Eastwind brings Scandinavia to the Catskills
Building on the success of Eastwind Hotel’s established properties, Eastwind Windham and Eastwind Lake Placid, the brand will debut Eastwind Oliverea Valley in January 2023, bringing its signature Scandinavian-inspired accommodations to a new corner of the Catskills.
Marking the third property and the first ground-up build from Eastwind founders Bjorn Boyer, Julija Stoliarova, and Dan Cipriani, the development will comprise an on-site restaurant and bar, pool and new room category. Nestled amidst three 3,000-foot peaks, framed by lush trees and the calming sounds of Esopus Creek which runs alongside the property, Eastwind Oliverea Valley has been purposefully designed to offer secluded, elemental escapes that don’t sacrifice style.
From an experience perspective, travellers can ride one of complimentary bikes along a nature path, join sunrise yoga sessions, creative seasonal workshops and foraging walks, or simply lounge by the pool with curated DJ sets. The F&B programme meanwhile will consist of several formats; a seasonal all-day menu and dinner service at Dandelion, breakfast baskets for in-room delivery, s’mores kits for creating at the firepits, cocktails at the bar, weather-permitting meals prepared on the open flame Argentinian grill, and private dining with prix fixe menus under the canopy of trees.
“When conceptualising our latest Eastwind instalment, we knew we wanted to offer a true resort experience with an enhanced amenity program that would keep guests engaged during the entirety of their visit,” says Boyer. “At the Oliverea Valley property, we’ve created more opportunities for guests to gather, lounge and unwind together.”
Dandelion is the first full-service restaurant outside of the five boroughs from Cipriani, who was previously the chef and founder of some of Brooklyn’s favourite restaurants including Urban Rustic, Sea Wolf, Playland Motel, Lodge and Gemelli. After spending nearly 20 years running venues in NYC, the last few years he has been exploring the Catskills and Adirondacks, getting in touch with nature, sharpening his foraging skills and building relationships with local farmers. Using his new skills and relationships, Cipriani will create a forage-to-table, plant-forward, international comfort food menu at Dandelion. Select seasonal cocktails and small plates will be also offered daily. Dinner will be served Thursday through Sunday evenings with highlights like Lohikeitto – a Finnish salmon chowder, and house made gnocchi with trumpet mushrooms, as well as nightly specials based on what’s available via foraging and local sourcing.
When guests have finished eating, they can retreat to one of 30 unique guestrooms, all differing in layout and decor curated by Eastwind’s Creative Director Julija Stoliarova with Scandinavian design in mind and inspiration from Mid-Century vintage styles. The all-weather, wooden A-frame freestanding cabins come in four types, all outfitted with queen beds: Lushna Cabins, Lushna Cabins with Decks, Lushna Suites, and an entirely new category catering to more varied guest needs — Double Lushnas. Residents can also select from several hotel rooms, featuring king beds and in-room amenities including furnished lofts with floating netting under the skylight, vintage desks and rain showers. Intentionally styled, accommodations highlight the natural surroundings with the use of earth tones, organic materials and vintage decor.
Stoliarova explains: “The sentiment of Hygge, the Scandinavian word meaning a sense of contentment and cosiness, drove the design of Eastwind Oliverea Valley. Think spacious common areas with large windows for natural light, high ceilings, clean minimalistic lines and earth tones to complement the surrounding landscape. It’s the vintage furnishings and objets d’art within each of our spaces that are vital to our storytelling and make subtle statements. In curating, I was inspired by the discerning eyes behind a number of female-founded boutiques.”
