BLCK Creek

Four Homes, A Private Lake and Mountain Views

A distinctive mountain estate, this waterfront property is comprised of four residences that are rented together as one large, multi-unit home.

At the heart of the estate, Black Bear Manor sleeps up to 12 guests in its stately wood and stone lodge. All bedrooms are king or queen sized, one with two queens, and all offer access to patios with lake or garden views. Two king suites feature Jacuzzis in their baths, and one queen room features a deep soaking tub under a big round window. The timber-topped living room’s fireplace is a stunning work in stone. The fully-stocked gourmet kitchen has expansive lake views, and it offers access to the lakeside porch with a grill and dining table for eight. The indoor dining area seats 20, and a lakeview kitchen pub offers high-top dining for 10.

White Tail Lodge is warm and wood-lined, featuring four bedrooms (a king, a full, a twin and a bunk room), all sharing a spacious, ebony-tiled bathroom with a soaking tub and a lounging deck right on the water with chaises and chairs for 10. The full kitchen is cozy and warm, with lake views and access to a covered porch with alfresco dining for 10 and a large grill.

Turtle Cove is a classic lake house cabin, its exterior clad in shingles and surrounded by a picket fence. Inside, it offers a cozy, lakeview living area with a queen sleeper sofa and a full-sized, classically paneled bedroom and bath with a standing shower and views of the water.

Fox Cottage is a small one-bedroom home under soaring trees with views of the lake below. With its interior of wood, stone and exposed ceiling beams, it offers a woodsy lodge atmosphere, with a full-sized bedroom, a pair of living rooms, each with sleep spaces (daybed, pullout sofa) and wraparound picture windows. The bath has a shower, and the fully-equipped, homey kitchen offers views of the shimmering lake outside.

Additional features

With its lake’s pair of docks, the property is as much about outdoor living as cozying up indoors. There’s a seven-person hot tub, a pair of propane grills for outdoor entertaining, hammocks, a water trampoline, two canoes, two kayaks, and a dozen yoga mats. A waterfall spills into the lake from one shore, and the estate has its own hiking trails and a menu of add-on experiences by reservation.

Add-ons range from private chef services to massage, spa and wellness activities. Ask about wine or bourbon tastings, and outdoor activities such as fly-fishing lessons.

The estate is gated, secluded and private, with a helicopter landing site.

Around

Located an hour and a half from New York City, the estate was originally established as the Slotkin Family Farm in 1943, and the property still reveals remnants of its agricultural beginnings, including silos and the interior woodworking. In addition to its on-site hiking, water activities and curated experiences, the property makes a great base for exploring the beauty of the greater Upstate region.

The Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park features the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, spanning 1.28 miles. The nearby John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary is a favorite spot for area hikers who explore its open ridges, thick forests, wetlands and jutting rock formations. Named for nature writer John Burroughs, the sanctuary also features his cabin that’s open to visitors. Dairy farms and farmers’ markets dot the region, among them Red Maple Vineyard, a dairy operation turned farm-to-table venue and vineyard offering small batch wines, beer, ciders and mead, as well as seasonal organic produce and wild-foraged items such as ramps and chanterelle mushrooms. The Hudson House & Distillery offers an Italian Revival architectural villa for exploring, and the Culinary Institute of America along the river in Hyde Park was recently designated one of America’s prettiest college campuses by Condé Nast Traveler.

Highland itself is a hamlet loved by those seeking a low-key, natural setting. Avid hikers love the Minnewaska State Park, Franny Reese State Park, Illinois Mountain and the dramatic Mohonk Preserve. In recent years, the small town has welcomed holistic health and wellness practitioners, yogis, and makers who have joined its loyal generational residents. Cyclists and joggers can now travel the seven-mile Hudson Valley Rail Trail and even cross the river to join the Dutchess Rail Trail. The better known towns of Poughkeepsie and New Paltz are neighboring communities, Poughkeepsie located east of Highland and New Paltz to the west, both offering lively centers lined with bistros, galleries, cafes and coffee shops, in addition to craft breweries. Highland offers its own, slightly quieter strip of cafes and coffee houses as well as a handful of local galleries alongside longer standing potters’ studios, handicraft shops, and classic small town diners and boutiques.

Location

Nearest airports: NY La Guardia (65 miles), Hartford, CT (70 miles), Newark, NJ (73 miles), NY JFK (75 miles)

Best time to visit

April to November

Photography: Thomas Agoglia