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Inn Flux - 15 May, 2003
Originally constructed in 1915, the Bear Mountain Inn and Conference Center, located in the heart of Rockland County's 5,000-acre Bear Mountain State Park, has seen better days.
Prompted by the poor condition of the 62,000-square-foot structure, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) has spearheaded a $12 million renovation aimed at enhancing the facility's already charming Adirondack-style amenities. "The Inn has a 1970s interior, but it's in a 1915 building," says Sue Smith, Research and Development Coordinator for the PIPC, which is overseeing the renovation. "We plan to redesign the interior to better suit the rustic style of the building." The refurbishment - conducted by Hugh Hardy, who was recently named the world's leading restoration architect by the New York Times - will return the building to its 1930s splendor.
Plans call for relocating the main entrance and restyling three areas: the front lobby; the Hiker's Lounge, a small cafe where visitors can nosh on a light lunch; and the Cub Room restaurant. Also on the drawing board: a gift shop dedicated to selling items produced in the Valley, 13 guest suites on the third floor, and virtual conferencing capabilities in the Inn's conference rooms.
"One major aspect of the renovation is to make the Inn a green building," adds Smith. "Since we are an environmental organization, we wondered what we could do to make the Inn more environmentally friendly. Hardy suggested the use of geothermal heating and cooling using [nearby] Hessian Lake ... as the source."
Overnight guests will continue to be welcomed at the Inn throughout the extensive three-year project. For more information or for accommodations, call 845-786-2731
-Jennifer Stokes
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