The Lay Out: Little Cat Lodge's Foothills Pool
The Lay Out: Little Cat Lodge's Foothills Pool
For low maintenance, long summer days.
When I think of the Catskills, I think Woodstock, Phoenicia and anything west of route 87 and the Hudson River. I’ve stayed in countless Airbnbs in the region and revisited both the Eastwind in Windham, NY and the old movie-theater-turned-hotel Rivertown Lodge on Main Street in Hudson, NY multiple times.
I grew up in Upstate, NY and spent a lot of time going to the Adirondacks and still do, but the shorter distance to the Catskills and more modern conveniences in the area make it great for quick escapes from the city. To me, this is all we’re discussing with New Yorker’s say they’re going Upstate for the weekend. But, there are other quick trips with similar settings. You don’t need to go to Scribner’s, again.
Only second to pools surrounded by palm trees, I love a pool at the base of a mountain. (You’ll see the others on here eventually). Rooftop pools are cool, and I’m sure there are other great poolside views from summer’s past deep in my brain. But, trust me, a foothills pool hits.
From NYC restaurateurs Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman (who together opened Pebble Bar and Black Seed Bagels, among others) Little Cat Lodge isn’t in the Catskills. It’s close to Massachusetts mountain range, the Berkshires, another great option for when the intention is to touch grass. And, you can do that and float in a tube at the pool at Little Cat Lodge in as short as a two and half hour drive from New York City.
But first, some quick info on the 14-room property. Located at the very last point before crossing the New York/Massachusetts border on route 23, The Little Cat Lodge is in Hillside, NY at the base of Catamount Mountain (big cat?). The rooms are what cottagecore wishes it was. The design team described it as, “A postcard sent from Little Cat Lodge might remind you of Hokkaido, Japan’s winter refuges, 1950s and sixties Western Massachusetts ski culture, or rural cabins in the Swiss Italian Alps,” to Remodelista. (This CoolHunting story has some great images too.)
My favorite is the King room with the daybed. I love a bedroom with multiple places to lay down, including the floor atop a good rug. It’s dog-friendly, and I love the rooms with the little balcony or front porch. They’re particularly good for stargazing after dark.
On to the goods: Situated east of the the hotel itself (and perhaps nearly in Massachusetts), guests walk through an intimate fire pit area before reaching the fenced-in concrete in-ground pool.
Open from sunrise to sunset, the rectangular pool with a proper shallow and deep end (it was on the property with the Little Cat team took over) sits parallel to the road and the Catamount Mountain. It’s your direct view between the white birch trees opposite the row of lounge chairs. In the summertime, it’s overgrown, Technicolor green grass and snowless ski slopes make for the perfect back drop for a hot, lazy afternoon, soothing without being distracting. (I took the IG reel below there.)
When to go:
I’ve only been at the end of summer during the hottest September days. (Not like I can’t let it go or anything!) I’ve gone on week days during the two weeks following Labor Day twice. First, the rates are low. Secondly, no one is around. And, lastly, it’s still very hot and a pool is still the best relief in my personal opinion. However, because the area is a bit remote, there isn’t much else open. It’s also only 22 minutes from Hudson where there are restaurants open with more regular hours during the week.
During both visits, my girlfriends and I had the entire pool to ourselves. On one trip, even though we only stayed for a night, we got in early and took advantage of the pool and spent the entire day at the pool after check out. I imagine weekends are much different.
Where to pick up your poolside snacks:
There’s this little market/cafe called Random Harvest that’s about 10 minutes away. They have fresh, farmer’s market produce, a small selection of sandwiches and coffee, and other necessities (organic tampons, etc.). There’s a lovely woman who works there who is kinda of a kooky, upstate New York Dolly Parton. (She wrote “you are loved” on my coffee one morning. ) As I’ve gone during the week, the restaurant either had limited hours or wasn’t open at all. We usually brought a bottle of wine out to the pool as well.
Where to sit:
Optimally, the last couple chairs towards the end of the pool lends for the most direct sun and the best view.
Lastly, it seems like they’ve added a barrel sauna since my last visit which seems like another great place to park it. You’ll have to go and let me know how it is.