Mirbeau Inn & Spa Beacon

In the mid 1990’s, Linda and Gary Dower noticed that most American hotels had very little to do with “hospitality,” and were simply convenient and predictable places for travelers to sleep at night as they passed through. Americans are fantastic mass producers, and new hotel brands were created to mass-produce hotel rooms near the new Interstate Highway System. These hotels were not created to be hospitality destinations.  In America, other than in major cities, destination hotels tended to be located at beautiful geographic areas, such as the Rocky Mountains, Miami Beach and the Grand Canyon, and were long distances away from where most people lived.
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At the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Dower recognized that there were important changes occurring in the economic, demographic and social profile of the country and that these changes were powerful forces all pushing in one direction. The industrial economy was making way for the service economy. Single, long vacation periods were being given up for multiple, short get-a-ways. New information technologies were changing the way we worked and relaxed, and we could now focus our efforts and “run” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new ability to have instant, inexpensive, worldwide communication was wonderful for handling family and business responsibilities, but it also exposed us to being instantly and constantly available to everyone else’s issues and problems.
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All of these changes created new capabilities and dramatic increases in productivity, but also exposed a harsh reality: human beings are not built to handle the new, frantic pace of life for extended periods. Linda and Gary recognized that to stay at their best and really enjoy the new lifestyle that was available, they needed a place where they could “get-a-way” from the crazy pace of modern life every once and a while, to enjoy “classic comforts” and have a moment to reconnect and regroup. By stepping away, they found they could better reflect on where life was pushing them and how they were doing. They knew that these short respites had become necessary for them to take advantage of the accelerating pace of modern life. Unfortunately, they found that all of the “get-a-way” destinations were a long distance from their home, in the small Village of Skaneateles, New York; and long distances made short visits impossible.
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So, Mr. and Mrs. Dower decided to create the special get-a-way destination that they needed in their own life: a place designed from the customer’s perspective; a place of gracious hospitality, where guests enjoyed classic comforts and were truly cared for; a place where guests could let go and totally relax; and importantly, a place that was close to home.
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The first Mirbeau Inn & Spa opened in the year of 2000 in the small Village of Skaneateles, in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. Mirbeau, loosely translated as “reflected beauty,” is inspired in part by the soft light, warm colors and introspective character found in the paintings of renowned French Impressionist, Claude Monet.
 
All Mirbeau Inn & Spas are residential in character, artistically designed, warm and cozy feeling boutique hotels with fireplaces in every guest room and an expansive Spa Mirbeau serving as the emotional heart of the experience. The classically elegant Bistro & Wine Bar offers an intimate setting for romantic dinners and social gatherings alike. Mirbeau’s distinctive approach to hospitality, reflected in its unique architecture and inspired interior designs, is very different from anything expected and fosters a feeling of being far, far away, even though guests may only be a short drive from home.
 
In the summer of 2014, the second Mirbeau Inn & Spa, blending the charm of a French manor with the spirit of coastal New England, opened in Plymouth, MA on Boston's South Shore. Like its sister property in Skaneateles, it quickly became a cherished retreat for the local community and visitors alike, earning recognition and awards on local, national, and international levels.
 
Building upon the proven success of the Mirbeau concept, Mr. and Mrs. Dower and their family recognized that by taking the core elements of the Mirbeau brand, including the Spa, with its relaxing and healing ambiance, hot massage pool, and exercise and wellness programs, along with the classic comforts of the Bistro & Wine Bar, they could create a wonderful “day resort.”  The Spa Mirbeau day resort concept provides a location for guests to get-a-way, relax and enjoy the Mirbeau sense of sanctuary and peace for a few hours or for the entire day and then return home. The first Spa Mirbeau opened in 2017 in the regional Crossgates Mall just outside of Albany, New York and has become the dominant day spa in the Capital District.
 
The fourth Mirbeau Inn & Spa opened in the historic village of Rhinebeck, New York in the late summer of 2019 to serve the NYC Metro area, the Hudson Valley and the Albany Capital District. Mirbeau Rhinebeck carries an old-world Parisian chic feel and is walkable to the village’s boutiques, cafés, and galleries, offering guests a refined yet relaxed escape just two hours north of Manhattan.

The next chapter unfolds in Beacon, New York with the restoration of a majestic 64-acre historic estate. In spring 2026, Mirbeau Inn & Spa Beacon will open — the brand's largest resort yet — featuring 72 guest rooms and a 25,000-square-foot spa. Established in 1859 by Eliza and Joseph Howland and once a retreat for celebrities of the 20th century, the property has long been a sanctuary for healing and wellness. After 25 years uninhabited, we will reopen the story of this iconic estate and reimagine its legacy to offer the same reflective, restorative experience that has defined Mirbeau for a quarter century.
 
The Mirbeau Companies is a family owned and operated organization focused on growing the Mirbeau brand into selected regional markets in the northeastern part of the country.

With locations in Skaneateles, New York; Plymouth, Massachusetts; Albany, New York; Rhinebeck, New York; and Beacon, New York (coming soon); this is life, classically balanced.