A Catskills Inn Gets a Modern Makeover

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Rates

Rooms from $145; suites from $400.

Basics

It was only a matter of time. As city folk continue to flock north to the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains, the urban cool of Manhattan — and, more notably, Brooklyn — are making their influence felt. Look no further than Scribner’s Catskill Lodge for proof. The outdated mustard and salmon-colored remnants of the inn’s previous life, which was built in 1966, were put to bed when business partners Glennon Travis and Marc Chodock, a former Soho House hotel manager and a management consultant, respectively, bought the property in 2015. After a gut renovation led by Brooklyn’s Studio Tack, the 38-room inn opened in late 2016. Somewhere between a classic ski lodge, boutique hotel and family resort, the property features over 20 hilly acres to explore, an airy common area for game playing, reading or drinking by the fire, and a bustling restaurant scene.

Location

Scribner’s couldn’t be any more convenient for skiers and snowboarders going to Hunter Mountain — the bulking ebony building sits across the street from the ski resort. It’s also well situated for other seasonal delights, such as hiking at the picturesque Kaaterskill Falls, or poking around charming towns like Tannersville and Woodstock.

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The Room

Some rooms boast groovy features like sleep lofts, gas stoves or sunken seating. Ours, a King Mountain View, was more neat and functional than plush. A built-in bench slash table featured an array of magazines such as the on-trend Surface and Monocle. The king-size bed was covered in a crisp but soft white duvet. A striped woolen rug laid over the stained maple floors warmed up the interior along with hand-loomed fiber art by the local artist called the Catskill Kiwi. A modest private deck with two Adirondack chairs completed the modern alpine vibe.

The Bathroom

It was nothing remarkable. A simple white toilet and pedestal sink stood in stark contrast to the earthy terra cotta tiling. No tub, but a glass-partitioned shower stall featured a rainfall showerhead and economy-sized shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

Amenities

The offerings in both the room and throughout the inn were pretty standard: Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV with select cable channels, communal books and games, scented lotion for sale in the lobby. “Well-behaved dogs” are allowed, which is nice if you’re traveling with a pooch but, since we weren’t, the best amenities by far were the cellophane packages of s’mores ingredients in our room. We happily toasted them in one of the fire pits outside on the cedar deck.

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Dining

Complimentary coffee and tea is always available; and at Prospect, the inn’s sole restaurant, a modest breakfast selection — pastries, oatmeal, smoked salmon — is offered. At dinnertime, the kitchen makes a more impressive showing. The executive chef Joseph Buenconsejo finds inspiration from the surrounding alpine landscape and Hudson Valley’s agriculture to offer a simple but decadent rotating menu. Homemade sourdough bread is served warm with cultured butter. A plump Berkshire pork chop might come with cabbage and apples or chestnuts and brussels sprouts. And the roasted chicken gets a delectable treatment with maitake mushrooms, cauliflower and pine nut milk.

The Bottom Line

It’s a stylish new option for the rustic area, and is guaranteed to have city slickers buzzing for seasons to come.

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, 13 Scribner Hollow Road, Hunter, N.Y.; 518-628-5130; scribnerslodge.com.