Callicoon Hills

Went there right after Labor Day weekend. The A-frame cabins at Callicoon Hills are so cute! There’s a great farm to table restaurant on the property, and the other nearby restaurants were also really good. There are so many places to check out, breweries and wine tasting spots everywhere. I loved the town of Livingston Manor too. I slept so well in the woods and really enjoyed the quiet, the stars, and sitting by the fire. Such a relaxing experience. The only slight disappointment was the bathroom unit. The shower amenities were nice, but overall it felt a bit unclean and could use better maintenance. I might consider regular cabin next time. It has own shower and bathroom. There are two saunas and a huge pool, which was a great bonus!! I’d definitely go back when it’s warmer! Also, the staff were very kind, and we even saw an owl while sitting by the fire, such an incredible experience 🦉✨

Do NOT stay at Callicoon Hills. Manager/Owner Eric repeatedly made comments to me and my group that “this is his house” and that he can remove anyone at any time if he feels it’s necessary. If that is truly the philosophy behind how this property is operated, then it should be clearly stated on the hotel’s website. Knowing that beforehand would have saved me from this entire horrible experience. I recently stayed here for one night over Memorial Day Weekend, and it was honestly one of the worst hospitality experiences I’ve ever had. From the rooms, to the amenities, to the management, this property completely failed to meet expectations. Rooms: The rooms are extremely small — so small that they use full-size beds, which made sleeping very uncomfortable. The lighting was almost nonexistent, giving the room a dark and dingy atmosphere. The toilet had little to no water pressure, and the room itself felt so unclean that I didn’t even feel comfortable taking a shower. Also worth mentioning: there are no TVs in any of the rooms, which was surprising considering the price point and the way this property is marketed online. Property & Amenities: The outdoor pool had no water in it, and we were told it still wasn’t open for the season despite it being Memorial Day Weekend. The “gym” was equally disappointing, consisting of only three treadmills and virtually no actual workout equipment. Calling this a gym feels misleading. Restaurant & Bar: While dining with our group, we needed a few additional chairs. We politely asked nearby guests if we could use unused chairs from their table, and they kindly agreed. However, shortly after moving them, we were approached by the owner/manager, Eric, who seemed far more concerned about the chairs being moved than accommodating paying guests. The interaction felt unnecessarily confrontational and unwelcoming. Staff & Management: This was by far the most disappointing part of the stay. During check-in, Eric informed us there was no remote checkout and that all room keys had to be physically returned. When I asked about TVs on the property, he incorrectly stated there were none anywhere on-site. Throughout the stay, it became obvious that management and staff were not aligned on their own policies or even what was being advertised on the hotel’s website. The corkage situation was another example of how disorganized and contradictory the management was. We specifically asked staff whether the hotel allowed corkage, and we were told yes. There was even a corkage option built directly into their POS system, which is how we knew the fee amount in the first place. Staff then proceeded to open and pour the wine for us without issue. Later, when speaking with Eric on the phone after staff confronted us, his response was, “You never took my permission.” That made absolutely no sense considering his own staff approved it, served the wine themselves, and the hotel literally had a corkage charge programmed into their system. It felt like the rules were being made up as they went along depending on the situation. Eric then began complaining that members of our group were dancing and claimed that was also against the rules. The hotel advertises itself as “family-friendly,” but the atmosphere and treatment we experienced were anything but welcoming. Eric even stated that this was “basically his house” and that he could remove anyone he wanted at any time. If that is truly the philosophy behind how this property is operated, then perhaps that should be clearly reflected on the hotel’s website. Billing / Front Desk: To make matters worse, the front desk randomly charged a member of our group $700. When questioned about the charge, staff could not explain what it was for and stated that only Eric had the ability to reverse charges. Completely unacceptable. Overall, this property felt disorganized, poorly managed, and nowhere near the standard it portrays online. I would never stay here again — even if someone offered to pay for the trip.

I stayed at Callicoon Hills for a corporate retreat and had a great experience overall. I stayed in one of the Pool House King rooms, which was very comfortable, clean, and thoughtfully designed. The staff were absolutely amazing — friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, which really made the stay special. The property itself is beautiful and peaceful, perfect for both relaxation and team activities. The only small downside was the food, which I found to be just okay — not bad, but fairly mediocre compared to the rest of the experience. Overall, it was a wonderful stay, and I’d definitely come back (maybe I’ll just venture out for meals next time!).

I made a reservation for Callicoon Hills via Expedia with a detailed payment schedule. Callicoon Hills sent through a surprise unauthorized $198 charge a week ago, I’ve been communicating with Expedia to find out why, they’ve not been able to get a resolution with Callicoon Hills, so I cancelled the reservation. They do not pick up the phone, have incorrect emails making the communication via Expedia to them undeliverable. My next step is doing a charge back via my credit card, but what an awful experience with zero customer service.

Just got home from a week-long stay in a Tree House room. My wife and I had an amazing week at Callicoon Hills. They do a great job making a comfortable, modern resort while preserving the natural feel. We never felt like we were at a bustling resort; it was quiet and serene (except for Saturday, which is to be expected). The grounds were pretty immaculately maintained. The room was clean and comfortable. The shower was a little bit lacking, but was good enough. The toiletries provided were very nice. If you’re planning a longer stay, a hanging clothes organizer may be a good idea, as there are no drawers in the room (but a large closet). The Conover Club was great. We had a great dinner with them. The staff is the real star of the show. Everyone we interacted with seemed happy to be there and happy to help with whatever we needed. We’ll be repeat visitors here.