Tarrytown, New York – (September 20, 2019) Tarrytown House Estate – an elegant, historic 214 room resort-style hotel, destination restaurant, special event venue and conference center nestled in a fairy-tale setting with views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline – today announced an approximately $15-million property-wide refresh, which concluded with the opening of a new restaurant, Goosefeather, by Celebrity Chef Dale Talde.
“We are excited to bring the magic and uniqueness of Tarrytown House Estate to the present-day,” said Marc Gordon, Founder and Principal of Rubicon Company, owner of the storied resort. “The restoration of the property has been an incredible process involving the refurbishment of two spectacular mansions from the 1800s. Tarrytown House Estate now offers a refreshed product for visitors looking to enjoy a Hudson Valley resort escape as well as private meeting spaces and stunning ballrooms for lavish parties and celebrations.”
Tarrytown House Estate’s restoration consists of a property-wide refresh, including renovation of the 214 guest rooms and suites; the historic King Mansion housing hotel rooms and terraces with Hudson River and Manhattan views as well as the new destination restaurant Goosefeather; a new lobby with outdoor lounge and garden; the Biddle Mansion building, which houses nine conference and event spaces including the famed Mary Duke Ballroom; the Carriage House – home to six pre-function and meeting rooms; and the athletic facilities including fitness center, indoor pool, outdoor pool, tennis and other sports courts.
Design
From the vision and design of Sean Knibb of Venice-California-based Knibb Design, the newly refreshed hotel unveils a fresh dimension of elegance, perfectly blending old-world charm with contemporary and traditional design styles.
“With a goal to retain as much of the original design and construction details as possible from the historic mansions while bringing the property into the modern era, we established an overarching narrative of a world-traveler inspired by the original owners and inhabitants of the historic mansions on-site, who filled the spaces with modern art, and other treasures gathered from around the world,” said Knibb of the vision for the design of the renovated spaces.
To showcase Knibb’s concept of marrying historic architecture with contemporary design, elements such as custom-designed toile wallpaper designed for meeting rooms, which at first glance appears very traditional, but with closer inspection features contemporary components like skateboards and wine glasses, among other novel items. The soothing tonal-gray, as well as other neutral fabric and paint choices, in the guestrooms and meeting spaces were all designed to bring light and tranquility to the spaces. Modern, custom touches like the Miro-inspired large-scale murals painted on select ceiling spaces add a novel and modern point-of-interest and also tie back to the overarching narrative of modern art and other treasures all coming to fill the rooms and spaces of the hotel.
The King Mansion maintains the original woodwork in its library as well as flooring and doors throughout the ground-floor common spaces. The design provides a vibrant, bohemian aesthetic, adorned with the aforementioned Miro-inspired ceiling murals, and contemporary and playful touches like crowns juxtaposed on historic black-and-white photography from the surrounding area over the past century. The King Mansion also offers a charming outdoor patio and lounge, which connects from the main hotel lobby, that overlooks a beautifully manicured garden.
Eating and Drinking
To complete the property’s revamp, Goosefeather, a new restaurant by Celebrity Chef Dale Talde, debuted in early September. Located in the King Mansion, the culinary outpost is inspired by Cantonese cuisine with a focus on Chinese staples such as noodles, Cantonese barbecue and dumplings, while also playing with the seasonality of the Hudson Valley. Unlike the other seven styles of Chinese food that most Americans are familiar with, Cantonese fare tastes quite mild and emphasizes using fresh and seasonal ingredients, and the food at Goosefeather will be no different. Tapping into the traditional Cantonese fare, diners can expect enhanced flavors utilizing unexpected ingredients like dry-aged beef, black truffles and more.
Adding Chef’s special twist on classic dishes, dinner menu highlights include Kung Pao chicken wings with shaved celery and buttermilk dill ranch; Grilled avocado salad, baby bok choy, kale, plums; and Char siu Berkshire Pork, grilled scallions, spicy mustard. Dessert indulgences include a Pineapple Shaved-Ice Sundae with rum-roasted pineapple and brown-butter cake or Salted Chocolate Ganache with potato, peanut, pretzel crumble and chocolate sorbet.
