It's literally a magical step back in time. Beautifully renovated old mansion in the Catskills. So much history in every nook and cranny. Haunted in a Romantic way. You can feel the life and the love of this place the minute you walk in and the longer you stay it seeps Into your bones. Food was incredible - bed very comfy. Clawfoot tub. Each room has its own theme. The place is exquisite read more

Spillian is a lovely venue, but what really sold us were the people. The owners, Mark and Leigh, are retired theater people and they are there to put on a show. And you are the director! They really encourage you to make it your day, and it's a truly customizable experience. There is no fixed menu, or seating arrangement, or timeline. They work with you throughout the planning process to make everything your own. Mark and Leigh were incredible every step, not only were they able to comfortably answer all of our questions but everything went smoothly on the day. And Chris in the kitchen is something else, hands down one of the best chefs I have had the pleasure of chatting with, and if he offered, I'd be at his table every night for dinner. Another saving grace is that the venue itself doubles as an airbnb for you and your loved ones. You rent the house for the weekend, and it has 8 bedrooms to divide amongst your bridal party. It really helped me to let loose on my day knowing that my bed was right upstairs and that the Spillian staff would handle the cleanup. They also hosted our rehearsal dinner and morning after brunch, and it lessened the load to not have to plan two separate events with different vendors. Now let's talk about the day itself! I didn't have to lift a finger. My husband and I brought along decorations and signage, and expected to have to do some organizing ourselves. But the Spillian staff were there Friday night when we were unpacking asking what everything was and where we wanted it, and it was packed back up for us by Sunday morning. On Saturday, they went to work putting everything together for us. It was beautifully orchestrated by Spillian's coordinator, Sam. We can't thank her enough for making sure that our rainy day wedding went so smoothly, we barely even noticed that we had to shift our plans within 30 minutes! Originally, the whole affair was meant to be hosted outside, but persistent rain (it is the Catskills after all) had us moving the reception indoors. They had the whole event setup outside and moved it all inside in record time. By the time photos were done everything was set for dinner. They even offer a late night bonfire if that's your thing, and thankfully we were still able to light it in the rain. Overall 35/10 Have your wedding here, stop questioning it. read more

Good food fun place 2 bars really fun bbq food not very good otherwise great it has jackfruit instead of pulled pork the ribs were kinda tough but the Mac and cheese was good the rice pilaf was not good but everything else was godly read more

Spillian - Outside - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Fleischmanns, New York

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The most unbelievable wedding venue in the Catskills! We stayed at a B&B (River Run) and had some great meals (Bebert's Cafe and Peekamoose) in the town of Fleischmanns but all of that was but a prelude to the main event! We boarded a shuttle to take us to the cocktail hour (which included a beer and whisky tasting) both inside and on the porch of the main building. After, everyone headed down a path on the beautiful grounds for the wedding ceremony. It was held on an outdoor stage that became the dance floor later in the evening.. Dinner and dessert was also served outside on an array of tables set around the happy couple. To cap the evening, there was a shuttle to take us "home" (much) later. Everything flowed so seamlessly at their wedding from beginning to end, truly a date and event to remember! read more

My wife and I had our wedding at Spillian on September 21, just last month. I have to say this was an unforgettable, unique and extraordinary experience for ourselves and everyone that was able to join us!! No one in our family or friends circle really had any idea what they were in store for. First, the staff at Spillian was amazing!! From Mark, Tracie, the chefs and everyone else involved, thank you for having us, we will never forget it! From the very start, Mark was extremely easy and supportive to work with! He takes great pride with the venue, and we really fell in love with it from our first visit this past winter, when there was still snow on the ground. The second we drove off we knew we had to book ASAP. We booked Spillian for the entire weekend, from Friday afternoon through Sunday! Mark was totally flexible with check in time on Friday and check out time on Sunday, which we greatly appreciated. Mark walked us through the entire process and welcomed any suggestions or ideas. He also gave us his advice and suggestions, which was awesome, as he knows Spillian weddings best! He was always open to email and phone calls through the entire planning process, and response time was rapid fast. The weather really held up our weekend, but the staff was always prepared with a backup plan. We kicked off the weekend with a beautiful rehearsal dinner for our closest family and wedding party. This included open bar with wine and beer, and an extraordinary and delicious BBQ, with a few vegan dishes for some of our guests. After dinner we all went to the area where reception would be held to practice. After several glasses of wine and beer, thank god Mark was there to give the entire wedding party some suggestions as well as playing DJ for us! On a side note, Mark always knew when I was getting a little stressed, before rehearsal dinner and before the ceremony, he would come up to me say " I know what you need" and come back with a little liquid encouragement haha. Thank you for that! For a couple who really loves the outdoors and were looking for an intimate wedding venue we are truly blessed that we found Spillian. It truly is a magical place, it was our fairytale wedding in the forest. All the food from rehearsal dinner, to morning brunches, and reception is all cooked on site and was unanimously voted by all guests as amazing! The band even emailed us separately letting us know that it was some of the best and freshest trout that they have ever had, and they host a lot of weddings! Cocktail hour was on the porch and although we did not get to see the charcuterie board because we were taking pictures, we heard that there was always a line to get to it. It ended up being a beautiful night in the Catskills, with almost no clouds in the sky. We had 10 picnic style tables around a bon fire, and a live band next to them. It really was a unique venue! Most of our guests were really astonished and I believe had a great time. The house itself and all the bedrooms are amazing and unique, one with a patio entrance as well as several bathrooms. Can't go wrong with any of them. Thank you to Mark and the entire Spillian family for hosting our special day, we will never forget it!! If you are looking for a unique, unforgettable, magical weekend in the forest for yourself and guests, I highly recommend Spillian. Cheers to you guys hosting many more amazing nights. read more

