'Witten Pond' is two homes; one is circa 1910 recently restored 'Lily of the Valley' and the other is 'Witten Gatehouse'; both on a 15 acre family compound bordered by the 'forever wild' Catskill State Forest Preserve and looking out on Witten Pond and Wittenberg Stream in an unique beautiful, pristine setting imaginable.
'Lily of the Valley' is the perfect romantic retreat and 'couples' realm'. When Lily is rented, the separate Gatehouse is available to accomodate another couple or to serve as a family
retreat. Both overlook Witten Pond, and 'Tiny House' across from them and directly on the pond is a traditional Scandanavian-style sauna house and is then available as well.
* “Lily of the Valley' is a restored circa 1900 chestnut post & beam Adirondack 'Swiss Cottage style' lodge. Huge Chelsea loft-style bedroom/library occupying the entire 2nd floor which looks out on Witten Pond, Wittenberg Stream and high Catskill peaks. 1300 sq. ft. on two floors with porches on 3 sides. Light on 6 sides (4 walls and 2 roofs). 1st floor has master bath with clawfoot tub and hand shower, living room with wood burning stream-stone fireplace and country kitchen with bluestone counters.. Porches on three sides. Sitting area in back with wood burning BBQ/Tuscan grill, teak sitting benches, gardens, and picnic table overlooking Witten Pond. Swimming (at guest risk) and fishing (catch-and-release) in Witten Pond which is also owned by the owner. Wittenberg Stream, a classic grout stream, is just across the road. Lily amenities include Wifi internet, DVD/TV, CD/radio, massage table, and excellent cell service. House is furnished with antiques and Hudson Valley art. Witten Pond is a family estate surrounded by mountain peaks, rushing water, and stone walls. “Zen-like” describes the property to some as does 'attention to detail', 'most relaxing rental home ever', 'what a find', ''clawfoot tub and wood burning fireplace', 'incredible light', 'well-curated library', and a guest remarking “Is this the house that inspired Ralph Lauren?” A lovingly restored historic home furnished with antiques, fine art, and in contemplative comfort with the incredible cultural richness of the Hudson Valley at your fingertips. A romantic 'home of the heart'. For more of the experience, see photo-journalist Lee Anne Morgan's essay below.
• Witten Gatehouse' is a stone and wood 2 story cottage. Light on 4 sides. 650 sq. ft. on two floors, the 2nd floor open and looking out on the 1st floor windows. The perfect rental with 'Lily of the Valley' to provide for two couples or a private family compound. Recently restored from a carriage and gatehouse house. Both are near the end of a dead end and infrequently traveled, single-lane Town road. Amenities include very good cellular and Wifi internet not always available in much of the Woodstock area, DVD/TV, showered bathroom. The 2nd story bedroom is reached by circular staircase, has a skylight looking out on Witten Pond and mountains, and opens to living room below. Filled with light and the sound of rushing water from Wittenberg Stream. Great northern light for a painter. Perfect for a writer. The 1st floor has the bathroom (shower), living room and kitchenette with local bluestone counters; wood burning Franklin fireplace; looks out on owner's gardens, Witten Pond, and mountain views. Front doors open to small stone sitting patio. Sitting bench for gatehouse is at and directly on pond. An artist and writer's haven, wonderfully open with 2-story ceilings. See photo-jounralist Lee Anne Morgan's essay below.
• 'Tiny House/Sauna' sits directly on Witten Pond. 170 sq. ft. and 2/3 is a sleeping loft, kitchenette, and composting toilet. the other 1/3 is an authentic Scandanavian redwood-lined sauna with wood-burning sauna stove. As cute as cute can be. See photo-journalist Lee Anne Morgan's essay below.
The culture and lifestyles of Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Hudson, and New Paltz are an easy drive away. Historic Woodstock, which has a year-round vibrant art and music community together with many restaurants, galleries and shops, is a 20 minute drive along scenic back roads.
• The Hudson Valley is a cornucopia of fresh vegetables, fruits, organic meats, bakeries, vineyards, orchards, and the Culinary Institute of America.
• The luxury Emerson Spa Resort is a 15 minute drive away (perfect for breakfast too)
• The ski resorts of Belleayre and Hunter are 30 minutes away.
• Historic Kingston, the first capitol of NY State, dates from the 1600’s and has a historic district and a vibrant harbor on the Hudson River.
