SLOATSBURG, N.Y. -- What do Gilded Age glamour, plant-based cuisine and 5:30 a.m. wake-up calls have in common?
They're all part of the experience at The Ranch Hudson Valley, a wellness resort opening here, roughly 45 minutes outside of the Big Apple, later this month.
The 25-room property is the East Coast outpost of The Ranch Malibu, the California-based, cult-favorite resort that opened in 2010 and is known for its highly regimented wellness retreats.
Fans of the original resort can expect to find some key similarities at the Hudson Valley property, where guests can opt for either four- or five-day versions of the brand's signature Ranch program.
Attendees arrive at The Ranch Hudson Valley as part of an early-March preview event ahead of the property's opening later this month. Photo Credit: Christina Jelski
As part of the schedule, each day kicks off with an early morning hike of two to four hours, followed by activities like yoga or strength training.
Stays start somewhere between $3,000 and $4,000 per retreat, inclusive of meals, beverages and a daily 50-minute massage. Additional treatments, including IV therapy, chiropractic treatments and colon hydrotherapy, are available as add-ons. All cuisine at The Ranch Hudson Valley will be vegan, and no alcohol will be served. The property is also TV-free, and the use of electronic devices will be strongly discouraged.
The Ranch Hudson Valley is truly set apart from the California flagship by its setting. Whereas The Ranch Malibu's aesthetic leans more toward modern farmhouse, the Hudson Valley property sits on a 200-acre lakefront estate anchored by a mansion built at the turn of the 20th century for a daughter of famed financier J.P. Morgan.
One of 25 guestrooms at The Ranch Hudson Valley. Photo Credit: Christina Jelski
Buyouts and retreats available
During an early-March sneak peek ahead of its opening, several dozen luxury advisors got a preview of The Ranch Hudson Valley. The property's stone, castlelike facade made for a grand first impression, while the public spaces -- including an opulent double-height staircase and a painstakingly restored, wood-paneled great room -- added to its palatial feel.
The Ranch Hudson Valley may cater primarily to wellness aficionados, but based on the reactions of preview attendees, design and architecture enthusiasts will also find plenty to admire.
A dining area at the resort, where all meals will be vegan. Photo Credit: Christina Jelski
According to Chris Reed, vice president of global sales for The Ranch, the property is making a concerted effort to collaborate with advisors as well as spread awareness about the possibility of group buyouts and corporate retreats. For buyouts, guests are granted more flexibility to customize programming and food and beverage, including adding nonvegan meal items or alcoholic beverages to the mix.
"We just opened up reservations two or three weeks ago, and we have somewhere around 380 bookings already as well as seven corporate groups," Reed said during the tour, adding that The Ranch Hudson Valley offers 10% commission on bookings.
For advisors, The Ranch offers a unique high-end wellness product that, while niche, could be a good fit for the right client.
"For clients who are on the East Coast or in New York, it's a perfect location for a quick retreat to really just focus on wellness and your health," said Kylie Loyd, an advisor with Embark Beyond, who was at the preview.
While Loyd acknowledged that wellness-seekers looking for a relaxed getaway may be less compatible with The Ranch program, clients seeking something more guided would likely be interested in giving the property a try.
"It does take a certain mindset going into it, and I think you just need to know what you're getting yourself into," Loyd said. "This is for the person working toward becoming healthier and wanting to make sort of lasting lifestyle changes."