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Wow! Sorry but this review is 3 years late. I dj'd a wedding at Spillian and all I can say is WOW! The drive up from Long Island was so worth it! Funny, I just had dinner last night with the couple that hired me for their wedding at Spillian. As a vendor working at venues I have to say these guys really impressed me. They were very helpful, courteous and professional and just an absolute pleasure to work with. Everything was superb! I hope I have the pleasure of visiting Spillian in the not so distant future. read more

We got married here in September of 2017 and it was perfect. We chose this space because it was off the beaten (upstate wedding) path, was low-key, GORGEOUS, and we got really good vibes from Mark when we first visited and met him. The owners, Mark and Leigh, are incredibly warm-hearted people and they did an excellent job of meeting our needs. You can stay at the house Friday-Saturday nights, and they will provide meals for you. For the wedding dinner, we had bbq and mac n cheese and corn and salad and it was genuinely delicious and awesome because everything is done in house! Also, the meadow out back has a massive fire pit and bocce and is surrounded by beautiful forest. We had our ceremony outside and it was so naturally beautiful we didn't have to really supply any decorations, though you can if you want! The house is classic Victorian filled with antiques and huge windows. I want to go back just to chill for a weekend. I couldn't recommend this place more for anyone looking for a Victorian, naturalist oasis in the Catskills! read more

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! read more

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I walked in the front door and my jaw dropped. It was like stepping back into time -- original wood floors, walls, ceiling beams, artwork. A grand fireplace, a formal dining room complete with delicate chandeliers. The grandeur! But don't be fooled -- all the creature comforts are there, including a divine bed, plush towels, and speedy wifi. But the attention to preservation is truly exquisite -- down to the historic murals painted throughout the grand rooms. There's even a quizzically high step off the veranda (at a height one would exit a fine horse-drawn carriage). If I weren't already married, I'd add a horse drawn carriage to my wedding plans JUST because that step is available! The veranda is a place to lose yourself in the view, with throw blankets on the rocking chairs, mountains, pileated woodpeckers, and lightning bugs. Thank heaven there are mindful folks like Mark and Leigh who take their sacred responsibility as caretakers and not "renovators" seriously, In their wisdom they have preserved the magic and the American history in a grand old home with a storied past, while meeting the needs of the modern traveler. Never change, Spillian. read more

The Spillian is a magical place and its owners are lovely people. My best friend hosted her wedding there last weekend 8/20 and they made such a wonderful effort to make them and their guests comfortable and happy. They assisted throughout the planning process and were hands on/on premise the entire time. The manner was clean, tastefully decorated and good energy all around. The staff is friendly and hard working. The only negative experience we had was with a vendor they recommended, the photographer, who was nasty and rude to the bride and her party. That was not their fault, but I hope they take him off their list! I highly recommend this place for events and I hope anyone who goes their treats it with the respect and love the owners invested in it. Thanks Leah + Mark! read more

Spillian - The Meadow @ Spillian - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Fleischmanns, New York

