The historic Julian J. Studley barn was taken down because OSI claimed it was too expensive to fix and repair a barn that had very little wrong with it. In the article below Peter Karis is claimed to be an engineer from OSI. He holds a BS in Landscape Design and Architecture from SUNY ESF in Syracuse and is NOT an Engineer. He also was Director of Land Protection and Stewardship at the Mohonk Preserve. The barn was in excellent condition and did not need any repairs at all. It simply just did not fit their needs and they needed something substantially more, a residential building for themselves and their donor. This was also done against the wishes of those who owned and sold the barn to OSI and the Studley family. Currently the Mohonk Mountain House and the Mohonk Preserve own and use barns that are not in as good as shape as the Studley Barn was. See the following articles:
hudsonvalleyone.com/2016/01/14/concerns-over-studley-barn-condition-prompts-closer-look-by-the-open-space-institute/
hudsonvalleyone.com/2016/05/01/studley-barn-demolition-imminent-in-new-paltz/
oracle.newpaltz.edu/saving-studley-barn-exploring-the-future-of-a-local-landmark/
hudsonvalleyone.com/2016/01/14/concerns-over-studley-barn-condition-prompts-closer-look-by-the-open-space-institute/
hudsonvalleyone.com/2016/05/01/studley-barn-demolition-imminent-in-new-paltz/
oracle.newpaltz.edu/saving-studley-barn-exploring-the-future-of-a-local-landmark/
How much development does it take Mohonk to preserve the Shawangunks?
A partial list of Mohonk Preserve/Smiley Bros. Ridge Top Development
1869 Mountain house inn purchased (10 room 40 guest total occupancy) from John Stokes.
1870 large wooden tower constructed at Skytop
1872 second wooden tower built at Skytop after first one was destroyed by wind.
1872 eagle cliff carriage road constructed.
1878 third wooden tower built at Skytop after second one was destroyed by fire.
1879-1910 Mohonk Mountain House expanded to 266 guest rooms and 7 stories tall.
1879 Smiley's build 150 room Cliff house hotel at Lake Minnewaska
1879 Old Minnewaska Carriage Road constructed along the Ridge to connect the Mohonk and Minnewaska properties.
1880 Eagle Cliff tower constructed.
1881 Cliff house hotel expanded to accommodate 225 guests
1882 Guyot Hill carriage road and summer house constructed.
1883 tennis courts constructed at Mohonk.
1885 Mountain rest boarding house constructed. The boarding house provided full full hotel services and activities for 80 guests. It was located where the current gatehouse entry stands.
1887 Smiley's build 225 room Wildmere hotel at Lake Minnewaska
1888 Barn Museum constructed: large barn/blacksmith shop/ wood shop and room to store 50 sleighs and buggies. This is the largest barn type structure in the northeast.
1895 Bonticou Drive constructed
1897 Golf course constructed (1600 yards)
1898 Oakwood Drive constructed
1900 Laurel Ledge road constructed.
1900 Boys summer camp constructed at Lake Awosting.
1903 Mohonk Mountain House builds Undercliff Road. This 4.5 mile road loop cuts across a cliff face and boulder field to create the cross-slope carriage roads with Overcliff Road.
1907 Smiley Brothers gives easement to NYC (Alfred Smiley is paid$25,000)for aqueduct allowing the blasting of a crag and the clear cutting, mining of and entire mountain.
1907 5 ac smiley to NYC for aqueduct
1907 30 acres smiley to James Ruge on mountain rest road.
1907-1909 Testimonial Gateway constructed on Gatehouse Road. 4 story structure commemorating the 50th wedding anniversary of Albert and Eliza Smiley.
1910 -- establishment of the newest extant section of the hotel: the dining room. Clay tennis courts built near the bathing beach.
1911 Ridge top golf course expanded to 2350 yards.
1911 Wildmere hotel expanded to accommodate 350 guests
1917 155 rustic gazebos had been built from 1870-1917 today over 125 gazebos have been rebuilt and remain.
1920s -- the Smileys built a network of carriage roads connecting Minnewaska and Mohonk and other nearby places, like Lake Awosting.
1921-1923 Smiley memorial tower built (Skytop) along with three miles of paths, stone quarry and reservoir on the high point of the Shawangunk mountains in place of the third wooden tower that burned in 1909.
1926 5 tennis courts, golf course, baseball diamond and hundreds of Gazebos built at Minnewaska
1929 Overcliff Carraige Road Constructed. This Major Roadway cuts across a cliff face and boulder field to create the cross-slope carriage roads.
1955 Smiley's sell the Minnewaska property to a corporation headed by Kenneth Phillips Sr.
1964 Mohonk constructs Bonticou ski area in Mountain rest road. The lodge later became the Mohonk Preserve visitor center. It also has 2 A frame houses on the site.
