ELLENVILLE – Residents and community leaders alike gathered at the Honor's Haven Resort last Friday to celebrate their official ribbon cutting ceremony, which featured words from the resort's representatives, as well as State Senator John J. Bonacic.

According to General Manager Julian Lee, his family — who owns the resort — has pumped $5 million worth of renovations into the hotel, making improvements to the interior and infrastructure. Even though the ribbon cutting was just last week, the resort has been operating under the current ownership for the last two years during said renovations. The difference between the old Fallsview (as the resort was once known) and the Honor's Haven, said Senator Bonacic, was "something we can be proud of."

"I remember the old Fallsview, visited it frequently," the senator said. "And basically, those owners, without disparaging them, let the infrastructure deteriorate while they took the money out and never reinvested it.

"This is a gem, a jewel," he said of the new resort, "something we can market, not only for our local community, but statewide…let's bring conventions back to this area to the heyday that we had a decade ago."

Among the guests at the gathering were many residents of the community, including Wawarsing Town Supervisor Ed Jennings, County Legislators Sue Cummings and Mary Sheeley (the latter of whom is also the new interim Ellenville Village Manager), Town Justice Charlie Dechon, and Ellenville Regional Hospital President and CEO Steve Kelley.

As an incentive to the gathered guests, the hotel offered tours, a buffet, and a discount on the first month of spa membership.

Rick Remsnyder, the director of the Ulster County Tourism department, was also on hand to share his thoughts of the improvements to the resort.

"I think it's going to be a boon to tourism in Ulster County," he said. Before becoming the director of Ulster County Tourism, Remsnyder was the marketing director for the Nevele Grand Resort for three and a half years. Since the Fallsview was once a part of the Nevele, he had a special insight into just how much the space has changed.

"The improvements I've seen in the last two years by the ownership are unbelievable. From the minute you come to the new gate, tremendous, and then you come into this lobby, it's just unbelievable improvements.

"There was a time, maybe five to ten years ago, where there were a lot of big conventions and large groups that came to this facility and the Nevele, and quite honestly, it hasn't happened in the last five-six years because the facilities deteriorated. But now we are definitely going to push to bring conventions and large groups to this area to this facility because obviously it's ready to go."

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Senator Bonacic elaborated on his enthusiasm for the resort.

"I'm very impressed, and I'm very pleased that the Lee family made this investment in our area. Really, it's a tribute to our community and our natural beauty. And I think they're going to be rewarded for their confidence and investment and their vision in this area, once we get through this tough fiscal crisis," he said.

He emphasized the importance of the state staying focused on tourism as a source of economic vitality for the flagging economy.

"We know that a dollar invested in tourism rewards the community anywhere from three to five dollars in economic benefits. It's a good investment. I will fight for those dollars, as I always have," he said, adding, "but it's a tough climate."

When asked when he'd be making his reservation, the senator laughed, saying "When I get out of Albany; I don't know if I'm going to get out of Albany this year!"

The Honors Haven Resort and Spa was purchased by Jane Lee and her family, who owns the CGI Holistic Fitness Spa in Closter, New Jersey. The spa promotes dahn yoga and holistic healing, which is also a focus of the Honor's Haven here in Ellenville, but with the added business benefit of having the lodging space the former-Fallsview property provides.

Honor's Haven is a year-round resort boasting 250 beautifully redesigned guest rooms and meeting space to accommodate up to 900 people. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and basketball courts, championship golf, fitness center, Jacuzzi, and sauna. For reservations or more info, call 866-345-6028.

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