Spillian

We got married at Spillian in September 2015 and could not be happier with our decision to have our wedding weekend there. Our whole immediate family was able to stay at Spillian which contributed to the ease and comfort of the whole weekend. The rooms are all beautiful and extremely comfortable. The house and grounds are absolutely gorgeous and left quite the impression on all of our guests. We had our ceremony out in the meadow, which is beyond perfect if you are dreaming of an woodsy ceremony. The reception was held in the house — dancing in the living room, food throughout the dining room, the bar, and tables along the porch. The staff made sure each transition went smoothly. Chris McGee did wonders in the kitchen and everyone was raving about how delicious the food was. To end the night we had a bonfire in the meadow, it was the perfect end to a perfect day. Mark and Leigh were absolute pleasures to deal with the entire time. They both made the process so incredibly easy and made sure we got exactly what we wanted for our wedding. Any issues that came up were handled masterly and promptly — even making their own root beer for us when our root beer keg fell through the day before the wedding. We cannot thank them enough for all of their hard work to make our event so perfect. If you are thinking about having a wedding or event at Spillian do it without hesitation — it will be an magical event you will never forget!

This isn’t your run-​of-​the-​mill Catskills barn-​style wedding venue. The word that people used most to describe Spillian when they came to our wedding was «magical,» and it’s because you can really feel a rich sense of history and beauty when you’re there. It’s the kind of place where you hardly need wedding decorations because it speaks for itself. Spillian has its own energy and atmosphere that truly came alive the day of our wedding – and it made people feel at once at home and cozy, while living up to its reputation as a place to revel and let loose. Many people came up to us and said it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to, and that is largely due to this special place.
Mark and Leigh, the owners of this beautiful home, are truly wonderful people to work with and that is a great big deal when you realize how important it is to have people you can rely on for your wedding day. Not to mention, they both have exquisite taste – whether in design aesthetic (ask Mark, who has a background in ballet and opera, for advice on wedding decorations), cuisine (for conjuring up a menu), or language (Leigh is a mythologist, radio show host, and licensed officiant!), these are the right people to help you prepare for your big day.
And as for the staff they hired for the weekend, I am more grateful to them than words can ever describe. When our groomsmen were looking tired and wearing thin, they brought out aspirin before we even asked. They went above and beyond in their kindness and attentiveness. This may seem like an insignificant detail to you right now when you’re searching for venues, but it made our wedding weekend stress-​free and very fun for us. How many people can boast that their wedding day was stress-​free?
Simply put, this place is the absolute best.

I had the privilege of visiting Spillian this past weekend for an event. Everything about the experience was exemplary. I arrived late on Friday night, and enjoyed a glass of wine and some snacks. The house is beautifully decorated, and I stayed in the «Secret Garden» room. The room was exceedingly comfortable, the food incredible, and the company sublime. I can’t wait to come back with my family in tow, and we live in Seattle! Highly recommended to anyone who could use a weekend away in the Catskills. A highlight of the weekend was s’mores around the bonfire on Saturday night. Everything about the experience is highly recommended.

This place is a GORGEOUS renovated mansion from the late 1800s accepting reservations for overnight stays, weddings, and events. Our host could not have been more courteous, Leigh was a doll.
Our car got stuck at the bottom of the hill to the mansion and she rescued us in her explorer at the bottom. When she opened the door to the house we were greeted with a roaring fire and pleasant company. It felt like we were staying with an old friend rather than a paid vacation, though I can imagine elegant dinner parties and weddings to come in this magnificent space. They also happen to have a liquor license so we were able to purchase a well priced Robert Hall cabernet sauvignon at Leigh’s recommendation to enjoy in front of the fire before bed. Just look at the pictures, we will be coming back!
My boyfriend surprised me for my birthday with a weekend stay and a trip to the Belleayre Ski Resort (5 minutes down the road) and I could not have had a better time. Leigh spend a good 15 minutes telling us all about the history of the Fleishmann’s and the surrounding area.
You’d be a fool to stay anywhere else near the ski resort!

I had been anticipating this visit for months. Having watched the genesis of the restoration and the plans for Spillian over the last year, I was ‘invested’. When you pull in the drive you know you are in for something magical. You know how sometimes you see a photo of a home and when you see it live there can be this mild disappointment if it looks smaller or somehow less than you were expecting. Well, what ever the opposite feeling of that is called is how I felt seeing Spillian live for the first time. But this place is not just a pretty face. There is substance, depth and riches. The owners, Leigh and Mark, are some of the loveliest people I have met and clearly have a partnership that is in service of creating beauty and goodness for all who enter their space. They have attracted an amazing and gifted staff — the food, service and attention to detail –the verbena soap and shampoo, the décor of each room that tells a story– very thoughtful. I was fortunate to be there last weekend for an event– the place was made for parties like that– live music, wine flowing, incredible morsels being passed. Leaving, I was already planning my return. For a weekend writing get away, a group retreat with our staff to create our vision and plan for the coming year and countless other scenarios. Go with curiosity, a little mischief and a willingness to be awed.