The funky new Hotel Darby will be the perfect home base for outdoor adventures in upstate New York and Pennsylvania.
A brand-new hotel along the Delaware River will open just in time for summer, giving adventurers a new place to stay near some of New York and Pennsylvania’s most enjoyable outdoor destinations. Hotel Darby is a 27-room escape in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, that will serve as the perfect jumping-off point for float trips on the river, hiking in the Catskill Mountains, and fresh-air adventures in the Poconos. Located about two and a half hours from New York City, it is an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts.
Overview of Hotel Darby
Hotel Darby, which opens June 15, is the latest property from Foster Supply Hospitality, known for operating a collection of unique small inns across New York, including Kenoza Hall and The DeBruce, which are both favorites among seasoned travelers.
This latest property will feature retro-chic rooms and suites — including some with bunk beds — situated in a recently renovated building. Guests will enjoy a custom-built bar, a “hammock grove,” and miles of private hiking trails across the expansive 17-acre grounds. While the hotel is located in Pennsylvania, it is positioned just across the Delaware River from Narrowsburg, New York, which allows guests to enjoy the best of both states, as noted by owner Sims Foster.
“It is our first hotel outside New York, but it also fits in closely with the rest of the hotels we have. We are in the state of Pennsylvania but also ‘in’ New York,” Foster mentioned via email. He added, “This means that we now get to incorporate a new set of small towns for guests to visit and explore like Honesdale and Hawley in Pennsylvania, along with those on the New York side that we love like Callicoon and Barryville.”
Experience Nature and Adventure
The river itself will be one of the main attractions, according to Foster, who fondly recalls spending many summers in the region. “As a kid growing up in Livingston Manor, New York, when we took the 20-minute drive to canoe, tube, or fish on the Delaware, it felt like we were entering a different place entirely,” he said. “Having the mountain feel and the river valley feel in such close proximity makes for a unique destination. You can experience both in a single day.”
The staff at Hotel Darby can assist in planning float trips on the river, and offer recommendations for off-property hiking trails or other outdoor adventures. Although there is a bar on site offering bottled cocktails, tinned seafood, and fine charcuterie, the hotel does not feature a sit-down restaurant. This was a strategic choice by Foster, who co-founded the hospitality company with his wife, Kirsten Harlow Foster, back in 2014 with the launch of The Arnold House.
“We’re just a five-minute walk over the bridge to Narrowsburg, where there are multiple great restaurants,” he explains. “Our hope is that our presence will help the businesses in town do better — and because the options are so strong we know our guests will still have a fantastic food experience. It’s a win-win based on our commitment to both the communities we serve and our guests.”
Rates at Hotel Darby start at $229 a night.