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. read more

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Our son and daughter in law were married here in November 2021 (55 people in attendance) and we were incredibly impressed with absolutely everything at Spillian. The venue itself is charming - an old mansion that oozes charm from every nook and cranny - with plenty of open space for the group and lots of private space for quiet conversation and preparations. The bridal party stayed upstairs in the unique and beautiful rooms (shared bathrooms for several, each room has its own theme and beautiful views), the rest stayed at nearby hotels and B&Bs for which a shuttle was arranged to keep everyone safe. Spillian provided a rehearsal dinner, the wedding meal, and a brunch the day after the wedding. All of the food was OUTSTANDING and they even catered to our weird food issues - both love of unusual foods (goose and goosefat potatoes!) and our allergies (I have celiac and several others are gluten free). The rehearsal dinner and brunch were inside and buffet-style. The wedding was held outdoors in the small amphitheater (which includes lighting, a full service bar, and more) and the dinner was inside the mansion, served family-style. After the wedding reception dinner there was an extraordinary bonfire with cute boxed smores and dancing. The staff was an incredible pleasure to work and be with - everything we needed was addressed, often before we knew we needed it. They included lovely little touches - every room has a steamer, for example - and the staff was ever-present and offered plenty of good options whenever they were available (for example, bar during the reception could be in the house or at the bonfire). They were flexible and open to us bringing in our own food, as well - for example, we had a pizza party the night after the wedding. I can't think of anything they could do better. HIGHLY recommend this venue for a small to mid sized wedding - you will not regret it! :) read more

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If you're thinking about getting married at Spillian, trust us: Do it. We cannot overstate how incredible the venue is, nor how much easier Mark and Leigh made our wedding planning. The house itself is a marvel, an tastefully decorated Victorian masterpiece. All of the eight bedrooms have their own incredible theme, and whoever stays there will feel like royalty. The food is unbelievable; our guests are still raving about how much better our dinner was than any wedding they'd previously been to. The chef is incredibly accommodating, and will make whatever you could dream of. Ultimately, that's, for us, the thing we treasured most about our wedding there. There's no "set wedding package." Everything was built from the ground up, constructed to deliver the precise wedding we dreamed of. Getting married at Spillian was, far and away, the best decision we made after the decision to get married in the first place. Do yourselves a favor -- book it now. -Ben & Erin read more

Spillian is simply magical. My husband and I came across Spillian as we were looking for a location large enough to host family and friends to celebrate our 30th birthdays. Mark and Leigh were divine from the start -- 9 months ago! We had almost monthly check-ins, and they always made us feel like our event was important to them. Our birthday party became a 1920s murder mystery weekend -- the characters and plot written by our Leigh (Mark and Leigh even got into character during the weekend). Our guests were very impressed with all - the venue is stunning, the staff is so friendly, and the food was delicious. I cannot recommend Spillian enough for others looking for a fantastic event venue and personalized service. I am excited to go back to this imaginarium again soon -- for any reason at all! read more

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We attended a wedding here this past weekend. Mixed review. The setting is lovely, the manor house a work in progress with some parts elegant and some pretty funky, liked shared bathrooms--you don't get much for $300 a night! The food was pretty good, but not spectacular. If you want to get married in the woods, you are in luck, and the big bonfire and outdoor dancing was great. Staff was friendly, though not around much. My biggest beef is that the front door makes a huge bang everytime someone goes in or out. Not easy to sleep when the whole building shakes. This could be easily fixed! read more

The best word to describe Spillian is magical. We had our queer, nontraditional, multi-day, summer solstice wedding here complete with a pre-wedding bonfire welcome reception and post-wedding day of tasty tacos, axe throwing, games, guided tour of the grounds, and screening of Werewolves Within, which was filmed onsite. The venue and scenery are breathtaking and the food is outstanding. Leigh helped transform our ceremony into a truly personal and meaningful experience, Mark replied masterfully to our long and detailed emails, and the entire staff worked extremely hard to make our entire celebration special, including adapting to several last-minute changes and a tearful phone call right before we arrived when a bad weather forecast and pre-arrival covid exposure threw many plans up in the air. There are inevitably some bumps and hiccups during any major event, but even when we were stressed or worried, Spillian did a wonderful job responding to all of it in stride. It's truly a special place. read more

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. read more

I cannot say enough positive things about Spillian, and the utterly magical space it is. My husband and I held a three-day wedding celebration there in early October and it was perfect in every possible way. We hosted guests from all over the country, many of whom were reticent about trekking into New York City and then making the road trip to the Catskills, but every single guest left completely enchanted. No one wanted to leave! We heard all weekend long, and still now, about how exquisite the house and experience was. Many won't stop asking if we'll host reunion events there in years to come. Mark and Leigh are Spillian's incredible owners, and their divine energy radiates throughout the house and its grounds. These two have a true gift for bringing people together. They do with it joy and love, throwing the most fabulous parties and memorable events, and it shows. Leigh and Mark, Laurie, and their fabulous chef Liza helped us craft the wedding weekend of our dreams--far beyond what we could have ever imagined. They all went above and beyond the make our day stress-free, to take care of us and our guests, and to ensure our entire weekend went as seamlessly as possible. Which it did. Who gets to say that their entire wedding experience was completely stress-free? Spillian will forever be one of the most special places in the world to me, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Whether for a wedding, a weekend retreat / gathering with friends, or a reunion, you are ensured, without doubt, a beautiful and uniquely curated experience you'll never forget. Thank you to Leigh, Mark, and all who lent their gifts and talents to Spillian for giving us the most fabulous weekend of our lives. read more

