the decor to be dated.
2- There are add ons that will increase the cost, such as horseback riding, certain mountain climibing adventures, or drinks such as a alcohol or lattes. Also, the evening entertainment shows have only one showtime and are okay.
3- It's a trek to get from the entrance to the resort, so don't expect to leave the resort if you need supplies (though there really isn't much of a need to leave since it's all-inclusive). Note that there is a county occupancy charge, which seems unreasonable considering the resort fee.
Just had the privilege of getting engaged and Mohonk. Absolutely nothing but the highest praise for this resort. The staff are accommodating, warm, attentive, and go above and beyond. Understandably engagements are commonplace at a resort this breathtakingly beautiful, and the concierges are helpful every step away with coordinating and setting up an engagement scene (table, champagne, flowers, petals on the ground, etc.). The decor and handmade craftsmanship of everything inside are a sight in their own right. I also love that the tips are included in your purchase price so it’s not on your mind. Overall highly recommend.
Mohonk is a special place for a summer get away. It’s summer camp for adults. Beautiful but spare rooms intended to be comfortable to sleep but intended to get you outside (there are very few TVs in the whole place). The grounds are amazing with miles and miles of gorgeous hiking, biking and hang out spots all over. Food is all inclusive and very good in general. The staff are really terrific, all are friendly, helpful and welcoming. The prices are steep but a decent value considering what’s provided and how well this pace operates. It’s just lovely and only two hours from Manhattan.
