The Roxbury: A Quirky Stay In The Catskills (Maria’s Curtains Room)
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Looking for a Catskills hotel that’s clean, comfortable, and full of personality?
Then The Roxbury should be on your radar!
This amenity-rich property in Roxbury, New York, is famous for its imaginative theme rooms, often bringing movies, TV shows, or stories to life in immersive ways.
Owners Greg Henderson and Joseph Massa, who both came from the New York City theater world, opened it in 2004 with 10 rooms and have been building out their vision ever since.
I actually stayed here about 10 years ago and have always wanted to come back. Fortunately, I got the chance on a recent fall getaway in the Catskills with my husband.
We both love hot tubs, so The Sound of Music-inspired Maria’s Curtains room with its large soaking tub was the perfect fit.
If you landed here because you’re researching that exact room or the property itself, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for my full review of The Roxbury and the Maria’s Curtains room — including what the experience is like, pros and cons, and how to get the best rate.
💸 Money-saving tip: The Roxbury is a popular accommodation, so book in advance for the most room options — including the more budget-friendly rooms.
The Roxbury Locations: Village Side vs. Stratton Falls
The Roxbury has two properties about two miles apart, roughly a five-minute drive from each other. Booking either one gives you access to amenities at both.
- The Village Side is the original property at 2258 County Highway 41, a short walk from the center of Roxbury. It’s a reinvented 1960s motor lodge with lime-green doors, white columns, and a back lawn that runs down toward the East Branch of the Delaware River. It has more of a funky motel vibe than the other property, with rooms split between Roxbury South (where the office and breakfast pickup are) and Roxbury North, both right across the street from each other.
- The Roxbury at Stratton Falls is the newer expansion, set on a historic estate with an 1848 mansion and fairytale tower cottages, including a castle and a temple flanked by giant statues — plus the Crooked Cabana spa and seasonal in-ground pool. It’s named for the 50-foot waterfall on the grounds and has more of an upscale but still quirky feel.
For rooms, Roxbury Village Side rooms are themed after movies and TV shows, while Stratton Falls cottages are more fantastical.
In terms of access, the Roxbury Village Side is within walking distance of historic Main Street and across the road from The Old Mill, a restaurant with a delicious daily-changing menu.
While the Stratton Falls location is a bit further away on foot, they do serve food and drinks at their seasonal Crooked Cabana Cafe daily from 12pm to 7pm from mid-May through late October.
🚗 Getting around: While historic Roxbury is walkable, you’ll want a car for getting there and exploring the Catskills. Use Discover Cars to quickly compare rental options across companies in one tab. You can save up to 70% using their tool!
Inside The Maria’s Curtains Room
Maria’s Curtains is The Roxbury’s take on The Sound of Music. Remember when Maria sews the von Trapp kids’ play clothes out of old drapes?
This room runs with that idea! The same green-and-cream patterned fabric is on the curtains, the canopy bed, and the chairs and loveseats. The pattern is even painted onto the walls and ceiling.
Compared to some of the other theme rooms, it’s on the simpler side, but it’s still very fun and ornate. And oh my goodness, the tub! 😍 More on that in a bit.
The bed
I’m not exaggerating when I say this was the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in. I didn’t wake up once during the night, which is very rare for me.
The king bed has a canopy and a tall, padded headboard, and the pillows hit the perfect height: not too flat, not too puffy.
The bathroom (and that tub)
As mentioned above, my husband and I are obsessed with hot tub hotels.
So not surprisingly, I’d say the highlight of the room is the giant soaking tub, with a shower head on each side. Have a romantic shower for two or just enjoy having hot water hitting you from both sides at once!
The walls are covered in beautiful mosaic tiles from Susan Jablon Mosaics, a tile company based in the region, and there’s a double vanity so you’re not fighting over sink space.
Bonus: You’ll enjoy luxury full-sized bath products from Lather.
Cozy seating nooks
The room is large, with several little seating areas to curl up in:
- A loveseat by the window, with framed art on the wall
- Two more loveseats in the same green-and-cream fabric
- A small table with two white chairs under a chandelier
In-room amenities
A few in-room features that made the stay even more comfortable included:
- Coffee station with a coffee pot, half-and-halfs, non-dairy powdered creamer, sugar and sweetener packets, and stirrers.
- Stocked mini fridge and wine, pay-as-you-go but budget-friendly: $5 cans of seasonal craft beer, $15 prosecco splits, and bottles of wine from $36. Water bottles are complimentary.
- Microwave for heating up food.
- Super plush Roxbury robes and comfy green slippers (you can keep the latter for free!).
- Closet with a luggage rack and storage drawers.
Want something wilder?
If you want the full over-the-top Roxbury experience, consider checking out a few of the more elaborate rooms — like MaryAnn’s Coconut Cream Pie on the Village side, a Gilligan’s Island tribute with a round bed and a ceiling that looks like whipped meringue frosting, or Cinderella’s Gown at Stratton Falls, a cottage suite with a bathroom built inside a pumpkin carriage.
➡️ Ready to book your stay? Check rates and availability here!
The Roxbury Amenities
One really neat thing about The Roxbury is you get access to amenities at both locations. Even better, you can keep using them after you check out on your departure day.
Shimmer Spa
The Village side has two free spa areas, one in each building:
- Shimmer Spa South has a hot tub and a dry sauna.
- Shimmer Spa North has a steam room, sauna, and a relaxation room with interesting art books, which feels very fitting for artsy Roxbury and the Catskills.
Want a massage? They’re offered in the Crooked Cabana at the Stratton Falls location — which also has a hot tub and dry sauna. For treatments, call the front desk to book at least two weeks ahead.
Continental breakfast
A major perk of The Roxbury is that continental breakfast is included. You’ll fill out a form each day to let the property know what you’d like. The options are extensive, from hard-boiled eggs to pastries to cereals and beyond.
