Catskills, New YorkBig Indian
Urban Cowboy Lodge
Maximalist wilderness lodge
Big Indian Catskills, New York
Renovated
2020
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness SocialOutside the door
The house
Urban CowboyMaximalist wilderness lodge
The lodge trades quiet mountain minimalism for bold patterned walls, roaring stone hearths, and communal parlor evenings.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Hand-printed wallpapers and deep copper bathtubs set against Big Indian forest views.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in AFAR.
the rustic vibe, rather than being replaced with hard-edged minimalism or Scandinavian modernism, has been left intact, or even heightened.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Esopus Creek borders the front lawn, and Slide Mountain's hiking trails are a short drive away.
The rooms
Hand-printed wallpapers wrap the bedrooms. Deep copper or clawfoot soaking tubs look straight out into the woods.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Striped umbrellas and sun loungers border the seasonal swimming pool, set right against the forest edge.
Sauna and yoga
A shingled Estonian barrel sauna sits on the lawn, and morning yoga classes gather on the open grass.
The Parlor Bar
Bartenders mix seasonal craft cocktails behind a rustic log counter beneath an overhead canopy of tangled tree branches.
The entry hall houses the bar and separates the dining room from the living room. This central space is anchored by a fireplace, framed by tree trunks and branches, and faced with river stones from the nearby creek.
At the table
The Dining Room serves local Hudson Valley fare beneath antler chandeliers, spilling onto a pergola deck with mountain views.
How it began
The grounds spent over eighty years as the Alpine Inn, a Bavarian family lodge run by the Griesser family since 1936.
Catskills
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.