I booked a staycation at an all-inclusive castle resort and felt like I’d traveled to Europe without getting on a plane

Mohonk Mountain House is a 1,200-acre, all-inclusive resort lining Lake Mohonk in New Paltz, New York.

Founded by Albert Smiley in 1869, Mohonk Mountain House has always been a family-owned business. Five generations have restored and preserved its history, from the castle-like facade to the Victorian interiors. The resort was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

“At Mohonk, we do whatever we can to save what was originally there,” historian and archivist Nell Boucher told me.

These efforts made my stay feel not only like a vacation in Europe, but also a step back in time.

I took a two-hour train ride from NYC to Poughkeepsie, New York, and a 30-minute cab ride to the resort in New Paltz.

Although I’d seen pictures, I didn’t realize how massive the resort was until I was standing in front of it.

The hotel itself is an eighth of a mile long and comprises six buildings, most of which were built over 100 years ago, Boucher said.

I entered the hotel through what looked like a medieval castle. This building, Boucher explained, was constructed with stone blocks between 1899 and 1901 using horsepower and steam engines.

The oldest surviving section of Mohonk Mountain House is a five-story Victorian lodge built in 1879. It’s called Rock Building, named for its location on a lakeside cliff.

From far away, the lodge looked like it was part of the castle. But up close, it was clear that these were two different buildings attached to each other. Though their rooftops were similarly shaped, I thought the buildings’ contrasting textures and colors played off each other beautifully: red beside green, stone beside wood, and grandeur beside charm.

I spotted another European architectural style around the back of the building — a lakeside Swiss Chalet built in 1899 that reminded me of homes I saw dotting the Alps out my window during a European train trip in 2022.

Boucher said this was originally the guest entrance, noting that it was easier to access by horse and carriage than the current entrance, which is up a steep hill.

“During horse and carriage days, they would have come across the lakeshore road and trotted their hooves on the lakeshore bridge to announce their arrival,” she said.

I don’t typically pay much attention to the carpet when I’m at a hotel. But my eyes were immediately drawn to the floor as I stepped inside Mohonk Mountain House.

Known as the Mohonk Jewel, this vibrant Victorian pattern is found nowhere else. It was custom-made to replace the original carpet design from a mill that went out of business, Boucher said.

From American Chestnut to Red Birch, the hotel has preserved and restored original 19th-century wood paneling, Boucher said.

When renovators take the panels down for refurbishment, they number each one and put them back in the same spot, she added.

Built in 1888, the wing known as Central Building had a winding five-story staircase. Most of the spindles have been in place since the building was constructed. The resort has an in-house carpentry crew that makes exact replicas of the ones that break, so you wouldn’t know the difference, Boucher said.

This made my stay feel like a seamless step back in time.

Mohonk Mountain House has 262 rooms and suites. There are a variety of room types. I booked a Victorian room in the castle building. It had a comfortable king-sized bed, antique furnishings, a fireplace, and a spacious balcony with spiral ornate detailing facing the Catskill Mountains.

“The Victorian rooms retain the spirit of their initial construction,” Boucher said, adding that the fireplace mantels are from the original build.

I appreciated the historical feel of my room, but I wouldn’t say it was exceptionally luxurious. The bathroom was modest, with a combined tub and shower, and there wasn’t much floor space. Still, I found the room cozy for my two-night stay.

It’s also worth noting that most rooms at Mohonk Mountain House don’t have TVs. Guests can request one, but I decided not to, and it actually made me feel more immersed in the hotel’s history and the surrounding nature.

The dining room was built in 1893 and extended in 1910. It still has original 19th-century woodwork.

There are three more on-site restaurants. Founders has a globally inspired menu and is open only for dinner and brunch on select weekends.

The Granary is an outdoor picnic-style eatery with barbecue lunches and cookout dinners. I planned to eat dinner here during my stay, but it rained.

The Carriage Lounge serves appetizers, pizza, sandwiches, and desserts between noon and 5 p.m. The Carriage Lounge menu is not part of the all-inclusive rate.

In the dining room, I had buffet-style breakfast and lunch, and upscale three-course dinners. The food was delicious and made with locally sourced ingredients, but it didn’t remind me of Europe because the menu options were largely American, from barbecue to New York-style cheesecake.

It was pouring when I woke up for my first full day at Mohonk Mountain House. Luckily, there were more than 2,000 pieces of art inside.

“On rainy days, one thing you can do is walk up and down the hallways to look at all the artwork,” Boucher said. “Each building section on each floor is a different little discrete gallery.”

Exploring these winding halls of art ended up being one of my favorite parts of my stay, and if it hadn’t rained, I likely wouldn’t have paid any attention to them.

Collections included oil paintings by prominent 19th-century Hudson River School artists, photos and paintings of horses, and 20th-century prints of the hotel’s brochures, to name a few. Some gallery themes were broad, like American landscapes. Others were more specific, like photographs of distressed vehicles.

“In the early days at Mohonk Mountain House, artists would trade paintings for stays,” Boucher said, adding that guests also donated photos and artworks from their travels.

One of the historic galleries featured reproductions of famous European paintings.

“Back then, our guests mostly did not go to Europe because you had to take a long steamship,” Boucher said. “This was their European art experience.”

The Spa Wing, built in 2005, is the newest section of Mohonk Mountain House. It includes a fitness center, a solarium, and 16 treatment rooms for facials and massages, with prices ranging from $175 to $550.

Outdoors, there is a mineral pool and another treatment area that’s also used for yoga and meditation classes.

The fitness center had a yoga studio where I attended a morning qigong class. It was calming and grounding, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the trunks of trees.

One of the biggest draws of Mohonk Mountain House is probably the abundance of outdoor activities.

There were plenty of sports to play, including pickleball, golf, basketball, and more. Some more adventurous options included kayaking, axe-throwing, and access to 85 miles of hiking trails. I took an archery class and thought it was an exciting skill to learn, but overall, I left wishing I had brought a companion to enjoy all the activities with.

While a solo stay made my trip feel less fun, a resort representative told Business Insider that Mohonk Mountain House is a popular choice for solo travelers.

There were also activities that guests had to pay extra for, such as horseback riding, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Pricing ranges from $30 and $300, depending on the activity.

When the sun finally came out on my last day at Mohonk Mountain House, I got up with the sun to explore the grounds. I started with a hike to a stone tower I spotted from the lakeshore.

After a mile-long hike to the top of the ridge, I reached the tower and learned it’s a memorial to the resort’s founder, Albert Smiley. Known as Sky Top Tower, it was built in 1923 and was originally used as a lookout spot for wildfires.

After my hike, I strolled through the Victorian show garden that dates back to the 1880s. Draped vines and whimsical woodwork, from fencing to seating, made me feel as if I were in a storybook.

There was more to see and do at this resort than anyone could accomplish in only two nights. So I think Mohonk Mountain House is only worth the price if you’re staying a few more nights, and I’d suggest bringing someone along.

Next time I’m craving a dose of Europe, I’ll book a longer stay, try some more activities, and bring a friend to try them with me.