Stony Point Center PC(USA) — Hotel in Town of Stony Point

Do I have a treat for you with this review, which I will try to keep short though that may not be possible given all the stories involved in this place where, by the way, I only spent one night!||First of all, I had no idea what I was doing when I made the reservation to stay for one night at Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY. In fact, I think R made the reservations since she was coming with me. I did say I wanted a private bathroom with my room because on their website and on the phone, they told me they had certain accommodations that shared a bathroom. I said no please we both need two separate rooms with private bathrooms. I should have read more information on their website but I had made so many reservations that day in Long Island, in Cold Spring Harbor and in Manhattan so I just wanted a room. When we get there, after about an hour and a half drive from La Guardia airport, we arrive at the main building where we were greeted by the manager Paula and who was so gracious and welcoming and who also directed us to our ‘building.’ Turns out the building where we were staying is an old Victorian mansion where they rent rooms with private bathrooms, the Gilmor Sloane House. The ‘mansion’ was huge with beautiful living rooms and dining rooms on the main floor and rooms on the second and third floors. My first encounter with “the writers” was when Paula and I get to my room and there’s a strange woman seating at my table working on her computer; WTF? Was my first thought, but I calmed a bit down just because R was there I suppose. She looked at us as if we, yes we! Had interrupted her. She then walks out and the room was picture perfect and very spacious but super cold. Turns out the woman who felt entitled to use someone’s else’s room had control of the thermostat that controlled the temperature of my room and hers. Her arrogant entitled attitude matched the obnoxious tone when she spewed, “I like it very cold” though I had just mentioned that I cannot have an air conditioner too high. Clearly one of “the writers” had shown her true colors within five minutes of us arriving to the mansion. I tried to put that aside after I checked that the woman had actually not used my bathroom while she comfortably invaded another patron’s room. But braise yourselves the anecdotes with “the writers” continues. For some reason, these group of Euroamerican middle-aged women referred to as “the writers” (by the managers) thought they owned the mansion not realizing or rather not wanting to acknowledge that the mansion is a hotel and all the spaces other than our rooms are common areas for all the patrons to enjoy. Well not for “the writers” who actually thought they owned the mansion for however days they were going to stay there. While walking around R and I, and taking pictures of all the dining rooms and living rooms, I realized “the writers” had probably paid for the place to cook for them in the mansion rather than joining the rest of the patrons for dinner in the main house. And, as we are looking around in the dining room one of these incredibly arrogant, obnoxious, disrespectful, and racist women said to me, “Are you with the group?” What she really meant was, “get out!” because how could she not know who was in her group? Was she just not the sharpest knife in the drawer? Nope, she knew what she was doing. I again ignored her and the others as they were trickling into the dining room and R and I continued our tour, but they made us feel uncomfortable. What were they thinking? That the rest of the patrons were going to stay in their rooms? That only them “the writers” could actually use the premises? The nerve! But the last straw came about the following afternoon when we came back from conducting research and we were getting ready to check out. We went around taking pictures of all the rooms and a couple of “the writers” started to follow us. Oh my god, I wish my New York attitude had come out so I could tell them a thing or two but I was in research mode. As we are walking and these people are following us, I tell R “hey, look a printer, how anachronistic!” After I said that this white woman, one of “the writers” literally repeated the word imitating my accent! Then she looked up the word on her phone. One of “the writers” who acted very racist clearly had no boundaries and felt entitled to behave in such a disgraceful manner. “The writers” all conducted themselves like shameful racists who, by the way, had no idea where they were, a spiritual center! It was one of the worst experiences while traveling; and I travel quite a bit. The manager apologized a million times, and so did the woman in the front desk who was awesome and who knew what I was talking about as a woman of color. He was great and so was the staff, but Paula needs to be a better manager, had she told these women the mansion’s rules this situation could have been avoided. When she noticed that “the writers” felt like the “owned the mansion” she should have made it clear to them that they did not, and that would have avoided all of this. It’s OK to be nice as a manager but you definitely have to be stern about rules and don’t let women like “the writers” get away with their, ignorant, unprofessional, and racist attitude toward other patrons. The other manager was so embarrassed that we were not charged for the rooms (which by the way we had to switch in the middle of the night because I was freezing!). I appreciate him apologizing and giving us a free night; I suggest a training for the staff to deal with horrible people like “the writers” and avoid the situation that they put us through. We enjoyed the mansion nonetheless. Will I go back?...

