For decades, the White Lake Mansion House stood as both a landmark and a mystery—its crumbling structure leaving locals to wonder what would ever become of Sullivan County’s first hotel.
Now, thanks to new owner Dimitri Simanovsky, the 1848 building is in the middle of an emergency stabilization effort, the first step toward a full restoration that could cost up to $3 million, according to reporting in the Sullivan County Democrat.
“Our main goal is to save the structure because I don’t think it would have survived another winter season,” Simanovsky said in the Sullivan County Democrat. “Once the building is structurally stabilized, I will then go in with my own design, and then probably have an architect.”
“People are just really happy”
For longtime observers, seeing scaffolding and fresh lumber on Route 17B is a relief.
“People are just really happy and excited to see something being done with this building,” said Isabel Braverman, editor of the Sullivan County Democrat. “It’s a historic building, sort of a focal point in the county. People drive by it all the time, and our county is known for tourism. Adding this property as a hotel will continue to add to that.”
Braverman noted the significance of the location: “There aren’t many hotels near that White Lake area. This will probably be a great location—close to Monticello but also still close to the western side of the county, like Narrowsburg and Callicoon.”
Boutique Future
When finished, the Mansion House will reopen as a 20-room boutique hotel with private bathrooms, high-speed internet, and self check-in, according to the Sullivan County Democrat.
“The hotel itself will be historical, but we’re not trying to recreate a lodging experience from the 1800s,” Simanovsky told the Sullivan County Democrat. “Your lodging experience is going to be 2025 or 2026.”
Braverman added that the project could also complement the corridor leading to Bethel Woods. “That area is always known for attracting visitors. Having a hotel there makes sense,” she said.
Town Support
Town of Bethel Supervisor Dan Sturm told the Sullivan County Democrat, “The Town of Bethel is grateful to see new ownership of the Mansion House property. The former plans for a larger hotel and spa were not very well received by the public, especially since it involved the removal of that original important historic structure.”
Simanovsky also credited the town’s openness as a key factor in the project’s survival: “I think we would not be here if it wasn’t for the town and how receptive they’ve been,” he said in the Sullivan County Democrat.
A New Chapter
For generations, the once-grand building was little more than an eyesore, but for Simanovsky, restoring it is “a fantasy I’ve shared with everyone,” as he told the Sullivan County Democrat.
As Braverman put it, “It’s been a pretty historic building, but also a focal point in the county. People have always wondered what it was before. Now, they’ll finally get to see.”
Read Democrat Article Here: https://www.scdemocratonline.com/stories/white-lake-mansion-house-back-from-the-brink,198991
Image Provided by Sullivan County Democrat
A positive step in the right direction, a lead the county could follow.