Some four miles from the nearest (tiny) town, The Mitchel House is in Halcott Center, just under the three hour mark from NYC. From the outside, you might not guess it, but this beautiful four-bedroom is utterly unique, filled to the brim with antiques. It’s also centrally located in the Catskill Mountains, far enough away from town to feel totally remote, but with many dining options and lots of stuff to do within a half hour drive of the house.
Though there’s plenty to do in the area, The Mitchel House can be one of those houses that once you check into, you don’t really leave. With the four bedrooms, two bathrooms, full kitchen, outdoor grill, front porch, firepit, and cozy living room stocked with games, it’s hard to imagine wanting to venture out at all. Should you get the itch to explore though, hiking, shopping and a couple really great restaurants are just minutes away.
Carly and Dan, the awesome team behind this property, just recently became homeowners in December. Prior to that, the house had been the home of a musician weekender from the East Village–whom also happened to be an avid antique collector. The couple bought the home as an estate, as is, with an already-impressive antique collection. They spent the next couple months cleaning, decorating, organizing and painting. They brought some family heirlooms from a grandparent’s house, but aside from a few other additions, most of it was there when they arrived. Lucky them, right?
Though they’ve given the place a major facelift, a lot of the old, original and quirky details are still there. What we loved most about their home was that each bedroom had its own distinct personality. For example, the bedroom on the first floor has a bit of a man-cave theme going on: it’s filled with antique tools, hunting and farm stuff, and is located right next to Dan’s tool room. It also has it’s own bathroom. Of the three bedrooms upstairs, one has a sailor theme and is decorated with nautical blankets, vintage pinups and peepshows, and is painted a deep navy. The master bedroom, though not much bigger than the others, has windows on two of the walls and faces the road. Above the bed hangs a giant “antiques” sign. Though all the rooms are a similar size, I can see why they chose this as the master: the sunlight seems to burst in early in the morning, giving way to the beautiful view outside.
Where to Eat & Drink Around Halcott Center: Farm-to-Table Goodness and Wood-Fired Pizza
Be sure to stock up on your way to the house, because the huge kitchen paired with the dining room creates the perfect setting for a dinner party. (There’s also a grill, weather permitting.) There’s a big FoodTown grocery store in nearby Margaretteville, where you can pick up almost anything you need. In the same town, there’s also a wine and liquor store. During warm months, you’ll probably pass a lot of farm stands on the way out, too.
Just a short drive will take you to some of the regions very best restaurants, from lowbrow to highbrow. About fifteen minutes away in Arkville, Oakley’s Woodfired Oven & Grill is a roadside gem, right on Route 28. The decor is very lodgey-meets-sportsbar, with a good beer selection, and great pizza–perfect for lunch. Speaking of pizza, there’s a farm called Lazy Crazy Acres close to the house that has pizza nights during the summer. It’s served buffet-style, straight from the oven, so you get a chance to enjoy the sauces and topping sourced from nearby farms. Hayrides (free) are an absolute must, past some of the farm animals and up the hill to some of the best views in the Catskills!
Also fifteen minutes down the road is newly opened Zephyr Restaurant, serving freshest local sustainable farm to table foods that have been grown naturally in the Catskills. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the beautiful restaurant is quickly becoming one of our favorites in the region! Last, twenty minutes down the road will take you to Peekamoose, arguably the most popular restaurant in the Catskills. Call or book online for reservations, because it can get packed.