The Silvanus Lodge in Hillsdale is a popular destination for skiers and summer visitors thanks to its affordability and convenient location. Its charismatic owner, Steele Andrews, is another reason guests keep coming back. Approaching his 14th year as owner of the Lodge, he takes great pains to make sure his guests have a wonderful stay. But it's a two-way street for Andrews, who enjoys the company of his guests just as much as they enjoy their time with him in Columbia County. I've been in the hotel business for a while and I've worked everywhere: Detroit, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Louisiana and Georgia. It was exhausting work. Fifteen years ago I was in Chicago, working six days a week for three years. I was so worn out that it's taken me the last 15 years to recover. I bought The Silvanus Lodge in May of 2001, but I never intended to stay here long term. My plan was to come for a few months. It's really challenging to make money here because it's a summer business. Two months out of the year guests come for skiing and in the summer they're here for the cultural opportunities. The lodge was in tragic shape when I got here, but I was able to afford it and it intrigued me. There's a level of sophistication here, and four seasons, so I'll probably live here forever. My dream is to one day build the perfect country home with a warm room for the winter and a nice summer room for guests and storage space. And views of the Catskills; I would rather have a view than square feet.
When I moved here, downtown Hillsdale was condemned. We had 100 condemned houses because there was no sewer, so there were very few businesses here. Once the sewers came, so did interested businesses. Hillsdale is nicely located between Hudson and Great Barrington. Columbia County is so beautiful; I like to ride around and just take in the sights. I love my guests; they're all wonderful. My repeat rate is so high that it's actually pretty rare when I don't know who a guest is after 15 years. Once I had a really mean guest but she still wanted to come back. Her husband refused unless she called me to apologize for her behavior. So she cashed in her frequent flyer miles and flew me to Paris for four days! Another guest allowed me to stay at their condo in Puerto Rico. Those are the kind of great people I get as guests here. I always make sure to send my guests to good places so they keep coming back. I recommend John Andrews, Old Mill and CrossRoads Food Shop -- I've sent hundreds of people to eat there. And then, of course, I recommend Tanglewood and Art Omi in Ghent, which I love. Old Chatham Sheepherding Company is great because people love to visit with the lambs. Bish Bash Falls is beautiful, and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail keeps getting better and better. People say the Berkshires have healing properties, and I really believe this. I have guests who come here, and you can see in their faces they're in pain. But in just 24 hours they morph into someone healthy. And that's why they come here.
