With its unique public-private model and a vision for year-round luxury, Windham Mountain Club is reshaping what a modern mountain retreat can be. Located in New York’s Catskill Mountains, just a short drive from Manhattan, over the past year, the resort has undergone a transformative rebranding under the leadership of Sandy Beall – renowned hospitality visionary and co-founder of Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain.
Elevating its offerings beyond winter sports, Windham Mountain Club is now a premier four-season destination, blending world-class hospitality with outdoor adventure. With an eye toward thoughtful expansion, exclusive partnerships, and an emphasis on family-friendly experiences, it is setting a new standard for mountain retreats.
To learn more about this next chapter, Elite Traveler sat down with Beall to discuss his vision, the club’s latest enhancements, and what makes Windham truly special.
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Windham Mountain Club has a unique public-private setup. How does this benefit both members and the general public, and what makes this approach special?
Sandy Beall: Windham Mountain Club was inspired by the opportunity to create a multi-generational resort focused on families, with great weather and endless amenities within a beautiful, quiet, protected mountain setting. Operating as public-private gives us the flexibility to offer something for everyone. Whether it’s a day trip with friends, a weekend getaway with family, or a long-term investment in a membership that lets you create lasting memories, this model ensures we can deliver the ultimate experience tailored to each guest’s needs.
What inspired the recent rebranding of Windham Mountain Club, and what does it aim to represent moving forward?
Windham has always been a special place — charming, welcoming, and home to an incredible community. Its proximity to New York City makes it uniquely positioned for something more, something truly exceptional. With Windham Mountain Club, we saw an opportunity to elevate the experience, not just on the slopes but across the entire mountain and beyond. By investing in world-class hospitality, elevated accommodations, amenities, and year-round programming, we’re creating a true four-season destination. Moving forward, Windham Mountain Club will represent a refined yet adventurous year-round retreat that sets a new standard for mountain living.
With new upgrades and amenities for the 2025 season, what are you most excited for guests and members to experience?
Everything, really. Since last season, we’ve seen incredible enthusiasm for our dining offerings. Whether it’s a Greek salad, homemade chicken salad on a fresh croissant, a freshly made burger or homemade pizza at Foodhall, sushi at Okami, authentic mid-mountain Italian dining, or a meal at our Windham Grill Dinner House, we’re serving up something for everyone — always with the level of quality we hold ourselves to.
Our members have also embraced the new wellness offerings, from bespoke massages and facials at our spa to our 5,000-sq-ft luxury gym with dedicated fitness classrooms, as well as the Recovery Lab, where they can receive personalized health assessments designed to support their active lifestyles.
But what I’m particularly excited about is what’s coming this summer — the opportunity for members and guests to fully immerse themselves in nature. Whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fly fishing, clay shooting, golf, or enjoying a scenic outdoor dinner after an adventurous day, these experiences will take full advantage of the landscape and embody what Windham Mountain Club is all about: elevated adventure, relaxation, and hospitality, all in one place.
How do you balance creating an intimate atmosphere and close-knit community while still welcoming new guests and members?
It’s at the heart of what makes Windham Mountain Club special. As a premium year-round resort destination, we’re intentional about preserving an elevated, uncrowded, and intimate experience, whether you’re here for a weekend or as a longtime member. We cap daily lift tickets to ensure the mountain never feels overcrowded, and our hospitality is high-touch in all the right ways. We also thoughtfully curate events that bring people together — live après-ski music, family fireworks shows, collaborations with local vendors — ensuring that every visit feels both personal and welcoming.
Windham Mountain Club is expanding beyond just a winter destination. What are some of the year-round activities and experiences members can look forward to?
Starting in May, members can enjoy guided horseback riding, clay shooting, fly fishing, a robust hiking program, and a kids’ camp — plus special cultural programming that brings in unique speakers, events and experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the Catskills. Next year, we’ll be unveiling a new aquatics and racquet center, followed by a Fazio-designed golf course for members in 2027.
As part of this next chapter of Windham, you’ve partnered with luxury brands to offer exclusive experiences. How do these collaborations elevate the guest experience, and can we expect to see Windham Mountain Club evolving with similar partnerships in the future?
Partnerships are a key way we elevate the experience at Windham Mountain Club, bringing in brands that align with our values, members and guests. A great example is our partnership with Aman New York for Adventures on the Slopes — a luxury city-to-summit day trip that offers Aman guests an unparalleled alpine experience. These collaborations allow us to offer something truly special, blending world-class service with exclusive access. Looking ahead, we’re excited to explore partnerships that complement our vision and benefit our members.
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You’ve had great success with Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain. Does your approach at Windham Mountain Club differ from what you established at Blackberry – are there any shared principles that tie these projects together?
I’ve had many successes in hospitality over the last four decades and while each business is unique, the core philosophy is the same. Thoughtful hospitality, a deep connection to place, land and nature, attracting and building a great team and creating experiences that feel both elevated and personal for the entire family. Last, it is a long game, a passion to create something special. At Windham Mountain Club, we’re bringing that same attention to detail, exceptional service, and sense of community, but tailoring it to the energy and spirit of the Mountains of New York.
What sets Windham Mountain Club apart from other luxury mountain resorts, both in the Catskills and beyond?
The protected mountain land of the area, the outstanding weather year-round, the historic town of Windham and its community, to name a few. There’s more to do than any guest would have time for, all at a premium level and within an easy two and a half hour drive from the wealthiest popular New York area market.
What is your long-term vision for Windham Mountain Club, and how do you see it evolving in the next 5 to 10 years?
It will be the place to go for families all year, but even more in the Spring, Summer and Fall for world-class experiences, whether adventures, wellness, skiing, golf or the best kids’ camp. Our vision is to offer memorable experiences across all seasons — from skiing and golf to wellness, rejuvenation and strategic partnerships. Our long-term vision also includes expanded real estate options for members, which we’ve already begun. As we evolve, I’m committed to making Windham Mountain Club a place guests will return to year after year.
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