Entrepreneur Ryan Chadwick Unveils Seasonal Wedding Venue in Haines Falls

By Max Oppen

HAINES FALLS - In a picturesque corner of the Catskills, entrepreneur Ryan Chadwick is set to transform the landscape with his latest venture, Dutcher Hollow, a seasonal wedding venue on County Route 25. The property, comprising two five-acre parcels, will host weddings against the stunning backdrop of natural landscaping and an adjacent apple orchard.

Chadwick envisions Dutcher Hollow as a charming setting for couples seeking a rustic and intimate wedding experience. The venue will provide space for 80-100 wedding guests in a 2.5-acre field, surrounded by the tranquility of the lush countryside. Plans may include space for up to 130 people, including staff.

Chadwick detailed his plans at Tuesday's Hunter Town Planning Board meeting.

One of the distinctive features of Dutcher Hollow is its commitment to preserving the land's natural beauty. Chadwick emphasized that most of the field will remain untouched, maintaining its natural charm. Even the entrance to the venue will be a dirt road, enhancing the rustic allure that attracted Chadwick to the property in the first place.

Regarding his vision for Dutcher Hollow, Chadwick said, "It's a nice property with a lot of pretty natural landscaping. I want to keep it that way."

Chadwick owns several properties, businesses, and restaurants in New York City, Montauk, Nantucket, and Aspen. He also owns the Tanners Boathouse at Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville and helped solve the parking problem by introducing trolleys to the mountaintop.

To ensure a seamless experience for wedding guests, Chadwick plans to cater food and, if necessary, bring in tents. He will also provide Porta-Johns during events. Chadwick will arrange parking near the apple orchard, with Brooks & Brooks Land Surveying working on a comprehensive parking plan. The parking area will be grass, blending with the natural surroundings.

Chadwick has already initiated discussions with his neighbors, gaining their approval for the project. However, recognizing the ecological sensitivity of the area, the Planning Board has requested further details, including a parking plan and updated drawings.

Planning Board Chair Marc Czermerys emphasized the need for compliance with environmental regulations, given the property's location in the protected watershed. He requested Chadwick to provide a detailed parking plan and drawings, which will be submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for review.

Brooks & Brooks Surveying will work closely with Chadwick to refine the parking plan. The entrepreneur is optimistic about the project's progress and intends to use his trolleys to transport wedding guests to and from town.

The Planning Board passed a motion to be the lead agency, which means it will be responsible for coordinating the process with other boards and agencies with jurisdiction to make project decisions. According to the New York State Department of State, the lead agency must either issue a negative declaration, which finds that the project will not result in a significant adverse environmental impact, or a positive declaration, which finds it may have one or more significant adverse effects on the environment. If an agency issues a positive declaration, an environmental impact statement must be prepared.

Despite needing further documentation, Czermerys commended Chadwick's initial efforts, calling it a "good first step." The Planning Board anticipates a thorough review of the finalized parking plan and drawings by the next meeting scheduled for January 2. Czermerys expects to move forward by February once all the necessary details are in place.