Each morning, you’ll head to the office to pick up your pre-packed breakfast bag at a time of your choosing.
In terms of quality, it’s much higher than a typical continental breakfast. The strawberry danish and the crumb cake were especially delicious.
The breakfast area also has an all-day coffee station with coffee urns, hot water, almond milk, and Harney & Sons teas.
Back terrace and lawn
Behind Roxbury South (Village Side), a terrace looks out over the lawn and the hills for a really pretty view.
For some fun, you’ll find a giant chess set, lime-green baroque throne chairs, outdoor sofas, and a fire pit.
Down on the lawn, there are oversized sculptural face chairs, loungers, a cabana, a fire pit, and bistro tables.
Art everywhere
It’s probably not surprising that a hotel known for its funky themed rooms would have art everywhere you turn: pop art murals, sculptures, imaginative furniture, a check-in desk surrounded by giant twisted tree trunks with faces, and more.
Pro tip: Don’t miss the colorful lobby bathroom!
Seasonal decor
I visited in October, when The Roxbury goes all-in on Halloween.
Think pumpkins lining the porches, skeletons dangling from the eaves and lounging in lime-green chairs, witch legs poking out of the wall, and even a candy bowl.
There is seasonal decor everywhere, making it a really festive stay.
Stratton Falls amenities
Your stay also includes access to the Stratton Falls grounds, a five-minute drive away. There you’ll find:
- A seasonal heated outdoor pool next to the Crooked Cabana, a pool house built at a deliberate tilt.
- A hot tub and dry sauna for relaxation and rejuvenation.
- The Crooked Cabana Cafe serving daily food and drinks.
- A lobby lounge with a gold rhino head, teal velvet chairs, a gold tufted sofa, and historic photos of the estate.
- Trails to Stratton Falls, the 50-foot waterfall the property is named after. You can see the falls almost immediately upon entering the trail system, though allot at least 30 minutes to explore all the viewpoints.
The Roxbury: Pros & Cons
To give you the full picture of what it’s like to stay at The Roxbury, here are some pros and cons. Keep in mind, I stayed in the Maria’s Curtains room at the Village Side location:
Pros
- Very spacious and beautiful room with one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in
- Oversized tub with a shower head on each side
- Free spa with sauna, steam room, hot tub, and art book lounge
- Access to amenities at both properties, including the Stratton Falls pool, hot tub, sauna, and waterfall trails
- You can keep using the amenities after checkout on your departure day
- High-quality continental breakfast (that strawberry danish!)
- Super plush robes, comfy slippers, and Lather bath products
- Imaginative, playful design, plus festive seasonal decor
- Extremely friendly staff who were also responsive via text
Cons
- No 24/7 front desk. The desk closes at 8pm. If you’re arriving late, let them know and they’ll leave a key for you.
- Check-in isn’t until 4pm, which is on the later side of standard check-in times.
- Watery in-room coffee. Okay, this is a small thing, but as someone who needs coffee to wake up, I would have loved something stronger and more flavorful.
➡️ Want to see the theme rooms for yourself? Check availability for The Roxbury here!
What It Costs + Booking Tips
For reference, we paid $661.82 for two nights in October during peak foliage, including taxes and a $50 facilities fee. This is one of the busiest times to visit the Catskills.
Rates change by room, season, and week, so check current prices before you book.
We booked last minute, and Maria’s Curtains was the only room with a big tub still available.
The Roxbury has cheaper rooms too, so check current rates and book in advance for the most options.
Things To Do Near The Roxbury
Your hotel is only part of the trip. A few other recommended local experiences include:
- Hike Giant Ledge, my favorite Catskills hike, about 37 minutes from Roxbury. It’s roughly 3.2 miles round trip to the first ledge, with panoramic views.
- Stroll Roxbury’s Main Street and Kirkside Park, a 14-acre former estate with footbridges over the East Branch of the Delaware River, and peek into the marble Jay Gould Memorial Church.
- Visit Boyhood Rock and Woodchuck Lodge, where Roxbury-born naturalist John Burroughs grew up and spent his last summers.
- Eat and drink locally: Watershed for coffee and breakfast, Chappie’s for a casual dinner within walking distance, and The Old Mill for dinner in a historic mill building (try the crab cakes!).
- Ski Plattekill Mountain if you’re visiting the Catskills in winter.
For more ideas, check out my weekend itinerary for Roxbury, New York.
Other Catskills Hotels To Consider
If The Roxbury is booked or isn’t your vibe, a few other Catskills stays to check out:
- 🏨 Urban Cowboy Lodge in Big Indian, a moody, design-forward lodge with copper soaking tubs, an on-site sauna, and fireplaces in select rooms.
- 🏨 Phoenicia Lodge in Phoenicia, a cozy cabin-style lodge with comfortable rooms, fire pits for s’mores, and restaurants close by.
- 🏨 Hotel Dylan in Woodstock, a 1960s-inspired retro motel with record players in the rooms, a seasonal pool, a fire pit, and a bar.
➡️ Click here for a full list of top-rated Catskills hotels or use this accommodation map to search:
Final Verdict: Is The Roxbury Worth It?
If you want a Catskills stay that feels like an experience in itself, The Roxbury is worth it.
Maria’s Curtains is one of the property’s tamer theme rooms, but it’s incredibly comfortable and the tub alone is worth the stay.
Add in the free Shimmer Spa, beautiful grounds and artful decor, access to the Stratton Falls pool, hot tub, and waterfall trails, and a delicious included breakfast, and you get a lot for your money.
In short, I highly recommend staying here when visiting New York’s Catskills region!
➡️ Click here to check current rates and availability at The Roxbury!
Which Roxbury room or cottage will you book?
