NEW YORK and BIG INDIAN, N.Y., May 2, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Seasoned hotel developer Phil Hospod and innovative innkeeper and designer Lyon Porter announced the acquisition of the 27-room Alpine Inn in Big Indian, New York with plans to transform the 68-acre property into an Urban Cowboy designed lodge and spa. The property sits in the heart of Catskill Park amidst the 33,500-acre Big Indian Wilderness nature preserve, yet is only 10 minutes to the Phoenicia Diner.
The re-imagination of the Alpine Inn will include an on-site restaurant, spa, gathering places and nature trails. Hospod and Porter are excited to contribute to the current Catskills revival and create a platform to showcase the local community and the region's many charms. The Ulster County area of the Catskills offers a respite from city living with skiing, hiking, fly-fishing and camping, while also providing world class dining, antiquing and culture.
Blending Hospod's experience in large-scale lifestyle hotel development and Porter's expertise in intimate hospitality and design, the duo will reimagine the storied property and celebrate its most important amenity: the pristine natural environment that surrounds it on all sides. Porter, known for his eclectic and photogenic design approach, will design all of the rooms and common spaces.
"Arrive as strangers. Leave as friends," Hospod said. "That ethos has driven the success of Urban Cowboy, and also brought Lyon and me together. We share a passion for genuine hospitality and beautiful experiences and are energized to bring the Cowboy community to this beautiful property in the heart of the Big Indian Wilderness."
"Phil and I both believe in the magic of human connection and the transformative power of design," Porter said. "Urban Cowboy has always been an oasis for creatives, dreamers and romantics who don't just want a place to sleep; but an authentic experience. We hope to make an inspiring respite in the woods for all of those looking to escape into the Wilderness and reignite a love affair with nature itself."
The Alpine Inn has been family owned and operated since 1936 with many guests returning year after year. Hospod and Porter want to honor that legacy and learn from the many beautiful memories and stories from the past. "The Griesser family has been incredibly kind and supportive during this transition and we feel a duty to steward the property forward," Porter said. "When you stand on the deck of the Alpine Inn with a view of the mountains and all you hear is the sound of the Esopus Creek, it's easy to understand why the Griessers believed that they found their little paradise. We agree. It doesn't get any better than this."
For his part, Hospod has long been an outdoor enthusiast. As a child in Montreal, Canada, he spent weekends hiking and canoe camping in the Laurentian Mountains and the Adirondacks. Today, he loves visiting the Catskills with his own family and sharing his love for the outdoors. He is particularly excited to make the annual sugaring season a staple of Urban Cowboy life. As the founder and CEO of Dovetail + Co, Hospod believes in building properties that he himself would like to experience. The company's first acquisition in 2019 was the Mainstay Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, a 200-room property that Hospod is redeveloping as a vibrant seaside hideaway. Hospod's award winning projects as part of Sydell Group's senior leadership team, including the Freehand New York and The LINE DC, highlight his firm commitment to creating memories rather than overseeing commodities.
After hanging up his skates as a professional hockey player, Porter built a jack-of-all-trades career as a real estate broker, designer and, now, hotelier. When he finished building his dream home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, he opened it to guests as the original five-room Urban Cowboy Bed & Breakfast—a rustic oasis amidst a bustling city. The eight-room Urban Cowboy in Nashville followed, along with another Nashville property, the 23-room Dive Motel & Swim Club set to open this summer. For Porter, Urban Cowboy isn't just a brand; it's a lifestyle that has amassed a passionate following of travelers —one that Porter personally embodies. He is excited to expand his vision to include a genuine rustic lodge in the paradise of the Catskills.
With this partnership, Hospod and Porter also hope to bring Urban Cowboy to new markets around the United States, Canada and beyond.
About Dovetail + Co
Dovetail + Co is a property owner and developer focused on creating profitable, beautiful and locally rooted experiential real estate. That means achieving long-term, risk-adjusted returns for investors by focusing on properties that leave an impression, rather than over-leveraging a commodity product that has no means of differentiating itself. Through a best-in-class acquisition, development, design and construction process, Dovetail + Co turns dreams into reality—one detail at a time.
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About Urban Cowboy
Founded by Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks, Urban Cowboy is focused on the traveler's vision of what makes experience memorable. The true spirit of The Cowboy is about freedom. The romantic, the wanderer, the adventurer all find inspiration in the unique lodging spaces in both Brooklyn and Nashville. A fusion of luxury, design and creature comforts continue to make Urban Cowboy a home away from home where writers find meaningful words, creators expand the limits of art and musicians tap out the rhythms of life. Lyon and Jersey are looking to pursue their dream of having "homes" all over the world in the places that they want to be, creating environments that inspire Community and Freedom.
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SOURCE Dovetail + Co
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