Carriage Hills Resort

Mohonk Mountain House owners sell land to Open Space Institute to protect ...

NEW PALTZ -- The owners of the famous Mohonk Mountain House are selling a large piece of their property on the scenic Shawangunk Ridge to a land conservation group.

In a deal that took years, the not-for-profit Open Space Institute announced Thursday it will buy 874 acres at the eastern escarpment from Smiley Brothers Inc., owner-operators of the historic Victorian-era resort.

The private sale includes parts of the historic carriage road system that was constructed by the Smiley family in the late 1800s to provide guests in horse-drawn carriages with sweeping views of the Hudson Valley.

The acquisition will link carriage trail networks along the escarpment and woods at Minnewaska State Park and the Mohonk Preserve, which are popular routes with hikers and skiers. All trails originate from when the Smileys owned the entire ridge.

Also part of the purchase agreement are three scenic and historic farms, and hundreds of acres of open fields, rolling forested hills and streams that run along the north side of Route 299 from the eastern edge of the escarpment.

It includes areas around Butterville Road, Gatehouse Road, and Pine Road, as well as the Testimonial Gateway, a four-story stone structure at the intersection of Gatehouse Road and Route 299 that for many years was the exclusive resort's main entrance.

"We are delighted to partner with OSI and the Mohonk Preserve to ensure the protection of this iconic landscape for future generations," said Albert Smiley , resort president. "We are taking this step to guarantee the necessary stewardship of the land for public recreation, education, environmental research and to support the continuation of sustainable community farming operations."

The purchase price was not disclosed, pending a subdivision approval from the town.

The resort will retain 1,350 acres of land, and will continue to own and operate the world-renowned Mountain House, which has been continuously operated for 142 years by five generations of the Smiley family.

"It is hard to imagine a more enduring legacy than the permanent conservation protection of the Mohonk Mountain House lands on the Shawangunk Ridge, and the opportunity to protect the land is a testament to the Smileys' enlightened stewardship," said Kim Elliman , the OSI president and CEO. She added: "These lands capture the majesty of the Gunks, and OSI is honored to play a role, in conjunction with the Mohonk Preserve, in their permanent protection and in keeping them accessible to the public.

Ontario's Cottage Country and Carriage Hills Resort | Timeshare ...

The Barrie area is blessed not only with spectacular scenery, it has many recreational facilities, lots of historical lore and other attractions. Indeed, it is a favourite haunt for tourists of any season– and half of the population of the United States is within a day’s drive! The city features excellent watersports facilities– including waterskiing, boating and fishing, golf courses, trails for hiking, skiing, snowmobiling and much, much more.

If you are not the type who likes to spend your entire vacation lying around doing absolutely nothing, within the greater Barrie area you can discover isolated beaches, hiking and cycling trails, championship golf, great waterways and plenty of fishing, shopping, antiques, and scenic drives.

From Orillia, Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching to Collingwood and the Georgian Triangle. From Barrie to Alliston, Cookstown, Tottenham, Bradford and the Holland Marsh. From Midland, Penetanguishene, Georgian Bay and the Trent Severn Waterway. Every city, town, and village has something for you to discover. Historic sites, quaint villages, friendly small towns, and bustling cities are yours to enjoy. Bring your camera, bring your wallet, bring your sense of adventure– and bring your tastebuds!

Just a few minutes north of Barrie, in the spectacular Horseshoe Valley, is the famed Horseshoe Resort, known throughout Canada for its excellent golfing and skiing and for the quality of the resort in general. Within this beautiful resort location, you will find the RCI Gold Crown Carriage Hills Resort, a Shell Vacations Club affiliated resort.

Carriage Hills Resort may well be the perfect four-season resort. The Recreation Centre houses a spectacular indoor/outdoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and a fitness, and games/billiard room. From aqua aerobics to painting flowerpots, guided nature walks and dog sled rides to wine tasting – there is something for the whole family there. In addition, owners at Carriage Hills also have preferred access to activities at Horseshoe Resort, including the skiing facilities (discounts on lift passes), 2 championship golf courses (discounted green fees), tennis, horseback riding, fitness facility, gourmet fine dining and casual fare at a variety of eateries located throughout the resort.

From May through October you will want to enjoy 27-hole championship golf, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding or fishing in nearby rivers and lakes (LOTS of good fishing!).

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