Scheduled to open on April 1, The Chatwal Lodge is located within The Chapin Estate, a 2,500-acre gated residential community, that is just 90 miles north of New York City, in the town of Bethel, NY. Drawing on the surrounding nature preserve, the 100-acre lodge will feature 11 accommodations with Adirondack-style interiors and private patios overlooking the 1,000-acre Toronto Reservoir Lake; a wide array of expert-led outdoor activities and holistic wellness experiences; and a culinary program that emphasizes hyper-seasonality and foraged produce.
Accommodations
The 11 guestrooms and suites are crafted in a rustic-refined, Catskills-inspired aesthetic, with vaulted ceilings, arched windows, reclaimed-wood walls, log-treaded stairs, hand-carved headboards, stone branchwork, faux fur and wool upholstery. Select accommodations will also have larger lakeside decks, outdoor showers, deep soaking tubs and kitchens, dining and living areas ideal for gathering with family and friends.
Architect and design
Steve Dubrovsky, architect/designer, Chatwal Lodge, is a master in the arts and crafts of the 19th-century Adirondack aesthetic, with an emphasis on rustic-refined style and seamless incorporation of nature. At The Chatwal Lodge, he has applied his signature sensibility while drawing on his previous experience creating luxury residences at The Chapin Estate as well as his career as a four-time circuit champion in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association.
“My designs reflect their surroundings,” Dubrovsky said. “When you look at the Chatwal Lodge you see trees, stone and even the animals that live there. Why use conventional framing for roof support when 30’-40’ trees feel better and are stronger? Colors and textures come from the landscape—I bring the outside in. My passion for 19th century Adirondack and Northwest lodges are seen throughout my designs. The Chatwal Lodge began with a plan that was analogous to the land from its fieldstone base to the massive trees and branches that support the roof system. To pay homage to our animal neighbors, on display throughout the lodge talented artisans have created paintings and life-sized carvings of them.”
Farm-to-table
Chef Jesse Kloskey, who hails from Wisconsin and has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Napa Valley, will oversee the culinary program at The Chatwal Lodge. He will reimagine farm-to-table cuisine through old-world techniques like dry-aging and fermentation, which bring out deeper, more complex flavors. The hyper-seasonal menus will spotlight foraged delicacies and local products from the on-site gardens, on-property trout stream and the many sustainable farms in the area.
Breakfasts will focus on beloved classics, while lunches can be enjoyed in the farm-to-table restaurant Rustic Grill or taken to go as a picnic basket. Daily afternoon tea service will have a local spin, with scones made from foraged wild blueberries and freshly-made Sable cookies that showcase the richness of the local butter. The unique three-course dinners are meant to feel like intimate chef-hosted dinner parties, with an ever-changing selection of small bites and family-style side dishes for the table to share. Guests can also opt for in-room dining from an all-day and overnight menu.
Experiences
The robust roster of wellness and outdoor experiences will immerse guests in the surroundings and promote nature-based healing. The Chatwal Lodge has teamed up with local experts to provide one-of-a-kind excursions, including a stargazing adventure led by John Kocijanski, president, Catskills Astronomy Club; a two-hour birdwatching tour by specialists at the Sullivan County Audubon Society; and a guided fishing excursion on Toronto Reservoir Lake or in a private trout stream that cuts through Chapin Estate.
“I want guests to feel they’ve left it all behind. The stress, the cares, the pace of modern life. I want them to enjoy a gourmet meal they’ll remember as much for the dining room and the view as for the food. I want them to relax because they took a walk and didn’t see anyone else. I want them to sleep better because they have luxury bedding and a one-of-a-kind cedar bed that we designed and built for each room,” Dubrovsky said.
Additional explorations will include horseback riding at a nearby club or on-property trails dotted with chestnut trees and hidden water streams, visits to local farmers’ markets and priority access to the performances and concerts at The Pavilion at Bethel Woods.
Wellness
A range of Ayurvedic and naturopathic treatments will be available in-room or in-suite by the therapists of the nearby Yo1 Wellness Center. Guests can also sign up for private or group yoga and meditation sessions or hit the state-of-the-art fitness center, which is equipped with Pelotons, a Smith machine and free weights. The property will offer canoes, paddle boards and kayaks that can be borrowed at any time of the day, as well as daily sunset tours on the lake.
Activities
Activity Center, a 4,400-sq.-ft. standalone lodge, will be open daily 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Guests of all ages will enjoy a movie screening room, billiards, checkers, chess, poker, shuffleboard, board games, pinball, skee-ball, duckpin bowling and several reading nooks. On-site food and beverage options will include house-made snacks and a self-serve bar.
Events and celebrations
Wedding ceremonies, cocktails events and other large celebrations will be hosted in two banquet spaces, the open-air Pavillion and the White Birch Hall, and welcome up to 125 guests. Intimate gatherings such as wine dinners and corporate board meetings will be housed in smaller rooms. A cozy wine cellar with a fireplace and a selection of the world’s finest wines will be reserved separately or combined with an adjacent private dining room to accommodate up to 24 attendees.
Amenities
Guests will have access to 24-hour valet, concierge and butler service. Rooms are kitted out with luxurious Saatva mattresses, plush duvets and pillows, bespoke linens, ample closet space and woolen throws, while the bathrooms feature deep-soaking tubs, organic toiletries, terry robes and outdoor showers. Rounding out the in-room offers are 24-hr. dining; private minibars; fireplaces; flat-screen Smart televisions; docking stations; complimentary Internet; and a choice of complimentary newspapers every morning.
“The lodge was built with trees, and on-site fieldstone which veneers the lower exterior walls, fireplaces and stone columns. Every tree, branch, antique barn beam or rock that we find becomes a candidate to be part of the project,” Dubrovsky said.
