Press Release
Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, The Hudson Valley’s First Ultra-luxury, Nature-inspired Retreat Opens In Upstate New York
A world unto itself in the Hudson Valley, offering unscripted luxury rooted in nature
HUDSON VALLEY, NY (September 30, 2022) — Overlooking the mighty Shawangunk Ridge on 140 arcadian acres, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection opens today as a new, environmentally conscious, luxury retreat, fringed by fiery fall forests and a slow-rippling river. A verdant escape in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, its expansive grounds encompass orchards, woodlands, a namesake farm, heirloom gardens and fields of native wildflowers. Nestled within are 65 bespoke cabins, cottages and suites; Thistle, an Auberge Spa; Maplehouse cooking school; and exceptional dining destinations, including the resort’s signature restaurant Clay—all inspired by the region’s wild beauty.
“Fifteen years ago, my wife, Kristin, and I came to the Hudson Valley for the first time and immediately fell in love with Gardiner,” said Phillip Rapoport, owner and managing partner, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, “Several years later, we purchased the site for Wildflower Farms and embarked on a seven-year journey to create something that has never existed in the destination. We wanted to create an antidote to urban life that honored and respected the beautiful nature of the area. We built this resort to offer the type of guest experience we were looking for ourselves—design that is rooted in nature, with easy access to hiking, well-being experiences, outstanding cuisine and warm service. This is a very personal project that we are deeply passionate about, and we are elated to finally welcome friends, family and travelers from around the world to this extraordinary destination.”
“We are honored to introduce Auberge Resorts Collection’s first property in the legendary Hudson Valley,” said Craig Reid, president and chief executive officer, Auberge Resorts Collection. “Harnessing the power of nature in its simplest form, Wildflower Farms offers solace, sanctuary and joyful opportunities to reconnect with nature just a 90-minute drive from New York City. We are thrilled to welcome guests to this awe-inspiring destination, where they will discover some of New York’s finest dining in addition to experiencing the soulful essence of the Catskills through unique outdoor adventures and wellness journeys.”
Nature-embracing design for effortless reconnection
Designed to facilitate meaningful encounters with nature, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection rests where rolling farmland meets pristine wilderness in the Lower Hudson Valley. Renowned for its luminous skies and the dramatic allure of each new season, it is here that the esteemed 19th-century Hudson River School painters found their inspiration and where those seeking an escape from urban life still find it today.
Architects Electric Bowery and interior specialists Ward and Gray were tasked with designing Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection on the site of a fallow tree nursery. They successfully achieved the founding vision of celebrating the land and its breathtaking scenery by drawing on the theme of connection. Every light-filled architectural element eloquently frames and reflects the natural beauty around it to impart an effortless sense of wonder and peacefulness to those within.
Directing unencumbered views out toward the dramatic Shawangunk Mountains, the main buildings are designed as a series of asymmetrical barn-style structures connected by one roofline, its peaks reminiscent of those on the horizon. A central fireplace is wrapped in tapestries, telling stories of the surrounding community, with curved sofas forming a modern conversation pit around it. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors and spacious outdoor terraces again exemplify the theme of connection, blurring the lines between indoors and out.
Interiors feature warm woods and handblown glass fixtures, complemented by quilted fabrics and storied fabric-house prints in colors reflecting the seasons—sage and goldenrod, burnt umber and aubergine. Honoring the land, sustainable design measures and materials, including the careful sourcing of vintage pieces, have been incorporated throughout.
Communing with nature in consummate privacy and comfort
The resort’s 65 free-standing cabins, cottages and suites are optimally placed for privacy and to make the most of their tranquil views. Set within stately white pines and native perennials, or within fields of wildflowers, they are designed to blend seamlessly with nature, revealing a contemporary cabin aesthetic with wood-wrapped interiors, modern finishes and fresh-cut flowers. Wall-to-wall glass sliding doors allow in-bed vistas and open onto large private terraces with daybeds and outdoor dining tables. Airy interiors remain cozy and inviting, with view-framing window seats and light-flooded bathrooms. Suites feature two fireplaces, indoor and outdoor showers, as well as custom cedar hot tubs. Locally made, all-natural amenities celebrate the native botanicals of the Hudson Valley.
