Courtesy of Condé Naste Traveler:
The Bradstan Boutique Hotel at The Eldred Preserve; a reimagined resort nestled in the forests of New York’s Catskill region.
Why book?
For a stay in New York’s Catskills where rustic and upscale design meet to create a charming hub and dreamy forest getaway. There are plenty of great stays in this large region of the state, but as Goldilocks might say after a breath of relief, this one feels just right. From stand-alone cabins to the sweetest suites, the rooms are spacious and nature-forward, with delicate frames of oak and a light palette on the painted walls. As the resort is located on the gigantic, lush, and historic Eldred Preserve, there’s serenity to be found amidst the trails and three ponds of the grounds. Consider this a cozy base to rest your head in a special region of Upstate New York.
Set the scene
Just off a winding road, bordered by tall, full trees (and no Wi-Fi—hello, off the grid lifestyle), the building structures wrap around the parking lot where guests first enter. The lobby boasts a contemporary, simple yet classy design adorned with heaps of glass, wood, and stone. Floor-to-ceiling windows can be found throughout the majority of the resort’s 11 on-site structures, and the openness allows for the sweeping forest backdrop to take center stage. The vastness of the 600-acre preserve, though, remains unassuming until a meander through the property’s nature trail network, where guests will approach the serene 65-acre Sunset Lake, and perhaps soak in the outdoor ambiance of dinner at The Homestead. Dining under a tree canopy, a hue of deep red and orange complements the whimsical, dusk blue sky. Adjacent to a pond, diners enjoy a clear view of the stars with their farm-to-table meals. From day to night, the property feels like a welcoming, warm, decadent paradise in the middle of the woods.
The backstory
The reimagined preserve weaves together three of the Catskills’ legacy brands: The Eldred Preserve, The Bradstan Country Hotel, and The Homestead Restaurant. The Preserve was founded in 1967 by inventor and ex-President Nixon confidant Robert H. Abplanalp; at the time, it was a 3,000-acre property known as the region’s premier fishing resort. The Bradstan Country Hotel was once a separate entity: a bustling, vintage, Victorian B&B on White Lake, in the nearby town of Bethel. Open for operations from 1991 to 2018, the hotel was run by Scott Samuelson, a singer, and Edward Dudek, a dancer, and was jazzy, hosting cabaret for musicians like Julie Wilson, Karen Mason, and Ann Hampton Calloway. It became a local scene to enchant guests and visitors escaping from New York City. Samuelson, also a former Sullivan County legislator, and Dudek brought the same level of excellence to The Eldred Preserve’s lodging options, which has adopted Bradstan’s legacy as part of its own through The Bradstan Boutique Hotel at The Eldred Preserve.
More recently, the resort was revamped and reopened by local residents and entrepreneurs Dan and Joan Silna. The couple brought the project to life in 2021, investing $40 million to build an event space, luxury accommodations, and a farm-to-table steakhouse (once the Homestead Restaurant on Bridgeville Road, until it succumbed to a fire in 2015). The property has always been special to the Silnas, who said they put their hearts into upgrading the Preserve as a gift back to the Catskills.
The rooms
The resort offers a total of 23 guest rooms (five signature suites, nine junior suites, and nine standard rooms) and five private cabins (each 700 square feet). All spacious and bright, the sunlight pours into each of the unique interior environments offered: Oakwood, Charcoal, Barnwood, Bluestone, or Saddle, named to reflect both the individual feel and color palette in the space. Throughout each room you’ll find a classic, understated plaid fabric, which plays well with the custom furnishing of bleached oak plank ceilings and industrial-style fans with oak blades. Along the floor-to-ceiling windows in every room are both sheer curtains that add a softness to the space, as well as blackout shades for privacy (and a restful morning). Junior suites offer a huge walk-out patio, where you can appreciate the forest around you in the comfort of your own private space. Signature suites offer both the balcony space as well as fireplaces. If you prefer to be a bit more nestled away, book one of the resort’s spacious stand-alone cabins that also offer a private balcony and large fireplace.
Food and beverage
The original Homestead restaurant was a local staple, widely known by locals and recurring Catskill visitors—the top-notch bread was a favorite. Now part of the resort as a locally-sourced steakhouse, the restaurant and lounge has become a full-on experience (and yes, they have the bread—along with the “classic fare” established by the restaurant founders family). Within the Homestead reborn, there’s a wine tasting room, which is moody, dim-lit, and quite romantic; a sunroom dining area; and a large outdoor terrace, right beside the stream, pond, and hillside beyond. The resort now offers brunch in the main dining rooms and on the outdoor patio on weekends, as well as a free breakfast buffet for guests to enjoy in the bright and charming sunroom. All of the restaurant’s produce is grown locally on the Preserve’s own organic farm.
The spa
The spa is currently in the design phase of development, and will be located on the primary resort property, facing both the ponds and outdoor terrace of the restaurant. The spa’s target open date is in the 2026 season, with plans to offer a personalized menu of facials, body treatments, and more. A hot tub, sauna, and plunge pool will also be available at the new facility.
The neighborhood/area
Two hours north of New York City, the resort is located in the charmingly green town of Highland. It’s less than 10 miles from the buzzy Bethel Woods Center, the 1969 site of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, now an open park space for markets, culinary events, and live music. For a sandy beach-like experience, head to Lake Superior State Park, less than a 10 minute drive away. You can spend an entire day just heading to and from the heaps of the nearby breweries: Roscoe, Upward, Catskill, and Callicoon. The resort is approximately 18 miles from the Resorts World Catskills Casino in Monticello. While you’re there, hit the Monticello Motor Club, just seven minutes from the Delaware River Scenic Byway and Pennsylvania.
The service
All Eldred staff were readily accessible at the lobby desk and easy to reach via concierge services from the suites. There are service shuttles to Bethel Woods and Resorts World Catskills Casino. While the resort doesn’t offer biking services, biking trails and rentals are just a short drive away.
Eldred Preserve’s custom outdoor pool (as well as poolside cocktails on the weekends) and hot tub are open for the summer season and available exclusively to overnight guests. A huge draw for guests is the exclusive access to the huge lakeside pavilion, where a fleet of kayaks, paddle boats, and row boats are available to take onto Sunrise Lake. The manicured two-mile-long walking trail offers a series of outdoor exercise stations. Within the resort property is also a 1,300-square-foot fitness studio.
Accessibility
While the Preserve doesn’t allow pets to accompany guests, they do allow service animals that meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If needed, ADA-compliant cabins and suites are available upon request—and for any specific ADA enquiries, the resort offers an accessibility page and recommends contacting them directly.
Anything left to mention?
There is a special nod to nostalgia evident in the design, events, and space at this resort. A prime example of this is the continued Cabaret Series, to which the original Bradstan property started in the ’90s. The Eldred Preserve has committed to marking this series as a swanky and exciting annual tradition. There’s also a notable sweetness and elegance to the Eldred’s event space— where a spiral staircase leads up to the upper level in the main event space, topped off with a dramatic centerpiece. The lower level space opens up to the outdoor area, a more-than-picturesque location for intimate wedding receptions.
For an eco-conscious effort, the hotel offers electric charging stations in the parking lot.
Another plus: for birdwatchers and lovers, there are nearly 300 species of birds in the region. The Preserve’s dense forests and water are prime territories for birdwatching (with many recorded sites of the often-elusive bald eagle).