A little more than an hour north of New York City, Bear Mountain Inn has been a getaway for generations of city folks. It is a place I have driven by many times and always wanted to stay there. Finally, John and I did. The inn is located at 3020 Seven Lakes Drive in Bear Mountain State Park and overlooks the shores of Hessian Lake. It is listed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. It is also one of the Historic Hotels of America. When it opened in 1912 the “American Architect” magazine declared it to be one of the “finest examples of rustic Adirondack architecture in America.”
The hotel has hosted many famous people. During the 1930s the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and the New York Knickerbockers stayed at the inn and trained on the adjacent athletic fields. When Jackie Robinson stayed at the Inn he was not allowed to eat in the dining room. Now, they permanently leave a table reserved for him in the middle of the
restaurant for all to see and remember. Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Bear Mountain Inn played host to such notable dignitaries as Eleanor Roosevelt, Madame Chiang Kai-shek, and presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
There are three choices for accommodations: the Inn, Overlook Lodge, and four Stone Cottages. Personally, I prefer the Inn with easy access to the dining room, shops, and spa. Within the park one can hike, boat, golf, swim, cross country ski, and visit several
historic places such as West Point or just relax and enjoy their spa. Tip: The Park is very busy on holiday weekends and on hot summer days. For more information check http://visitbearmountain.com.
