Experience Year-Round Halloween Vibes at The Roxbury at Stratton Falls
And yes, guests can wear a costume all year round.
During the height of spooky season, it’s common to see hotels across the country adorned with Halloween decor; however, imagine if this festive ambiance was present all year round.
Fortunately, The Roxbury at Stratton Falls — an extension of The Roxbury Motel in New York’s Catskills — showcases multiple rooms that are perpetually in the Halloween spirit. The themed suites, known as Tower Cottages, were constructed in 2014 and range in decor from classic villain scenes to fantastical fairytales.
“The property is intrinsic to the ultimate Halloween fan as costumes and this fantasy world are at the heart of The Roxbury experience,” owner Gregory Henderson expressed. “Guests wear costumes daily — even when it’s not Halloween! Not a day passes without someone wandering the grounds in costume, and the best part is, they never look out of place. Everyone who comes to The Roxbury wants to dress up and explore their creativity in ways that relate to the rooms they are staying in.”
The Unique Design of Tower Cottages
The Tower Cottages, while individually unique, are all two stories and boast a spiral or grand winding staircase, featuring two bedrooms and their own bathrooms. Additionally, the kitchen areas include a full-size refrigerator, microwave, and wet bar sink, while common areas come with sleeper sofas, accommodating up to 6 guests. Each cottage also features a screened-in porch that provides stunning views of the Catskills.
Moreover, the festive atmosphere remains prominent throughout the year, yet Henderson mentioned that during Halloween, bookings significantly increase, as guests find it particularly fitting to stay in rooms inspired by “Dracula” this time of year.
“We’ve long wanted to create a vampire room,” Henderson, who co-owns the hotel with his husband Joseph Massa, said. “We adore vampire stories — particularly the classic by Bela Lugosi. The Dracula’s Fangs cottage showcases many stills from this iconic film.”
Conversely, for fairytale enthusiasts, the Cinderella’s Gown cottage features a massive pumpkin transformed into a golden carriage bathroom and an 18-foot ball gown that serves as a canopy for the bedroom (fairy godmother makeover not included).
“Cinderella was my favorite book as a child,” Henderson recalled. “In fact, I still have the old scratch-and-feel book I used to read, sitting in my office. Growing up, I felt apprehensive to admit that I, a boy, loved the ‘Cinderella’ story, thus creating this room symbolizes my acceptance of who I am and my love for it.”
Explore The Roxbury’s Unique Offerings
While the Tower Cottages provide thematic décor, they also have accommodations paying homage to Hollywood glamour and enchanting forests, the 1848 Mansion Cottage features a ghostly resident with ties to the property. This ghost is believed to be a relative of Mrs. Hicks, the wife of the original builder of the mansion.
“After two years of owning the mansion before construction, various little occurrences led us to believe in her presence. She is not a menacing or scary spirit; rather, we perceive her as a pleasant woman who once lived in the mansion in the 1860s,” Henderson explained. “Initially, she seemed curious about our renovations, but now she is a welcoming presence, occasionally reminding us of her existence!”
In addition to the Tower Cottages, other studio-sized rooms at The Roxbury, while a touch smaller, still carry grand decor that transports guests into nostalgic settings from classics such as “I Dream of Genie,” “The Flintstones,” “Bewitched,” and “Gilligan’s Island.”
“Our original vision was to create rooms inspired by television and films from the 60s and 70s, while also doing homage to classic roadside motels and the Catskills region,” Henderson shared.
For contemporary pop culture enthusiasts, “Game of Thrones” fans will adore The Crown of the Pendragons Tower Cottage, which boasts a regal 85-gallon circular tub with a stunning three-tiered, 20-foot chandelier perfectly positioned above, accompanied by two grand throne chairs that await the “Chief Dragon” and their companion for relaxation.