Owners of Honor”™s Haven Resort and Spa, formerly the Fallsview Hotel, have brought a taste of the Far East to the former Borscht Belt escape.
The Lee family, owners and managers of the 235-room hotel and conference center, have spent millions renovating the conference rooms, reception area and lounge and are breathing life back into the only mega-hotel left in the once-booming resort area.
Julian Lee, general manager and son of the owners, toured the facility and touted its complete makeover, which has a touch of Asia from blooming orchids to exotic sculpture on the front lawn to its interior decorating. Even its gift shop is an Asian shopping experience, all of which Lee attributed to his mother, Jane, wife of Ilchi Lee, Dahn Yoga”™s founder.
Since it reopened in 2008, it has remained under local scrutiny and received attention from media outlets when former employees launched a lawsuit against Dahn Yoga”™s founder. Lee did not elaborate on the negatives, focusing instead on the positives Honor”™s Haven had to offer, including renovated conference rooms, a former nightclub that is now utilized for meetings and Honor”™s Haven”™s typical resort amenities that have all been refurbished and upgraded ”“ indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and close proximity to Ellenville, where Shadowland Theatre and Aroma Thyme Bistro are within easy access.
“We have no formal restaurant here now,” said Lee, touring the 650-acre facility. “The economy is extremely challenging and opening a restaurant would mean we would have to have a constant flow of business … that hasn”™t been the case. Currently, we offer continental breakfast and buffet dining for our guests. As the hotel business picks up, I”™m sure we”™ll be adding more to the hotel ”“ it is a work in progress.”
While the resort offers tai chi, yoga and meditation classes, Julian Lee did not touch on its relationship with Dahn ”“ or if it had any at all. “What we would like to see happen here,” said Lee, “is that the resort becomes a holistic center, and we encourage anyone interested in healing arts to contact us. We are open to the public to attend the classes held in the hotel, as well as to our guests.”
With sweeping views of the Shawangunks, Lee said, “We”™re bringing a first-class resort experience back to this hotel … and needless to say, we are hoping the adjoining property is soon bought and brought back to life.” That adjoining property is The Nevele Grand, currently in receivership with millions of back taxes owed to various municipalities.
