Illustrator Jennifer Velasquez and her husband Jacob Kolbusz met in high school and bonded over a children’s book called “My Side of the Mountain.” In the book, a boy named Sam runs away from New York City to live in the Catskills. “‘Let’s build a cabin Sam would want to live in,’” Velasquez says they decided. Today, the couple owns 40 acres of land in Margaretville, where they live and operate a small 1950s A-frame Airbnb. “When we bought the house we fell in love with the land first, it was just everything you could ever want – no neighbors, backs into state land. We knew that’s what we wanted forever home,” she said.
Originally from Queens, the couple, who live in a separate house on the Catskills property, renovated the small cabin on their own. “It was just sitting there and seemed silly not to rent, but we had low expectations; we did not think it would take off the way it did and it became fully booked,” Velasquez said. “We wanted to make it a really cozy space.”
Located in the northwest part of the Catskills, the area is pretty remote, so the cabin is outfitted with everything a guest would need. There are multiple waterfalls nearby — including one you can see from the back deck — streams, hemlock trees, and the nearby state park. Restaurants and things to do in the area are a bit of a drive away, but Velasquez says most people don’t leave the cabin.
While she’s had guests from all over, including people from Dubai who wanted a bit of “classic Americana,” she estimates about 85% of her guests come from New York City.
“I’ll never forget we had an MTA (bus) driver come and she lived her whole life in Manhattan; she came alone for a whole week. She couldn’t get over the quiet, the stillness,” Velasquez said. “You have to come out here and you’ll get it; stepping out and seeing stars and having no light pollution — it’s like being quiet and hearing bugs and flowing water and leaves rusting. Completely being immersed in nature, no honking no beeping.”
“You don’t realize how stimulated you are until you step away,” she adds. “Everyone needs that reset.”
Inspired to venture out into nature? We’ve rounded up four cabin retreats in New York State for a winter getaway.
Margaretville, New York
138 miles from Midtown
“Right now in winter, we have a lot of people who go to Belleayre to ski and snowboard not far away,” Velasquez said. “It’s good for a couple — intimate and there’s a fireplace after a long day on the slopes.”
In the summer, she says people cool off in the waterfall, go hiking, and forage for mushrooms. Fall is all about foliage.
Montgomery, New York
73 miles from Midtown
In 2021, Evan McGowan and his girlfriend Courtney decided to build a cabin to start a life together. It was there on the foundation of the home that Evan proposed. They called the cabin The Step and opened it up to guests with the plan to build a second guest cottage; that’s where The Trek comes in. They’ve had over 1,000 guests in under three years at their two properties, McGowan said.
“We decided to focus on developing a glamping site, with the cabin serving as its centerpiece while emphasizing the natural surroundings as the main attraction,” McGowan said.
“We chose to design an A-frame structure for its unique architectural appeal and then gradually shaped the overall design, day by day, to bring our vision to life.”
“It’s easy to cozy up inside your house during the winter and not want to go out or do anything, but venturing out to our cabins really helps people experience the fullness of winter,” he adds.
Nearby, the town of Montgomery offers shopping and dining, while Minnewaska State Park and Mohonk Mountain House offer views and hiking. “We also have the home of the Angry Orchard where Zac Efron visited in his Netflix series about 10 minutes from the cabins,” McGowan shared.
Big Indian, New York
125 miles from Midtown
Eastwind Hotels offers getaways around New York state, but the Oliverea Valley location is perfect for New Yorkers looking for a chic, modern winter weekend trip.
“We wanted to create a cool, cozy spot in the Catskills that would be a great escape from hectic city life,” the owners said. “When we first saw this site, the topography was a natural fit for seclusion and privacy, very much immersed within the landscape as opposed to sitting on top of it.”
“The property’s Lushna cabins are built into a steep hillside, creating picturesque views from every room on the property … The McKenley Hollow Trailhead is steps away from our property as well, so guests do not have to leave the property to have access to some of the best trails in the Catskills.”
The property is co-owned by three people from Germany, Lithuania, and the United States.
Its sleek Scandinavian design will attract hygge fans. “Since we were working with modern architecture for the first time, we brought touches of warmth through vintage books, colorful wallpaper, and antique furniture to spaces that featured large windows and high ceilings,” the owners said.
In the winter, there are ski mountains, snowshoe rentals, s’mores, Swiss fondue, snow tubing and more. Nearby towns of Phoenicia, Margaretville, Woodstock, and Tannersville offer shopping and dining.
Mt. Tremper, New York
111 miles from Midtown
Billed as a luxury motel, this cozy lodge opened in 2023 with nine rooms accommodating 23 guests. “The vibe is relaxed, intimate, comfortable, nature immersing while still having access to modern amenities,” said General Manager Tena Hasanefendic.
In the winter, guests ski at Belleayre and Hunter mountains followed by a night of stargazing and roasting marshmallows. In the warmer months, there’s fly fishing, hiking, and the art and music scene at Woodstock.
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