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 decor 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. read more

I spent a delightful weekend at Spillian in Fleischmanns, New York! Grand food, stimulating and congenial programs, and unbelievable architecture and natural setting! Most highly recommended! read more

Words cannot describe how amazing and magical our wedding was at Spillian in September 2016. The rich history and splendid beauty of the house and grounds was matched by the incredible owners and staff of Spillian. The entire planning process leading up to our day Leigh and Mark promised to make all of our dreams a reality, and they sure did not disappoint. Any request/change/issue we had they were sure to answer quickly (always within 24 hours) and with a solution. The weekend itself was beyond anything we could have dreamed. The food was amazing for all three days of our event (and I don't say that lightly), the team of Leigh, Mark and Laurie made sure all of our guests were taken care of and happy and the scenery was picture perfect. Spillian is perfect for an intimate wedding (we had 73 guests) and one which you want to last all weekend (we had our rehearsal dinner Friday with a delicious BBQ, the wedding Saturday and a sendoff brunch Sunday). The unique venue allowed us to have a non-traditional wedding and reception. Our ceremony was in the meadow, followed by dinner in the house and lastly a dance party and bonfire with s'more bar back in the meadow. What really drew us to this venue was Mark and Leigh. From the beginning they were incredibly easy to work with and made sure everything was perfect. Beyond the venue itself, there was so much for our guests to do in the area which was also a huge draw. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone who is looking for an intimate, unique, fun wedding. read more

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! read more

If I could give Spillian six stars out of five I would. I got married here in October and no amount of praise would be too much to heap on this venue, the lovely owners, or the wonderful staff. To start off, this is an absolutely gorgeous and unique gem of a space. Spillian is nestled on the beautiful and secluded side of a mountain that is covered in evergreens and overlooks the Catskills that blaze in reds, oranges and yellows in early October. The venue itself, a 100+ year old summer retreat for the yeast baron who is the town's namesake, has been lovingly and meticulously restored to its original Victorian glory. I didn't find a single piece of sheetrock anywhere in the house. The place teems with history and the owners have an unparalleled respect for that. Spending any bit of time in one of the eight amazingly-decorated and charmingly-themed bedrooms on the second floor, the cozy and regal main space on the ground floor, or the absolutely lovely wrap around porch will have you feeling like you've been invited out to the country by a Gilded Age robber baron and you don't want to go home! Guests staying the night will be treated to incredible bucolic murals found throughout the second floor, and guests who are not spending the night will be jealous of those that do. A beautiful stone alter that reminds me of Roman ruins in England has recently been built in the forest clearing a few steps away, and although our ceremony did not happen there due to rain, we really loved the bonfire that was set up for us in the space the night before. As wonderfully historic as the venue is, it is also fully equipped with a great sound system, wifi, and easy to use AV jacks that we used for slideshows and a dance party. The owners, Mark and Leigh, are warm and delightful people who helped us figure out the logistics of our mostly DIY wedding, connected us to vendors, and helped us before, during and after the wedding. They have a background in theatrical art direction, which they put to great use when designing and decorating Spillian. Simply put, they are lovely lovely people and we are looking for an excuse to visit them again. The staff were all so attentive, friendly, and helpful. During the reception, they never missed a beat to bring out a new plate of food, clean up a small mess, or offer an aspirin to a guest who looked like he needed it. Everything was done on time and with great presentation. And the chef, Chris, was simply brilliant! Our wedding was a whole weekend affair and the dining was non-plated and non-seated, which allowed the guests to mingle and find their own nooks and crannies to occupy. We asked for a bbq on Friday evening, hors d'oeuvres and dinner on Saturday, and a brunch on Sunday. The price per head was very reasonable and we were pleased to know that the venue has a network of local farmers to call on for fresh ingredients. We gave Chris minimal instruction and let him do whatever inspired him. We couldn't be happier with our decision. Every single dish that was brought out knocked the socks off our guests, which in tern made me and my now wife rest easy knowing everyone was happy and full of good food. In the end, I can tell you simply that our experience with Spillian was worry free. All our guests were left happy and impressed. And we left feeling absolutely giddy and pleased with every moment of it. Do not miss your chance to revel here!! read more