The Abbey Inn & Spa

We stayed at The Abbey Inn & Spa on Friday, September 22, 2023, and instantly fell in love with this unique and incredibly special Inn. Location, location, location, this stunning property is located at the top of Fort Hill, which in addition to having breathtaking views of the Hudson River Highlands, was also a lookout point during the Revolutionary War. 

While we had seen photos of the property on the Internet before our visit, they did little to prepare us for its astounding beauty as we drove up Fort Hill Road and we had our first glimpse of The Abbey Inn & Spa at the very top with its impressive architecture and vistas. 

The property was once the former convent and chapel of the Episcopal Sisters of Saint Mary from 1902 until 2003, when the nuns moved. Developer Martin Ginsberg purchased the property and beautifully restored the historic property to create a luxury boutique hotel, which opened in March of 2020. 

Historical Display

Every detail of this stunning property was well thought out and is beautifully presented. Impressive artwork graces the walls throughout the Inn, sculptures attract the eye in nooks and set in windows, gorgeous photographs that depict the seasons reflect the beauty of the area, and with a nod to its historic past, there is a display case with books on the history of the Revolutionary War, along with objects found on the property during renovation. 

Front Lawn Gazebo

There is a gazebo on the front lawn with red Adirondack chairs that beckon invitingly to come and sit for a while and admire the scenery of the Hudson River Highlands, and it is also the site of many weddings. A courtyard garden with a winding flagstone pathway features a tranquil koi pond complete with lily pads, and tables and chairs are flanked by lipstick red market umbrellas. A whimsical turtle sculpture and a large driftwood horse sculpture called Abbey welcome visitors. During our stay, the garden was bursting with color with pink hydrangea and red begonias, with variegated hostas, decorative grasses, and fairy lights twinkling in the trees. 

Stroll, Sit, Enjoy The Abbey Inn & Spa

As we strolled around the property, we noticed the many thoughtfully placed benches and chairs located throughout the expansive property for guests to stop and reflect, perhaps to sit and read a book, or simply converse. At night, there is a fire pit that blazes with the opportunity for guests to roast marshmallows and create s'mores as well as memories. 

Driftwood Horse Sculpture

We stayed in an attractive king suite, which consisted of a guestroom and a separate sitting area with beautiful paintings, hardwood floors, blackout shades, and a noise suppression door base. The sitting area had a pull-out sofa bed with decorative pillows, a tufted ottoman positioned on an area rug, and two comfy club chairs. On the wall opposite the sofa bed there was a 55-inch television positioned on the wall above a chest of drawers, which had a refrigerated drawer, and held a Keurig coffeemaker and a selection of teas and coffees, along with bottles of water. 

Sitting Area

A desk and chair were positioned opposite the windows, and the foyer closet held a safe, Spa robes and slippers, along with an iron and ironing board. One of the highlights of the suite was the large windows with deep window seats that overlooked the garden providing a reflective and tranquil place to sit. 

Guestroom

The guestroom had a king bed with a taupe leather headboard and sumptuous pristine white linens and a navy accent bolster pillow nestled against a plethora of bed pillows. Nightstands with reading lamps flanked the bed, and a taupe bench was placed at the end of the bed. A 55-inch television was positioned on the wall opposite the bed, and there was another closet providing more than ample space for longer-stay guests. 

The spacious and attractive tiled-floor bathroom was located opposite the foyer closet and featured a large walk-in shower with a rain shower head and a separate shower wand, hairdryer, and vanity/shaving mirror, along with a plethora of Gilchrist & Soames amenities, and an attractive metal wall sculpture graced the wall. 

However, it is some of the original details that make The Abbey Inn & Spa so special and remarkable, namely its chapel, which has its own entryway, and is now their stunning ballroom with its wood beamed ceiling, and the smaller Cornerstone Room located on the second floor, where the nuns used to pray, with its opulent goldleaf details on the walls and arched wood beamed ceiling that is perfect for smaller events or a private, romantic dinner. 

Amenity Tray
"Taste of the area"

During our stay, we had our first "taste of the area" with a lovely amenity tray in our room that held special treats from the kitchen along with locally made products including Thompson's Hard Cider from Croton-on-Hudson, Miss Vickie's Potato Chips from Purchase, New York, Bazzini's Mixed Nuts from New York, New York, rainbow carrots and purple radishes from Hepworth Farms from Milton, New York, and two apple-based treats created by Chef John Glaza using apples from Red Jacket Orchards in Williamsburg, New York. 

For the apple treats, Chef Glaza created miniature apple balls dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed pistachios, and miniature apple and raisin crisps baked with granola presented in small glass jars.

With its gorgeous architecture, romantic setting, and stunning scenery, it is no wonder that there are many weddings held at The Abbey Inn & Spa. During our stay, while we were sitting in the sunny "living room" enjoying late afternoon tea, we watched a beautiful wedding rehearsal that took place on the lawn in the gazebo as the sun was beginning its descent over the river. The bride was gorgeous, the groom was handsome, and the setting was spectacular. 

Apropos Restaurant

We had a lovely and very romantic dinner at Apropos Restaurant & Bar, where Executive Chef Danielle L. Ceruzzi, along with Sous Chefs Luis Hernandez and John Glaza are the talents in the kitchen. Two of the many highlights from our dinner included the Halibut with Pea Puree, Creamy Fennel & Leek Couscous, and Sundried Tomato, and the Grilled Hangar Steak accompanied by Chilled Corn Salad, Jonah Crab, Roasted Peppers, Herb Butter, and Crispy Onion from the Large Plates section of the menu. (Read about our dining experience at Apropos Restaurant & Bar in the Restaurants section.) 

Halibut with Pea Puree

We found that there is much to discover and experience in Peekskill and the surrounding area, and The Abbey Inn & Spa was a perfect and luxurious base. It is wonderful for a romantic weekend getaway, wedding, conference, corporate functions, or special occasion. 

Location, location, location: The Abbey Inn & Spa is conveniently located approximately 20 miles from Westchester, New York, 31 miles from Poughkeepsie, New York, 37 miles from Greenwich, Connecticut, 39 miles from Hyde Park, New York, 44 miles from Manhattan, New York, 65 miles from Newark, New Jersey, 80 miles from New Haven, Connecticut, 113 miles from Albany, New York, and 142 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Until next time, keep enjoying travel with Luxury Experience! 

For more information or to make a reservation at The Abbey Inn & Spa, please visit their website: www.theabbeyinn.com 

The Abbey Inn & Spa
900 Fort Hill Road
Peekskill, New York 10566
United States
Telephone: +1914-736-1200
Toll-Free: 1-833-242-9888
Fax: +1-914-739-3705
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.theabbeyinn.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheAbbeyInnandSpa/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/abbeyinnandspa/ 

Read more about Peekskill and the area in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Gastronomy, Liquor Cabinet, Adventures, and Arts and Antiques sections. 

For more information on the Hudson Valley, please visit the website: www.HudsonValley.org and www.VisitWestchesterNY.com 

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