It was in the spring of 2017 when WAG met with self-styled “serial entrepreneur” and Larchmont native Michael Bruno to discuss the Tuxedo Park resident’s plans for a wellness complex in neighboring Sloatsburg.
Fast forward to today and Bruno’s vision has become a reality as the Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club.
Situated on 3 acres nestled between Sterling Forest and Harriman State Park, the complex includes four renovated Victorian guesthouses totaling 17 guest rooms and 16 baths, an art gallery, a 7,000-square-foot gym, a 75-foot swimming pool, an organic market and, coming this summer, a motel-style building offering another dozen single-occupancy rooms.
The Lodge, which opened last month, offers dinner Thursdays through Sundays and weekend brunch. (There’s also the Cantina, an outdoor, patio-style restaurant.)
“This region has a vibrant, athletic and health-conscious community and, as it continues to grow, we felt something was missing,” says Bruno, founder of 1stdibs, an online marketplace for luxury goods. “What we have created is a haven for outdoor recreation, ideal for visitors with a modern, active and healthy lifestyle.”
For the interiors of Valley Rock Inn, Bruno turned to Lisa Bowles, a Manhattan designer, to create sophisticated yet inviting spaces. For each guesthouse, Bowles blended works by local artists, antiques and 20th century design. Much of the furniture comes from the collection Bruno amassed while traveling throughout the United States and Europe for 1stdibs. Bowles married these to custom-made pieces, items from her gallery, Roark Modern Inc., and new furniture to give each space its own distinctive look.
With a challenging athletic program, fragrant, burbling seasonal gardens and an outdoor event space, the inn and club offer what Bruno calls an escape for everyone — “especially for city dwellers who want to get away from it all but not that far away.”
Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club is at 27 Mill St. in Sloatsburg. For more, visit valleyrockinn.com.
