Whispering Lakefront Retreat

Lake House and Guest Cabana Grace Swan Lake’s Shores

Everything about this modern log cabin on the banks of Swan Lake signals summertime fun with a hint of nostalgia and just the right amount of bright, modern decor. The deep front porch holds a chain-hung swing, the acre-sized lawn is punctuated by a wooden pier, and Adirondack chairs encircle the backyard s’more pit.

Break out the ice-cream maker and croquet set, because this lakefront idyll inspires good old-fashioned, outdoor family fun. Its interior has been reimagined for modern travelers to the woods, offering rooms awash in boho and Scandi cool styling, complemented by inviting, contemporary tiled bathrooms that make washing up fun, too. A lower-level game and TV room keeps the action going on rainy days, and there’s plenty of room to spread out between the backyard cabana—a sanctuary for entertaining—and the big backyard barbecue deck, with an outdoor lounge and alfresco dining set up.

Occupying the wooded banks of upstate New York’s vast Swan Lake in the southwestern Catskills, this lakefront getaway is set up as a recreational getaway for lovers of the outdoors. Swimming, sunbathing, waterskiing and wake boarding come to mind as the top water activities, and the house is equipped with kayaks for plying the lake’s waters and a long, boardwalk-like pier for fishing or lolling in the sun.

AROUND

Swan Lake is known for its depth, and the lake’s waters are controlled by the 1894-vintage Swan Lake Dam nearby. Fishing tales abound (visitors can even ice fish in winter), and landlubbers can find activities all year round, too. The close-by towns of Liberty and Livingston Manor offer cute shops, small town charms, cozy local cafes, and small markets. This is Woodstock country, with the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts now occupying the site of the legendary 1969 music festival. World-class concerts and music history memorabilia are on offer at the center today, with musicians of all genres performing nightly in the multi-million-dollar performance center. 

Hikers and mountain bikers can check out the 13 miles of trails at Walnut Mountain Park, or go low-key along converted rail trails that are also open to cross-country skiers in the colder months. Whitewater rafters will find waters of the more rushing sort (Class I and II rapids) in the Upper Delaware Recreational and Scenic River system, about a half hour’s drive away. And all necessary goods and services are available in the nearby town of Liberty, a community at the crossroads of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, only about an hour and a half north of NYC. Area golf facilities include both 18- and 9-hole courses, and for those seeking life in a faster lane, there's nearby Monticello, home to race tracks (horse, auto) and a glitzy casino.

LOCATION

Swan Lake, New York, United States. Nearest airports: Newburgh (45 miles); NY La Guardia (85 miles)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round