RESORTS GET READY
After being shut down by the pandemic, Mohonk Mountain House and Pine Ridge Dude Ranch prepare to reopen
Two Ulster County resorts plan to reopen in the coming weeks with precautions in place to protect staff and guests from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz recently announced it would begin having overnight guests again on Monday, June 15, while the Pine Ridge Dude Ranch in Kerhonkson said it would welcome guests back beginning Wednesday, July 1. Both resorts are currently taking reservations, though representatives of each have said they would be operating at reduced capacity for the time being.
Mohonk Mountain House President Eric Gullickson said in a statement that the resort would be operating at approximately 50 percent less capacity than it typically would at this time of year and the hotel would only be accepting overnight guests. He also said that because of the reduced capacity and social distancing requirements from the state, the resort would not immediately be hiring back the same number of employees it typically would need.
“We do anticipate continuing to hire for positions as we enter into the late summer and early fall if the situation with the virus’s spread improves,” Gullickson said.
Mohonk Mountain House closed on Wednesday, March 18, as a result of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The resort typically offers a variety of leisure activities and wellness programs, including rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking.
Gullickson said the spa and spa facilities dedicated to the indoor pool and spa treatments would remain closed to guests until the resort receives further notice from state and local authorities.
“Once we receive approval to reopen these spaces and features, we are prepared to implement new measures to ensure the safety of all guests, including physical distancing guidelines,” Gullickson said. “In the meantime, we
are opening our wellness program for our overnight guests focused on outdoor fitness and guided mindfulness options.”
Mike Offner, one of the owners of the Pine Ridge Dude Ranch, said in a press release that the western-themed tourist attraction is also expected to operate at 50 percent capacity in order to observe guidelines from the state Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is subject to change based on revised guidelines, though, he said.
As for his staff, Offner laid off more than 80 employees in mid-March when the ranch shut down, but he intends to call all of them back on a rotating basis, the release said.
The Pine Ridge Dude Ranch is an “all-inclusive” resort featuring indoor and outdoor activities, including horseback riding.
“We’re just going to stay as flexible as possible and follow the guidelines from the governor and the CDC,” Offner said in a statement. “All the hotels in the Hudson Valley are in the same boat, and we’re working as a team right now. It’s going to be safe and socially distant fun all the way around, and we’re hoping to get creative with it. When everybody sees our wranglers wearing their bandanas, we think it will get everybody in the authentic cowboy spirit. That works well for us at the ranch.”
Offner added that while entertainment for the Fourth of July weekend is still undetermined, the ranch will feature an outdoor barbecue and fireworks.
As for other precautions the resort will take to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Offner said all guests would be screened for fever at check-in, as will employees at the beginnings of their shift. Staff and guests also will be required to wear face coverings and there will be enhanced sanitation, more cleaning staff and additional hand-sanitizing stations
throughout the property, the release said.
Offner said some of the guests would be out on the patio and the snack-bar hours would be extended to reduce the number of people in the dining room at one time. The resort also plans to switch from buffet to plated meals, the release said.
At Mohonk Mountain House, according to the resort’s website, guests will be asked medical screening questions and sign a form stating that they have answered the questions fully and truthfully. Guests and staff will also have their temperatures checked.
The resort also plans increased cleaning and sanitization protocols and will require guests to wear facemasks in any public area of the property and any time social distancing cannot be accomplished, the website states. Valet parking has also been temporarily
suspended.
Both resorts have also offered flexibility to guests who needed to reschedule visits and events at their properties.
“We had to basically offer everybody up to 18 months to rebook,” Offner said. “We probably rescheduled close to a couple thousand or more. In some scenarios, we’ve offered up to two years to reschedule for things like family reunions, but nobody lost any money.”
As the region continues to reopen, Offner urged the public to support their local businesses.
“Even as they reopen, keep in mind that most are going to be in bad shape, so be sure to patronize them,” Offner said.
For related local stories, visit http://bit.ly/DFCOVID19. For live local updates from around the region, visit http://bit.ly/ DFcovid19live.
“Once we receive approval to reopen these spaces and features, we are prepared to implement new measures to ensure the safety of all guests, including physical distancing guidelines.”
— Eric Gullickson, Mohonk Mountain House president