Soundtracked by the soft flow of the Shawangunk Kill river, the 28 sun-dappled Bower Cabins reside beneath the tree canopy, while the 32 Meadow and Ridge Cottages seemingly float within a sea of wildflowers and grasses, the latter with views of Shawangunk Ridge. Enjoying prime positions in the wildflower meadows, the five expansive Ridge Suites offer unparalleled views of The Gunks and an abundance of indoor and outdoor space. Leading onto the main terrace, the lounge and dining areas are both arranged around a circular central fireplace, while the bedroom opens onto its own private terrace with a cedar hot tub and outdoor shower.
Harvest-led, farm-to-fork dining
Bringing a new dimension to the Hudson Valley’s storied history of culinary influence, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection introduces unique dining destinations, an on-site cooking school and farm education center, and a diverse calendar of weekly events. Celebrating the seasons and the land’s innate ability to nourish and heal, the chef-led kitchens offer diners a true taste of the local terroir, paying homage to the region’s back-to-the-land ethos. Pasture-raised meats, free-range chicken and eggs, aromatic herbs and heritage fruits and vegetables come directly from the onsite farm or hand-picked farm partners and are prepared to perfection, each new dish a love letter to the Hudson Valley.
One of the most exciting new dining destinations in the country, Clay offers visitors from far and wide a location-specific dining experience only available in the Hudson Valley. Housed within the main building and epicenter of the Wildflower Farms experience, Clay courts guests at breakfast, lunch and dinner with a creative and curious open kitchen and rustic, New-American fare. Inspired by the concept of ‘Wild Comfort,’ relaxed, subtly layered dishes tell the stories of their ingredients, many sourced from less than a mile away. Clay’s stunning upholstered bar and the elaborate Green Room serve as the social heartbeat of the entire property.
Also within the main building is The Great Porch, framing unparalleled views of Shawangunk Ridge. This open-air venue’s morning coffee and pastry energy segue into golden afternoon bites and post-adventure refreshments, before evolving into a destination for pre-dinner cocktails and late-night fireside gatherings.
The lively Dew Bar is situated alongside the property’s outdoor swimming pool, amidst rustling grasses. Spotlighting culinary talent in a relaxed, sun-drenched setting, poolside dining is offered seasonally from May through September with a curated list of visiting chefs. Seasonal dining is kept experiential across the property, with orchard wood-fired pop-ups, farm dinners beneath the stars and interactive Miele kitchen tasting experiences.
The carefully considered wine list, curated by sommelier and author Vanessa Price, prioritizes farming practices and includes stalwarts of the Old and New Worlds, alongside emerging vintners. Seasonal cocktails make the most of the surrounding gardens to incorporate unexpected infusions, tinctures and flavors.
Exploring the joy of living well
The property’s 9,000-square-foot wellness facility is named for the wild, health-supporting blooms that blanket summer’s fields in purple and blue. Thistle, an Auberge Spa harnesses the power of nature and its cycles to offer personalized seasonal treatment menus, combining age-old natural remedies and therapeutic bodywork with the life-enhancing principles of slow wellness.
Treatment menus are designed to nurture through three distinct yet integrated elements: a modern apothecary produces hand-harvested, small-batch botanical oils, scrubs and flower remedies in partnership with local botanical beauty line Cultivate Apothecary; immersive outdoor experiences focus on gently re-wilding the human spirit; and a considered aspect of joyful exploration is integrated into each treatment to impart an enduring sense of holistic wellbeing. Taking a hyper-customized approach to skin care, Thistle offers a treatment range in partnership with Biologique Recherche, whose clinical approach to beauty care uses pure, concentrated and raw, active ingredients to produce immediate results.
As serene as the mountains it overlooks, the spa features six treatment rooms, outdoor hot tubs and an indoor saltwater pool. Beyond the spa, the property’s expansive grounds are home to a 3,500-square-foot open-air fitness center, a movement studio offering daily classes, and three miles of hiking trails.
A natural playground in every season
Utilizing craft, education, exploration and curiosity, the curated experiences program at Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection has been designed to bring guests closer to nature. Urban visitors will discover a deeper connection with the living world that will linger long after their return to the city.
Capturing the bounty of summer, the vibrancy of fall, the quietude of winter and the promise of spring, the experience program fulfills every season’s potential for joy, connection and wild-crafted pleasure. Three miles of on-site hiking, trail running and electric dirt biking with CAKE bikes unveil the property’s wild side, with routes extending beyond into the outstanding beauty of Mohonk Preserve, known for its world-class rock climbing. Guided scrambling in The Gunks offers adrenalin-fueled views of the resort, while other nature-inspired experiences include pressed flower pottery, flower arranging and cyanotype printing.
