About Menla

Mission & Vision

Surrounded by thousands of acres of Catskills forest preserve, Menla is nestled in a magical mountain valley. Throughout the year, guests enjoy deep serenity, abundant wildlife, and can explore many different levels of hikes.

Area Information:

Menla is 1,500 feet above sea level and set on a 325-acre private nature reserve. At 3,720 feet above sea level, the peak of Panther Mountain is one of the tallest in the Catskills. Menla is located in a region of the Catskills renowned for its unspoiled beauty, variety of wildlife, abundance of rushing streams and rivers, and ancient forested mountains.

The Catskills are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and used to be connected to the Alps before the continental divide. Aside from its natural splendor, the area offers such activities as hiking, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. For avid downhill skiers, the noted Belleayre and Hunter Mountain resorts are just half an hour away.

An easy drive from New York City, Menla is located in Phoenicia, NY—voted one of the “Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America”—and just 20 minutes away is the most famous small town in America, Woodstock, known for its deep-rooted culture of music, art galleries, and great restaurants.

Meals:

Menla’s wellness cuisine is centered around serving fresh, delicious and healing foods. We source primarily from local farms with an eye toward seasonal and organic fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. We also receive a wonderful bounty from our on-site organic garden throughout the year.Our Executive Chef, Charles Goodall, loves to explore the fantastic flavors of various regional cuisines through their use of different ingredients, particularly herbs and spices. He and the kitchen team create combination of traditional and modern dishes that showcase what the Hudson Valley has to offer in a delicious and healing way.Most of our offerings are vegetarian and vegan with an emphasis on excellent taste and texture as well as balanced nutrition and wellness promotion.We work with a number of dietary restrictions and allergies, so let us know your needs in advance, and we’ll work with you to give you a fantastic dining experience during your time with us.

Accommodation:

Upon arriving at Menla, you enter into a natural paradise. Our accommodations are extremely comfortable, and the décor is accented with a touch of Tibet. Guests can choose from a variety of different rooms, from our deluxe private suites to shared housing.

Additional Activities:

○ Skiing (Belleayre, Hunter, and Windham Mountains)○ Hiking○ Art galleries○ Fine dining○ Antique shopping○ Music○ Theater (Upstate Films, Woodstock Playhouse)

Upcoming Retreats at Menla

Getting Here

Location icon Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

Customer Reviews

4.80 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Reconnection Retreat
Menla is such a magical place. This retreat weekend was pure magic. Everything from the mountains, the air, the food, the people, the energy felt so grounding and healing. You can literally feel the peace the moment you arrive.

I reconnected with myself in a way I really needed. The sound of the river, the trails, the beautiful spaces… it’s like time slows down there. The rooms were cozy, the food was delicious (and made with so much love), and the whole vibe was just nourishing for the soul.

If you ever get the chance to visit Menla or join a retreat there do it. It’s one of those experiences that stays with you long after you leave. The spirit of Naga the Dragon was with me even before arriving there.

5.0
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Invaluable retreat
In the beautiful valley of Menla, Dr James supports learning such profound inner yogas that are honestly priceless. His depth of experience and ability to speak to it is profound and impactful. Every time I’ve learned and trained with James I come off feeling continued inner conviction and confidence. Especially in approaching and navigating the space of difficult emotions. I will continue to train and attend retreats when I can.

5.0
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The Reconnection Retreat; Nuturing the soul through the 5 elements of nature
As the retreat leader of this particular retreat I want to express how Divine the setting was. There is a natural levity on the property that can’t be explained , only felt.

All of the thoughtful spaces were just so amazing to hold presence for those magical “ Menla moments” that seem to organically occur there.

The staff is beyond accommodating. The food delighted the senses and nourished our bodies. The housing accommodations felt warm and welcoming like a sweet embrace that lingers in the memories.

I still find my face with a random smile through the days after as my thoughts drift back again and agin to the place called Menla.

4.0
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Weekend retreat stay
The property is on a beautiful, peaceful location.
Nature is all around and sometimes a little too close but you are literally surrounded by woods.

The food was really good and I liked the buffet style and fruit basket.

The gift shop although small had a nice selection of items and I purchased a few fun items.

Since the dining area was on the opposite side of the site from the convention center, a lot of students drove back and forth on the property. I chose the walking paths to get around.  


5.0
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Lovely
I had a fascinating and enlightening experience during an “Energy squared Reiki,” class at Menlo this past week. The grounds, rooms, facilities amenities and spa at Menla were all beautiful, clean, and peaceful. The food was delicious and nourishing. I can say only good things about both Menla and the program I attended, and would wholeheartedly recommend both.

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