Hotel Review
TARRYTOWN HOUSE ESTATE & CONFERENCE CENTER
Retreat to the beautiful Hudson River Valley.
BY SHANE LUITJENS
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK
49 E Sunnyside Ln • 800-553-8118
This estate has broadened beyond its long history as a business-focused destination and now incorporates all the amenities you’d want for a great weekend getaway. A short drive from White Plains Westchester County Airport (and 50 minutes from New York City), through a region popularized by a headless horseman and historical mansions (Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is up the road and Washington Irving’s Sunnyside landmark sits near the hotel), the entrance to the complex layout is, at first, daunting.
The property’s 10 buildings join 19th-century Victorian pomp with more modern renovations. They sit along a winding, branching road and surround a splendid statue garden and open grass lawn. While taking in the diversity can be fun, you might find yourself lost in horseman country while trying to find where to check-in.
Inside, the staff proves helpful and friendly, providing insight into favorite eating spots, from local Lefteris Greek takeout (unexceptional) to riverfront bistro ONE in nearby Irvington (innovative and delicious). Stays at the hotel include a morning breakfast buffet, but the hotel will soon be renovating and upgrading the Sleepy Hollow Pub to provide an à la carte lunch and dinner option for guests.
The rooms in the majority of the hotel—converted into a hotel and conference center in 1964—balance out the basics with finessed touches like fine woodwork on the closets, elegant sink basins, flat-screen TVs and wireless internet. The standout is the
King Mansion, sporting unique décor in each of its 10 rooms. (Many have spoken of a ghost rumored to be walking its halls.) On the first floor, old growth Southern Pine was discovered and restored; look for the original wood pins keeping it in place.
With a map in hand, the grounds are much more approachable and have a vast array of options, including a sporting complex with indoor and outdoor pools, racquetball and brand-new fitness equipment.
As the first commercial conference center in America, Tarrytown House has focused much of its attention on facilities that continue to host some of the most important meetings for Fortune 100 companies. For this reason, a number of the buildings, like the Biddle House, are not of terrible interest to the weekender, but drop in for the front room’s painting of American traitor Major John Andre.
As a true find for the weekend getaway, Tarrytown House promises scenic views of the Hudson River from any of several terraces as well as the grounds, making it a picture perfect way to explore the historic elegance of the Hudson Highlands.