Informed by the on-site farm and Maplehouse education center, epicurean exploration introduces the produce and makers of the Hudson Valley. Guests can engage with the land through hands-on foraging and harvesting experiences, try their hand at botanical mixology, pickling and preserving, take botanical baking classes and picnic in multiple scenic locations. Visiting chefs from around the world feature on the calendar of culinary events, adding to the appeal of Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection as the valley’s most dynamic new culinary destination.
Home to innumerable orchards and farms, distilleries, art galleries, antique markets and state parks, the Hudson Valley offers countless ways to reconnect with the simple pleasures of life lived Upstate. Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection can arrange any possible experience in the region.
A Personal Connection
With The Gunks providing a showstopping backdrop and over 15,000 square feet of social space, private celebrations at Wildflower Farm, Auberge Resorts Collection are nothing short of extraordinary. Guided by the wild beauty of the natural surroundings, bespoke packages cater to everything from weddings and milestone celebrations to corporate programs and culinary retreats.
Ideal for larger weddings and group events, The Marigold Room offers almost 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The Barn at Maplehouse can host large gatherings on its ground floor and also houses the Maplehouse Cooking School and the Board Room. Perfect for outdoor ceremonies and events, Maple Lane is a tree-lined wildflower meadow, while more intimate indoor events can be held in the Green Room, situated below Clay.
“It is with great pride that we welcome guests to this magnificent property evoking the elemental beauty of the Hudson Valley and its renowned wilderness,” said general manager Manolo Sorensen. “We have no doubt that this unique destination will become a gathering place for both the local community and travelers seeking the bliss, romance and rejuvenation of the Hudson Valley.”
Hand-crafted treasures and gifts inspired by nature
The resort’s signature sense of Upstate ease extends to its retail offering, which invites guests to browse heirloom-quality, sustainably produced items in a range of settings.
The Shop offers a curated selection of garden-inspired goods in partnership with Gardenheir New York, whose offerings range from gardening tools and apparel, candles and incense to homegoods and antiques. Based in Windham, NY, founders Alan Calpe and Christopher Crawford turned their amateur love of gardening into a lifestyle brand. Ever-changing in its offering, much like a garden, Gardenheir curates products to make us better stewards of the land and heighten our connection to nature.
In-room, the minibar offers a better-for-you, socially-conscious and locally-curated snack selection by Rachel Krupa’s New York City-based The Goods Mart. Custom cedarwood soaps from SAIPUA pair beautifully with towels from Hudson-based MINNA. A collection of large format books featuring naturalistic and culinary gardens has been curated in partnership with Phaidon.
Nightly rates in the autumn start at $1,000 plus taxes and fees. To make a reservation or for additional information, please visit auberge-beta.kingandpartners.com/wildflower-farms.
About Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection
Sprung from the site where a fallow tree nursery once stood, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection is an oasis within reach just 90 minutes from New York City in the storied Hudson Valley. The 140-acre resort is designed to provide meaningful encounters with nature at every step, fueled by a namesake farm with orchards, heirloom gardens, farm animals, meadows of native flowers and unique one-of-a-kind experiences. A three-mile walking trail connects the farm to all elements of the property—from the 65 stand-alone cabins, cottages and suites, the main building, fitness and movement studio, and a wood joinery barn home to a dynamic cooking school, Maplehouse. The Shop welcomes guests to the resort with an adjacent open-air Great Porch, source-origin cuisine at the centerpiece restaurant, Clay, and wild-crafted wellness at Thistle, An Auberge Spa. Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection also offers nearby access to the outstanding beauty of Mohonk Preserve, a private reserve known for hiking, biking and world-class rock climbing.
For more information: auberge-beta.kingandpartners.com/wildflower-farms
Follow Wildflower Farms on Instagram @WildflowerAuberge
About Auberge Resorts Collection
Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 23 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.
For more information: auberge-beta.kingandpartners.com
Connect with Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook Twitter and Instagram @AubergeResorts and #AlwaysAuberge
About The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group is a privately-held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. These organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts Collection, AS Roma, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin. For more information, visit www.friedkin.com.
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Murphy O’Brien Public Relations