Catskills, New York
One hundred private acres of lakes, forests, and pasture — reimagined as a venue for weddings, retreats, and the gatherings that matter most.
The Property
Twelve Ponds spans more than one hundred private acres of lakes, forests, and open pasture in the Catskills — less than three hours from New York City.
Set at elevation above an unobstructed valley, the property cascades down the hillside in terraced ponds and meadows, anchored by a restored Victorian farmhouse, a post-and-beam barn, and a starlit observatory built by hand in 1983.
No power lines. No highways. No neighboring rooflines on the horizon. Every layer of this view is wholly owned within the property's boundaries — a quality of seclusion that, in this part of the world, cannot be replicated.
Today, Twelve Ponds is a private venue — for celebrations, retreats, and gatherings that ask for something more than a room.
Highlights
Every structure has been thoughtfully restored or purpose-built — a working composition of period craft and modern intent.
An 1887 Victorian, fully restored, overlooking a private spring-fed lake. Period Andersen windows, multiple fireplaces, and historic finishes paired with modern systems. Seven bedrooms and additional sleeping lounges accommodate the wedding party or retreat leadership.
An 18th-century post-and-beam barn reimagined in 2019 as an event hall — leaded glass windows, custom walnut doors, dance floor, mezzanine lounge, full catering kitchen, and three bathrooms. Open to the lawn through wide barn doors when the weather invites it.
A lakeside steel-and-glass pavilion with adjoining deck — built for ceremony, sunset cocktails, or a long lunch over the water. Whiskey-barrel hightops and the "Circle of Life" stone sculpture extend the experience along illuminated forest paths.
A wooden astronomical observatory designed and built by hand in 1983 by Polish painter Wojciech Fangor. Equipped today with a modern computerized Celestron telescope. With virtually no light pollution, the rings of Saturn are visible to the naked eye through the eyepiece.
Cleared trails through forested ridges, fenced pastures, terraced ponds, and an elevated meadow looking out across miles of private terrain. Accessed by a newly built, town-approved private road and a gated entrance.
No power lines. No highways. No neighboring rooflines. The entire panorama — forest, pasture, water, distant mountain peaks — sits within the property's own boundaries.
A Brief History
From 1969 to 1989, Twelve Ponds was the home and studio of Wojciech Fangor (1922–2015) — one of the most consequential Polish artists of the twentieth century, and the first Polish artist ever to hold a solo exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Already internationally famous when he settled in the Catskills — celebrated in MoMA's landmark 1965 exhibition The Responsive Eye and a 37-painting Guggenheim solo show in 1970 — Fangor spent two of the most prolific decades of his career here, developing his "inter-interior" paintings of blurred circles and pulsating color fields.
A lifelong astronomer, he channeled the same devotion into the property itself. In 1983 he designed and built the wooden observatory that still stands at the edge of the meadow. Fangor and his critics alike have acknowledged that the experience of watching celestial bodies pulse and blur through a lens was the visual DNA of his most iconic paintings.
He left behind a landscape that shaped two decades of his greatest work — and an observatory built by his own hands.
"M 10," 1969 — part of Fangor's exploration of positive illusionary space, painted at Twelve Ponds. Image courtesy of the Fangor Foundation.
The Experience
A landscape this rare invites more than one kind of celebration. Each experience is built around the season, the light, and the guests you bring.
01
Ceremonies on the pond dock, dinners in the barn, dancing under string lights. Twelve Ponds hosts a single wedding per weekend — yours alone, from Friday arrival through Sunday brunch.
02
Multi-day stays for companies, families, and creative collectives. Use the full property — meadows for sessions, barn for meals, ponds for the unstructured afternoon that ends up being the point.
03
Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, fundraisers, and the gatherings that don't quite fit anywhere else. A landscape that makes any occasion feel inevitable.
"The land already knew what it wanted to be. Our work has been to listen, restore, and step out of the way."
Gallery
Location
Twelve Ponds sits along a private road in the Catskills foothills — close enough to feel reachable, far enough to feel away. Privacy with easy access to the region's dining, art, and outdoor attractions.
Exact address shared upon inquiry, to protect the privacy of our guests.
Nearby
Food & Drink
Outdoors
Culture
Inquire
We're accepting inquiries for weddings, retreats, and private events. Share a few details and we'll be in touch within 48 hours.
Your inquiry is in. We'll be in touch within 48 hours from marisa@twelveponds.com.