Bear Mountain Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Bear Mountain Inn
|
|
Viewed from the east in 2012, shortly after renovation
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Seven Lakes Drive, Bear Mountain, New York |
|---|---|
| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | Tooker and Marsh |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001048 |
| Added to NRHP | September 20, 2002 |
The Bear Mountain Inn is a famous old hotel, restaurant, and spa built in 1915. It's located in Bear Mountain State Park in Rockland County, New York, near the Bear Mountain Bridge. Today, it's known as the Bear Mountain Inn & Conference Center. You can find the 1915 Cafe and a gift shop called the Bear Mountain Trading Company there. The inn was fully updated in 2012.
History of Bear Mountain Inn
The Bear Mountain Inn is one of the first buildings of its kind. It's an early example of the "rustic" style of lodges often found in state and national parks. Building it took two years and cost between $100,000 and $150,000. The New York City company Tooker & Marsh designed it. Their design was inspired by the large, fancy "Great Camps" found in the Adirondack Mountains.
The builders used local materials to construct the inn. Stones for the foundations and walls came from old stone walls in the park. The wood, like chestnut timber, was also from local park lands. This wood was used for the building's frame, trim, and floors. Even though it looks like it's all wood and stone, the main frame of the building is actually made of steel.
When it first opened in 1915, the inn had an electric lighting system in its basement. There were plans for an escalator to bring visitors up from the Hudson River boat landing to the inn. The ground floor had a lunch counter. On the second floor, you could buy "table d'hote" meals, which means a set meal for a fixed price. The main dining room offered service as good as any big city restaurant. In the summer, the upper floor had no windows or doors, making it open to the air. For cooler weather, glass was added to enclose it.
In 1922-1923, the inn became a place you could visit all year round. Steam heating and enclosed windows were added. This helped make it a popular spot for winter sports. Over the years, from the 1930s to the 1980s, some parts of the inn were changed. Some of its original details and decorations were covered up or removed. Much of the original rustic furniture was also taken out. A big renovation later aimed to bring back some of these historic features.
At first, when the inn started offering overnight stays, the third floor was a large dormitory. Later, it was divided into individual guest rooms with shared bathrooms. In 1975, each room got its own bathroom as part of another big renovation.
During the 1930s and 1940s, famous sports teams used the inn as their training headquarters. These included the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, the New York Giants football team, and the New York Knickerbockers basketball team. Famous musicians like Harry James and Tommy Dorsey also performed there. Some people believe that singer Kate Smith wrote her famous 1931 song "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain" while staying at the inn. If that's true, the mountain she sang about might have been Anthony's Nose, which is across the Hudson River.
In the spring of 1943, Madame Chiang Kai-shek, a very important Chinese political figure, stayed quietly at one of the inn's smaller lodges for two weeks. She met with Wendell L. Willkie, a well-known American politician, there before going to the White House.
After World War II began, the park commission stopped managing the hotel directly. Instead, they let other companies operate it. Terminal Operating Corp. ran the hotel from 1941 to 1965. Then, Restaurant Associates Inc. took over. By 1991, ARA Leisure Services was operating the inn. In 2008, a new contract was announced with Guest Services Inc.
The Bear Mountain Inn was added to The National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 2002. This means it's recognized as an important historical building.
Renovating the Inn
In 2005, the park commission announced a $12 million renovation project. The goal was to bring back the inn's "original rustic splendor." This meant the building would need to close to the public for about 18 months. The Bear Mountain Inn was closed for renovations for several years, starting around 2005. News reports about the project sometimes had different information.
For example, in November 2009, The New York Times mentioned a charity event to raise money for the project. It said renovations would begin in 2010. Later reports gave different cost estimates, and other details also varied. In April 2009, a local newspaper reported the cost was $15 million and that work was already happening.
A public lounge area on the second floor, which had a famous fireplace, was changed into a restaurant and catering space. Finally, on February 18, 2012, the Bear Mountain Inn reopened its doors after being closed for six years.
See also
In Spanish: Bear Mountain Inn para niños
