Mohonk Mountain House is a National Historic Landmark resort and Historic Hotel of America centrally located in New York State in New Paltz, NY, just 90 miles north of New York City and 220 miles west of Boston. Owned and operated by the Smiley Family since 1869, the resort has been a sought-after family destination for generations. Celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2025 is the 30,000-square-foot Spa at Mohonk Mountain House, which features a menu of nature-inspired treatments, the outdoor Lakeview Summerhouse treatment room, an outdoor heated mineral pool, an indoor heated pool, a comprehensive fitness center, and a yoga/motion studio. Here, Olivia Andrews-Brandner, spa director at the Spa at Mohonk Mountain House, reveals how the spa has continued to succeed throughout the years.
Q+A
To what do you attribute the spa’s success?
Wellness has been an essential part of the Mohonk experience since its founding in 1869. We carry that tradition forward today with our award-winning spa, a variety of wellness experiences, and mindfulness programming created by Nina Smiley, Ph.D.
What makes the spa stand out from the competition?
What truly makes our New York spa resort unique is our connection to nature. Inspired by the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge, the Spa at Mohonk Mountain House invites our guests to discover just how deeply nature can nurture. Opportunities for renewal of body, mind, and spirit in a beautiful natural setting abound. Additionally, we are a green and eco-friendly spa that focuses on sustainability and natural products. Our newly renovated upstate New York spa resort offers design enhancements, new treatments, and a wide variety of services, from private mindfulness sessions to yoga classes to our seasonal wellbeing collection, which focuses on the changing needs of our body throughout the year.
What prompted any recent renovations and what did it involve?
Renovations to the spa were made in 2022, as part of our ongoing effort to keep the spa at the forefront of modern comfort and luxury. These renovations included the construction of our outdoor Lakeview Summerhouse treatment room, a new indoor steam/cold shower room, and enhancements to our steam room. We also installed dedicated amenity stations to the veranda, offering herbal and black teas, and a display case in our solarium, showcasing our crystal display.
How do you keep your staff motivated?
High turnover rates are common in the spa industry due to burnout or poaching by competitors. I am happy to report that we have therapists who have been part of the Mohonk family for 15-plus years. We retain staff by offering trainings that meet state licensing requirements. We also employ the use of incentives and prizes to keep staff motivated and employee retention high.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to uphold the Spa at Mohonk Mountain House’s standards and stay aligned with Mohonk’s history of wellness. I want to expand our spa to welcome more guests craving a getaway and a luxurious spa experience.