Disclosure: I grew up in Stony Point, and this property was literally in my backyard. I was besties with one of the Director's daughters when it was a true Missionary Center, and had many occasions to be here. 20 years ago my sister had her wedding here and I catered it from the kitchen. SO - that said, here's the review: ||||My father-n-law passed away last week, and the funeral was in our hometown of Stony Point. A hotel was a necessity, but Rockland County only has chain hotels in awful areas that are not very close to where we needed to be. ||||Doing a search, though, I found the Stony Point Center is now a B&B/Hostel/Retreat with various accommodations to rent to the general public! Not even a question - I booked (with another travel booking website) and I was thrilled. ||||That other booking site had an $85 deal that turned out to be a room in a group lodge on the property, with a shared bathroom, where a group was already booked - I didn't know that until the confirmation came via e-mail. No no no no no no no. :) ||||SO - I called the Center directly and made arrangements for a room with a private bath IN the Gilmore Sloane House for 4 nights. ||||BE ADVISED: This property is NOT for everyone. Another out-of-town family member turned their nose up at the place because it wasn't a proper hotel, it does NOT have TV or room service, and no coffee maker or hair dryer in the rooms :) ||||The house itself is a big old mansion decorated in period colors and furnishings. To an old house buff like me it's a treasure and an adventure. I felt very special to be staying in this wonderful old place. It's a bit run down but not neglected or falling apart. It's got age. ||||There are several other buildings on the property to rent, some for groups, some for solitude. There are a few building off the property to rent, as well. ||||All the rooms here have a private bath. No coffee maker, no tv, no hair dryer. ||The beds and pillows are nice enough and there are a LOT of extra blankets all over the place. ||||Plenty of internet access - and one computer if you need it.||||Heat is controlled in the hallway - one thermostat for 2 rooms (we didn't have to share the temperature). The heat sounds like a dragon and will wake you up from a sound sleep.||||There is one TV in the first floor "meeting room". ||||Breakfast is served between 8-9AM in another building but we did not partake. ||||There is a tea and coffee bar in Gilmore Sloane - but there is only instant coffee. ||||There is an elevator for 2nd and 3rd floor access. ||||Our room was on the 3rd floor and we were a bit disappointed in it, as other rooms were larger, prettier, fancier .... but our Room #34 with a double and a twin bed, one vanity and one small desk, and one armoire with plenty of room and a good sized closet turned out to be just fine. Next time I'll be more specific when booking. ||||(There were not many other people staying when we were so we practically had the whole mansion to ourselves. It was a great adventure)||||Some of the empty rooms were open so I got my eyes full of antique loveliness. ||The office is actually in another building and we didn't have a lot of contact, but the staff we spoke with were friendly and helpful. ||||Be advised, they do have groups staying at times that may be a little different, and there is a definite political bent to the place. It used to be a proper Missionary Center, I'm not sure exactly what it is now, but check the calendar and DO ASK what may going on when you plan to visit. ||||BUT, I cannot recommend the place highly enough. Aside from being lovely, there is no other hotel this close to Stony Point, and people coming in for events in North Rockland would be foolish to book anywhere else. Unless you insist on TV's etc, in which case you'll be missing a fabulous stay. ||||We were so grateful to find a place so close our family and the funeral home, but it turned out to be pretty special in its own right. We WILL be back - after we check the calendar and make sure to get the room we want. ||||Go for it, people!...

I hate to sound so harsh with my review of this place, but let's just say I purchased a room to stay at what I thought was a "quaint and Victorian B&B"... my fiancé and I took one look at the place and immediately left to go and find a Days Inn. ||||The building is located on a retreat/community/projects housing type of campus. The actual house is in VERY rough shape, the exterior is run down and borderline nasty. We were told breakfast was served in another building on the campus where everyone in the community meets for meals. There is no check in office, we had to search the house for a housekeeper and ask what we were suppose to do... and though she was in fact a wonderful lady, Cathy, she informed us this place was not a Bed and Breakfast.||||The grounds were not lovely and cute and garden-filled, unfortunately. There was what looked like a farm and a green house next to a dumpster.||||I purchased a one night stay from Groupon for this location and did not bother staying here once seeing it. I'm sure the population who live and work in this community are wonderful people, but if you're looking at this location as a place to stay for vacation or a romantic getaway or really any leisure trip,...