The House
Situated near the summit of Houck Mountain in the Catskill region of upstate NY, the Artist’s Cottage sits on 90 acres of serene forests and natural springs, and is one of the earliest farmhouses on the mountain, with its stone foundation dating back to around 1780. The house was once owned by several generations of the Kilmer family until the death of Bart Kilmer in 2006, when the house was abandoned, vandalized and left to the harshness of the mountain weather.
In 2014, we decided to purchase the land adjacent to our existing property, and the old abandoned house was part of the deal. Originally, our plans were to demolish it, since it was not only an eyesore, but also a potential liability. However, after learning about its true age and several months of soul searching, we decided that the old farmhouse was worth the time and effort to bring it back to life, making sure that much of the original features and materials remained intact.
It took 6 years and 3 different contractors to finally finish the project, and now the Artist’s Cottage is an intimate, single-guest house, offering rustic comfort amidst quiet natural surroundings, serving a multinational-style breakfast found nowhere else in the Catskills. The house is entirely designed by nationally-recognized Cuban Artist Alejandro (Alex) Mazon and his husband Dr. Tom McRae, with furnishings dating from nearly every decade of its history. Alex’s paintings hang throughout the house, and most are available for sale.
The Artist’s Cottage promotes a time when life was simpler and maintains the main features of the old farmhouse with its oddly shaped rooms and slanted ceilings. The focus is privacy, relaxation, an escape from the hectic pace of life in the city or just life in general. It‘s our hope that your stay is relaxed and leisurely, and that you will fall as much in love with the mountain and its natural beauty, as we have.
your Hosts
At the Artist’s Cottage you will have no doubt that you are staying with friends…
Alejandro (Alex) Mazon
Alex was doodling on walls before he could talk, and his professional Art career spans over 30 years. A protégé of Cuban Master Juan Gonzalez, his work has been internationally recognized and part of many private collections as well as several museums around the country. Alex has been included in several books, most recently in Lynn Crawford’s last novel “My blue coiling snake, my empty room”. He splits his time between New York City, where he maintains his studio, and Houck Mountain where his passion for cooking and his love of nature led to the concept of the Artist’s Cottage as a unique Bed and Breakfast, where guests will experience exotic meals, and enjoy the tranquility of a beautiful mountain.
At the Artist’s Cottage, you will find many of Alex’s current works, all available for sale. As a thank you for your stay, a small original painting will be left at the Cottage as a gift for you to take home.
Tom McRae, MD, MS
Tom is a geriatrician who went to medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina, did his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Michigan, and completed fellowship training in Geriatrics at the NYU School of Medicine. Tom recently retired after a 26-year career doing clinical research at Pfizer. Houck Mountain has always been a peaceful respite from a busy and often demanding work life. Tom enjoys cooking, photography, and collecting art and antiques. He is also an avid figure skater.