• New Paltz with SUNY NewPaltz, the Dorsky Art Musem ,and Historic Huguenot Street, the oldest street in America with its 1600’s stone houses, and the world-class historic Mohonk Mountain House with golf, activities, and all amenities on a ridge overlooking New Paltz where world-class rock climbing also takes place.
• Across the Hudson River is Hyde Park with its Vanderbilt Mansion and FDR Home and Museum; Rhinebeck with its Beekman Arms, food and shopping; Bard College with its academic and musicale programs; Hudson with its antique shops and the Olana estate of painter Frederic Church; and Catskill with the historic home of Thomas Cole, founding artist of the Hudson River School.
Witten Pond is a one of-a-kind estate property in the high Catskills, and an easy drive to Woodstock and Phoenicia. Not far from the Zen Mountain Moneastery and a perfect couple or family retreat from City pressure. Nature, panoramic views, rushing water, hand-crafted buildings, and stone walls are the property’s signature.
History & More: Lily of the Valley hand built circa 1900 as the private fishing lodge of Sheriff of Ulster County, Zadoc Boice, in classic Adirondack “Swiss Cottage” style. It features stream-stone fireplace with wood-burning insert, chestnut posts and beams, rustic cherry-wood decorative elements, and light on 4 sides. It has been lovingly restored and refurbished by the owner and overlooks spring-fed Witten Pond which flows into Wittenberg stream which flows down from Wittenberg mountain and then flows into the Ashokan Reservoir.
The 1st floor has much charm and has the feeling of a home at once informal yet lavished with care and comfort. The open 1st floor living/dining area has a separate kitchen with bluestone counters and new refrigerator/freezer and stove/oven. French doors and windows provide light on all 4 sides plus in 2 roofs. An antique chestnut dining table overlooks Witten Pond through French Doors leading to the porch. Owner’s attention to detail is everywhere. The hand crafted cherry-wood banister going upstairs is something to behold. The wood flooring was cut from trees on the property as a wedding gift to the Owner from a neighbor. The bathroom’s claw foot tub also looks out on Witten Pond, stream, and mountains.
The 2nd floor Master loft bedroom/library is filled with light, having 4 skylights and 7 windows. There is a sofa in the library/sitting area, an elevated queen bed in the bedroom area, and picture-window views of Witten Pond and high Catskill peaks. The sitting/reading area has a sofa/bed, twig rocker, antique writing table, Danish wood stove, eclectic library, TV/DVD, radio/CD, Wifi internet, and excellent cell reception.
The sitting area at the rear looks over Witten Pond, sitting up against stone walls and looking up a mountain. For entertaining and relaxing it has picnic table, chairs, benches, and hand-built stone charcoal and wood fired Tuscan grill.
DETAILS
No smoking
Pets only with written permission
Housekeeping
Stocked with firewood and kitchen condiments
PHOTO-JOURNAL CHRONICLES by Lee Anne Morgan
part 1: at witten pond – in God’s time
'Most people would say that Witten Pond belongs to its owner. I believe he would say that he is merely the caretaker. I would go a few steps further though and say that Witten Pond is a place where God most assuredly resides, providing those who witness its purity and grace with an enhanced view of life. I felt God’s presence the first time I set foot upon Witten Pond land and have had many talks with Him over the years. I had these informal chats while I walked, photographed, or simply basked in the calm and peace that permeate the world of Witten Pond. Every leaf and blade of grass, the sound of the rushing stream, the haven that wild life seeks, the slowing of each moment into sheer perfection, the presence of tranquility in both the wild and tamed landscape — all of these can only exist in God’s time.
It is now almost thirty years since I first saw Witten Pond. Surrounded by state forest preserve, it is a secluded fifteen-acre property ensconced in the Hudson Valley Region of New York state. I lived there for a while and visited many times over these three decades to do my photographic work. In fact, Witten Pond has provided me with a rich cache of subjects that evolved with the years. I created a self-imposed retreat many times in what is now the guesthouse, Lily of the Valley, experiencing some of the greatest joys of my life given the inspirational energy that abounds on this land.
My most recent visit was in early spring of this year. The gardens were not yet in full bloom. However, the spring-fed Pond’s rippling reflections shone through its sparkling waters with such clarity that much of what I photographed were images reminiscent of impressionist paintings.
The oldest structure on the property is the guesthouse, now replete with heating and plumbing — though thirty years ago, those conveniences were iffy at best. The fishing and hunting lodge-cum-renovated guesthouse was built in the early 1900s of chestnut, prior to the blight, and is of post and beam construction. It stands high on a hill with stonewalls ........
