Weddings, Retreats
& Private Gatherings

TwelvePonds

A small wedding ceremony on a wooden dock at Twelve Ponds, overlooking a still pond at sunset, with rolling hills in the background.
Long dining table set in the rustic barn at Twelve Ponds, reclaimed wood walls and string lights.
Aerial view of Twelve Ponds in autumn, with ponds set among fall foliage and rolling hills.

yours alone,
for the weekend

A private Catskills property. +100 Acres. Twelve spring-fed ponds.

Lakes, forests and open pasture three hours from New York City, hosting one celebration at a time, from Friday arrival through Sunday brunch.

Reserve a date

take a walk Across the Land

Aerial view of Twelve Ponds, a series of ponds and meadows surrounded by autumn forest and distant mountains.
Aerial view of a wedding ceremony on the lawn beside a pond at Twelve Ponds, with autumn hills beyond.Photo: Kelsey Travis Photography
A still pond at Twelve Ponds reflecting trees and sky.

A landscape, not a venue

Twelve Ponds spans +100 Acres of lakes, forests and open pasture in the northern Catskills.

Set high above an unobstructed valley, the property steps down the hillside in terraced ponds and meadows, anchored by a restored Victorian farmhouse, a post-and-beam barn and an observatory built by hand in 1983.

No power lines. No highways. No neighboring rooflines on the horizon. Every layer of the view sits within the property's own boundaries.

+100
Private acres
12
Spring-fed ponds
1887
Victorian farmhouse
1983
Hand-built observatory

The setting, in detail

Six places
to gather

every corner, a backdrop

  1. The farmhouse at Twelve Ponds seen across a pond, willow tree and autumn foliage reflected in the water.
    01

    The Farmhouse

    An 1887 Victorian, fully restored, overlooking a private spring-fed lake. Period Andersen windows, multiple fireplaces and historic finishes paired with modern systems.

  2. The barn at Twelve Ponds looking through the open doors to the lawn, dance floor and reclaimed wood walls.
    02

    The Barn

    An 18th-century post-and-beam barn reimagined in 2019 as an event hall, with leaded glass windows, custom walnut doors, a dance floor, mezzanine lounge, catering kitchen and three bathrooms.

  3. View from under the outdoor tented deck at Twelve Ponds, autumn maple leaves and pond beyond.
    03

    The Pavilion

    A lakeside steel-and-glass pavilion with an adjoining deck, built for ceremonies, sunset cocktails or a long lunch over the water, with lit forest paths beyond.

  4. The Twelve Ponds farmhouse and barn at dusk, guests gathered on the lawn under a string-lit tent.
    04

    The Observatory

    A wooden observatory designed and built by hand in 1983 by painter Wojciech Fangor, now fitted with a computerized Celestron telescope. With almost no light pollution, Saturn's rings are clear through the eyepiece.

  5. Wide aerial view of the Twelve Ponds property in fall, ponds cascading down the valley.
    05

    The Land

    Cleared trails through forested ridges, fenced pastures, terraced ponds and an elevated meadow, reached by a town-approved private road and a gated entrance.

  6. Meadow at golden hour with a willow tree, the stone arch and the sun setting over wooded hills.
    06

    The Views

    Forest, pasture, water and distant peaks, with the entire panorama inside the property line.

Wojciech Fangor, M 10, 1969, a softly blurred blue sphere on a pale ground, painted at Twelve Ponds.

M 10, 1969. Painted at Twelve Ponds. Image courtesy of the Fangor Foundation.

a brief historyThe Artist's Land

From 1969 to 1989, Twelve Ponds was the home and studio of Wojciech Fangor (1922 to 2015), one of the most consequential Polish artists of the twentieth century and the first Polish artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Already celebrated in MoMA's landmark 1965 exhibition The Responsive Eye and a 37-painting Guggenheim show in 1970, Fangor spent two of his most prolific decades here, developing the blurred circles and pulsing color fields he became known for.

A lifelong astronomer, he built the wooden observatory that still stands at the edge of the meadow. Watching planets blur and pulse through a lens, he and his critics agreed, became the visual DNA of his most iconic work.