1.1.1993 Mohonk Preserve builds West Trapps parking lot.
1998 Mohonk Preserve builds Slingerland Pavilion.
1998 New $2.8 million 9200 sq. ft. Visitor Center built on 25 acres at Mohonk Preserve.
2001 9375sq. ft. refrigerated ice rink with a 39-foot-tall fireplace at one end opens at Mohonk Mountain House. Cost: $3 million
2005 30,000 sq. ft. 3 story spa opens at Mohonk Mountain House. 600 tons of stone were excavated from the mountain to create the spa. Cost:$13+million
10.31.2008 major rockfall creates newly formed talus field. A rare event and ecosystem Mohonk claims to protect. In November 2008 Mohonk Preserve bulldozes talus field so it's users can recreate on Undercliff Carriage road.
2010 Mohonk Mountain House expanded central building to Mohonk Mountain House and builds new gate house and porte cochere to hotel and adds fencing along mountain rest road
2011 Mohonk Preserve builds Ridge top Bridge across Mt Rest road. Called cedar ridge bridge.
2013 Mohonk Preserve expands their visitor center in a Multi-million dollar renovation. Including: improving drop off turnaround area by the kiosk booth to accommodate buses, connecting the main driveway to the parking lot east of the Visitor Center with a new + 250 ft. driveway, a 2nd floor addition to the Visitor Center, expansion of the septic system, small portion of the driveway connection to the Undercliff House, expansion of the sensory trail, new 20’ x 30’ sand and salt shed, geothermal expansion and generator pad expansion . The property is located within the SP-3 and SP-1 Zoning Districts within this SRP District, in the Town of Gardiner.
2013 Mohonk Mountain House sells 857 acres to Open Space Institute. Open Space Institute agrees to sell 500+ acres to Mohonk Preserve for their "foothills" project to include 2 parking lots for 132+ cars and buses, construction of new trail head, re purpose gatehouse building, construction of at least 2 buildings.
12.9.2014 Mohonk preserve and OSI jointly go in front of the planning board and ask for a new subdivision a lot line revision for the purpose of selling a 20 acre parcel for residential development.
2014 Mohonk Preserve along with AAC and PIPC builds 50 acre campground on Route 299. Clear cut forested 50 acre parcel to build parking for 50+ cars, constructed 2 large buildings, paved roads, septic, electric, built retaining walls from the deep excavation.
2017 Replacement of the Trapps Bridge with 75% Grants from NYSDOT (taxpayer money)
2018 River to Ridge Trail connecting the Town of New Paltz to the Mohonk Preserve
2019 Mohonk Preserve clear cuts for new parking lot on State Route 299 in New Paltz
trailer park, houses, cottages, land sales (Studley at Jacobs lane, Barry Wine High Pasture Road, Wood Lot Road Dunwell, Matteson, Mountain Rest Road properties) to private developers. Logging, roads, bridges, ski lodge, golf house, parking Trailheads, stables, a greenhouse, a museum, 83 other Mohonk buildings of historic significance. Cottages: White Cedars, Holly, Oakwood, Perch, Artists Lodge (now part of the ice rink) Golf House. Quarry operations (Skytop quarry became Skytop reservoir) Currently, a shale pit is being mined for trail maintenance.
More than 80 miles of Carriage roads on the ridge and 30 miles of carriage roads on the Mohonk Preserve
A partial list of Mohonk Preserve/Smiley Bros. Ridge Top Development
1869 Mountain house inn purchased (10 room 40 guest total occupancy) from John Stokes.
1870 large wooden tower constructed at Skytop
1872 second wooden tower built at Skytop after first one was destroyed by wind.
1872 eagle cliff carriage road constructed.
1878 third wooden tower built at Skytop after second one was destroyed by fire.
1879-1910 Mohonk Mountain House expanded to 266 guest rooms and 7 stories tall.
1879 Smiley's build 150 room Cliff house hotel at Lake Minnewaska
1879 Old Minnewaska Carriage Road constructed along the Ridge to connect the Mohonk and Minnewaska properties.
1880 Eagle Cliff tower constructed.
1881 Cliff house hotel expanded to accommodate 225 guests
1882 Guyot Hill carriage road and summer house constructed.
1883 tennis courts constructed at Mohonk.
1885 Mountain rest boarding house constructed. The boarding house provided full full hotel services and activities for 80 guests. It was located where the current gatehouse entry stands.
1887 Smiley's build 225 room Wildmere hotel at Lake Minnewaska
1888 Barn Museum constructed: large barn/blacksmith shop/ wood shop and room to store 50 sleighs and buggies. This is the largest barn type structure in the northeast.
1895 Bonticou Drive constructed
1897 Golf course constructed (1600 yards)
1898 Oakwood Drive constructed
1900 Laurel Ledge road constructed.
1900 Boys summer camp constructed at Lake Awosting.
1903 Mohonk Mountain House builds Undercliff Road. This 4.5 mile road loop cuts across a cliff face and boulder field to create the cross-slope carriage roads with Overcliff Road.
