Grandiose Castle Hotel & Spa in Tarrytown Helps You Relax and Restore Medieval-Style
Located at 400 Benedict Avenue in Tarrytown, NY, a short thirty minutes north of Manhattan, Castle Hotel & Spa sits atop one of the highest points in Westchester County. This majestic palace (h/t FEH) overlooks the Hudson River and quaint suburbs below. The Castle is over 100 years old and a visit will easily whisk you away to America’s enchanted Gilded Age.
The castle is medieval in style and filled with elegant architectural accessories including stairways made from intricately carved dark burnished wood, mammoth hand-hewn oak beams and leaded-glass windows. However, the most celebrated feature of this grand estate is its “Great Hall” boasting a forty-foot vaulted ceiling and original Gothic windows with heraldic motifs.
The structure has not always been a destination for rest and relaxation, however. Prior to servicing tired New Yorkers and young brides, the Castle held a significant place in New York City and Westchester County society. Its history starts just before the turn of the 20th century with the purchase of the land by General Howard Carroll, a well-respected newspaperman, playwright and businessman. He bought the property, later dubbed “Carrollcliffe,” to build a home for his family. Carroll worked with New York architect Henry Kilburn and the castle was built in two stages between 1897 and 1910. His goal was to design a home reminiscent of the motte-and-bailey style found in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
General Carroll and his wife were established social figures who entertained frequently. One notable event was a dinner party Carroll hosted during the Hudson-Fulton Tercentennial Celebration of 1909 commemorating the both the 300th anniversary of Harry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River, and the 100th anniversary of the first successful commercial application of the paddle steamer by Robert Fulton. The guest list included every German officer from the German fleet stationed in the Hudson River region, as well as J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and foreign dignitaries and ambassadors.
The Castle Hotel & Spa was renovated in early 2013, adding a renewed sense of elegance and refinement to the historic property. It was during this renovation the THANN Sanctuary Spa was added. The Castle’s spa, THANN, is known throughout Asia as a destination for peace and tranquility, and they have a wide variety of indulgent treatments based on the art of natural therapy. But there are even more modern comforts to be had at this destination…
Equus, the Castle’s restaurant, is the Zagat-rated winner of five stars by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS). The restaurant has a bevy of different rooms for guests to enjoy including the Garden Room, which offers exquisite views of lush gardens, the historic Hudson River Valley and the majestic Manhattan skyline. Further into the restaurant guests can savor the cozy atmosphere of the Oak Room featuring rich wood panelling first owned by Louis XIV that was brought intact to New York when the Castle was first built.
The structure also boasts 45 rooms, and each luxurious guest room includes a wood-burning fireplace and lavish amenities.
The library features dark mahogany bookcases and a dramatic Neo-Classic wood paneled ceiling.
In New York City we’re surrounded by buildings that seem larger than life, but there’s something distinctively different about the grandeur of a castle. Next time you are looking for a quick getaway (it’s just an hour out of the city), give yourself the royal treatment and check out the Castle Hotel & Spa.
[Via Find Everything Historic]
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