The Experience

Three ways
to gather

A bride and her bridesmaids walking along the edge of a pond at Twelve Ponds, reflected in the water, with autumn mountains behind.Photo: Kalz Photography
White ceremony chairs set on the lawn beside a pond at Twelve Ponds.Photo: Kelsey Travis Photography
Weddings

Ceremonies on the pond dock, dinners in the barn, dancing under string lights. One wedding per weekend, from Friday arrival through Sunday brunch.

  • Friday to Sunday private buyouts
  • Curated vendor network, or bring your own
  • Ceremonies at the pond, meadow or observatory garden
Interior of the restored barn with weathered wood walls and a long farmhouse table set for dinner.
A small pond at Twelve Ponds with a wooden dock and rowboat.
Retreats

Multi-day stays for companies, families and creative groups. Meadows for sessions, the barn for meals, and ponds for the unstructured afternoon that ends up being the point.

  • 2 to 5 day private buyouts
  • Wellness, leadership or creative programming
  • Stargazing nights at the observatory
The dark-clad farmhouse at Twelve Ponds with an antique tractor on the front lawn.
Farmhouse room with sage walls, antique vanity and a window onto the pond.
Gatherings

Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, fundraisers, film and photo shoots, and the occasions that don't quite fit anywhere else.

  • Half-day and full-day rentals
  • Photography and production partners on call
  • Parking for 50+ vehicles

the land already knew

The land already knew what it wanted to be. Our work has been to listen, restore and step out of the way.

The Twelve Ponds team

find us inThe Catskills

A quiet road in the Catskills foothills. Close enough to feel reachable, far enough to feel away.

New York City
About 3 hours by car
Albany
Under 1 hour
Hudson, NY
Under 1 hour
Airport
Albany International (ALB)
Region
Catskills, Schoharie County

Worth the detour

Food & Drink

  • KyMar Farm Winery & Distillery
  • Serious Brewing Company
  • Bull's Head Inn
  • Schoharie Valley Farms

Outdoors

  • Vroman's Nose
  • Mine Kill State Park
  • George Landis Arboretum
  • Christman Sanctuary

Culture

  • Howe Caverns
  • Old Stone Fort Museum
  • Schoharie County Arts Trail
  • Cooperstown, under an hour

Frequently asked

Good
questions

ask us anything

Where is Twelve Ponds located?

Twelve Ponds is at 227 Seven Ponds Road, Summit, NY 12175, in Schoharie County in the northern Catskills, about three hours from New York City and roughly an hour west of Albany.

What kinds of events does Twelve Ponds host?

Weddings, corporate and family retreats, milestone celebrations, film and photo shoots, and private events. The property is booked as a private buyout, one event per weekend, with Friday to Sunday stays typical for weddings and multi-day programs common for retreats.

Who was Wojciech Fangor?

Wojciech Fangor (1922 to 2015) was one of the most consequential Polish artists of the 20th century and the first Polish artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. From 1969 to 1989 he made Twelve Ponds his home and studio. In 1983 he designed and built by hand the wooden observatory that still stands on the property.

What is on the property?

+100 Acres of the northern Catskills with twelve spring-fed ponds, meadows and forests. Structures include a restored 1887 Victorian farmhouse overlooking a private spring-fed lake, an 18th-century post-and-beam barn reimagined as an event hall, and Fangor's hand-built observatory.

Every rental includes two covered tented areas, a large outdoor event tent and a smaller tent in the observatory garden, along with all ceremony and reception seating, tables, chairs, china, glassware and flatware.

How do I inquire, and how quickly will I hear back?

Use the form below or email info@twelveponds.com. We typically reply within 48 hours.

How far is Twelve Ponds from major cities?

About three hours from New York City, one hour west of Albany and about three hours from Boston. The closest airport is Albany International (ALB).

let's beginInquire

We're accepting inquiries for weddings, retreats and private events. Share a few details and we'll be in touch within 48 hours.

A bride and groom at the far edge of a pond at Twelve Ponds, with autumn hills beyond.Photo: Kelsey Travis Photography

see you at the pond

We typically reply within 48 hours. Your details stay private.