1907 Smiley Brothers gives easement to NYC (Alfred Smiley is paid$25,000)for aqueduct allowing the blasting of a crag and the clear cutting, mining of and entire mountain.
1907 5 ac smiley to NYC for aqueduct
1907 30 acres smiley to James Ruge on mountain rest road.
1907-1909 Testimonial Gateway constructed on Gatehouse Road. 4 story structure commemorating the 50th wedding anniversary of Albert and Eliza Smiley.
1910 -- establishment of the newest extant section of the hotel: the dining room. Clay tennis courts built near the bathing beach.
1911 Ridge top golf course expanded to 2350 yards.
1911 Wildmere hotel expanded to accommodate 350 guests
1917 155 rustic gazebos had been built from 1870-1917 today over 125 gazebos have been rebuilt and remain.
1920s -- the Smileys built a network of carriage roads connecting Minnewaska and Mohonk and other nearby places, like Lake Awosting.
1921-1923 Smiley memorial tower built (Skytop) along with three miles of paths, stone quarry and reservoir on the high point of the Shawangunk mountains in place of the third wooden tower that burned in 1909.
1926 5 tennis courts, golf course, baseball diamond and hundreds of Gazebos built at Minnewaska
1929 Overcliff Carraige Road Constructed. This Major Roadway cuts across a cliff face and boulder field to create the cross-slope carriage roads.
1955 Smiley's sell the Minnewaska property to a corporation headed by Kenneth Phillips Sr.
1964 Mohonk constructs Bonticou ski area in Mountain rest road. The lodge later became the Mohonk Preserve visitor center. It also has 2 A frame houses on the site.
1.1.1993 Mohonk Preserve builds West Trapps parking lot.
1998 Mohonk Preserve builds Slingerland Pavilion.
1998 New $2.8 million 9200 sq. ft. Visitor Center built on 25 acres at Mohonk Preserve.
2001 9375sq. ft. refrigerated ice rink with a 39-foot-tall fireplace at one end opens at Mohonk Mountain House. Cost: $3 million
2005 30,000 sq. ft. 3 story spa opens at Mohonk Mountain House. 600 tons of stone were excavated from the mountain to create the spa. Cost:$13+million
10.31.2008 major rockfall creates newly formed talus field. A rare event and ecosystem Mohonk claims to protect. In November 2008 Mohonk Preserve bulldozes talus field so it's users can recreate on Undercliff Carriage road.
2010 Mohonk Mountain House expanded central building to Mohonk Mountain House and builds new gate house and porte cochere to hotel and adds fencing along mountain rest road
2011 Mohonk Preserve builds Ridge top Bridge across Mt Rest road. Called cedar ridge bridge.
2013 Mohonk Preserve expands their visitor center in a Multi-million dollar renovation. Including: improving drop off turnaround area by the kiosk booth to accommodate buses, connecting the main driveway to the parking lot east of the Visitor Center with a new + 250 ft. driveway, a 2nd floor addition to the Visitor Center, expansion of the septic system, small portion of the driveway connection to the Undercliff House, expansion of the sensory trail, new 20’ x 30’ sand and salt shed, geothermal expansion and generator pad expansion . The property is located within the SP-3 and SP-1 Zoning Districts within this SRP District, in the Town of Gardiner.
2013 Mohonk Mountain House sells 857 acres to Open Space Institute. Open Space Institute agrees to sell 500+ acres to Mohonk Preserve for their "foothills" project to include 2 parking lots for 132+ cars and buses, construction of new trail head, re purpose gatehouse building, construction of at least 2 buildings.
12.9.2014 Mohonk preserve and OSI jointly go in front of the planning board and ask for a new subdivision a lot line revision for the purpose of selling a 20 acre parcel for residential development.
2014 Mohonk Preserve along with AAC and PIPC builds 50 acre campground on Route 299. Clear cut forested 50 acre parcel to build parking for 50+ cars, constructed 2 large buildings, paved roads, septic, electric, built retaining walls from the deep excavation.
2017 Replacement of the Trapps Bridge with 75% Grants from NYSDOT (taxpayer money)
2018 River to Ridge Trail connecting the Town of New Paltz to the Mohonk Preserve
2019 Mohonk Preserve clear cuts for new parking lot on State Route 299 in New Paltz
trailer park, houses, cottages, land sales (Studley at Jacobs lane, Barry Wine High Pasture Road, Wood Lot Road Dunwell, Matteson, Mountain Rest Road properties) to private developers. Logging, roads, bridges, ski lodge, golf house, parking Trailheads, stables, a greenhouse, a museum, 83 other Mohonk buildings of historic significance. Cottages: White Cedars, Holly, Oakwood, Perch, Artists Lodge (now part of the ice rink) Golf House. Quarry operations (Skytop quarry became Skytop reservoir) Currently, a shale pit is being mined for trail maintenance.
More than 80 miles of Carriage roads on the ridge and 30 miles of carriage roads on the Mohonk Preserve