Adjacent to Goosefeather, guests can sip on cocktails in an intimate nine-seat bar, in the lounge-style indoor atrium connecting the hotel lobby to the restaurant, or in the outdoor garden lounge. For guests of Tarrytown House Estate, room service will be available and provided by Goosefeather. In the coming months, Chef Talde will unveil interactive programming for the property, such as outdoor wood-fired cooking, including lamb and pig roasts, as well as family-style farm-to-table dinners. Goosefeather will be open for breakfast and dinner seven days a week. Starting in October, Goosefeather will begin serving lunch on Friday and Saturday, as well as brunch on Sunday.
With the debut of Goosefeather, the property’s former restaurant will be transformed into a private event space, perfect for wedding after-parties, wine tastings, private birthday parties, after-dinner lounge space for groups and meetings, bridal showers or other private events. Accessed through a hidden door, the venue houses a classic bar, dining spaces and lounge spaces with the feel of a historic speakeasy.
Hotel Stays, Weddings & Events
Playing host to more than 750 weddings, special events, meetings, conventions and conferences each year, Tarrytown House Estate offers 28 private banquet spaces and meeting rooms, with a total square footage of 34,000. From a celebratory function in the elegant Mary Duke Ballroom or a relaxed reception on the roof of the King Mansion to key executive seminars and meaningful leadership training sessions in the Biddle Mansion or Carriage House, Tarrytown House Estate provides the perfect backdrop to any event, big or small. Guest’s not only benefit from the property’s extended amenities, but have the advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings, which can serve as a location for a wedding ceremony, team building exercise, or a moment of relaxation. Goosefeather will be available on request for catered events.
History & Heritage
Playing host to socialites, dignitaries, captains of industry and simply those seeking an escape, Tarrytown House Estate’s deep history blends together the grace and charm of the two 1800-era buildings – King Mansion and Biddle Mansion – with modern, upscale accommodations and private banquet spaces.
Built in 1840, the King Mansion, originally called “Uplands,” had many owners until Thomas M. King – an executive of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (famed for being on a standard Monopoly board) – purchased the mansion around 1900. Thomas King’s son, Frederick married their neighbor William Harris’ daughter, Sybil, and she reigned as the “queen and mistress” of both estates until Mary Duke Biddle – the daughter of Benjamin Duke, Co-Founder of the Duke Tobacco Company and Duke University – purchased the stone house in 1921, which became known as Biddle Mansion. Following Sybil’s death, Mary Duke purchased the King Mansion in 1959, reuniting the two estates.
Amenities & Activities
Tarrytown House Estate offers a wide array of facilities and activities for guests to enjoy. Outdoor enthusiasts can play a game of tennis, basketball, volleyball, and Bocce ball. The property’s indoor pool, available to swimmers of all ages, is adjacent to a state-of-the-art fitness center, and in the warmer months, guests can opt for the adults-only outdoor pool, which is equipped with cabanas, lounge chairs and seasonal bar and food service. For those looking to relax and unwind, in-room massages can be arranged, as well as salon services. There’s a variety of additional activities and sights in close proximity to the resort, including Kykuit, the former Rockefeller family estate and Sunnyside, the former home of Washington Irving, who is known for his famed “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Guests who want to explore the outdoors have plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby, while shopping lovers can explore the area’s many antique shops or visit the beloved Woodberry Common Premium Outlets.
On the heels of the renovation, one of the best times to visit Tarrytown is autumn. Guests visiting the property during the months of September through November can experience activities such as pumpkin and apple picking at Thompson’s Cider Mill and Orchard and Horseman’s Hollow at Philipsburg Manor to celebrate the 200thanniversary of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The main event is enjoying the fall foliage on walks through the scenic trails of the Hudson Aqueduct or charming Tarrytown. As a quick and easy escape for Manhattanites, the property is located 25 miles north of the city and 38 minutes from Grand Central. The Estate is less than three miles from Tarrytown Metro North train station making it easily accessible for city-folk.
