WEST PARK – A former monastery on the west bank of the Hudson River has been repurposed into a distillery, event-space, and will eventually become a boutique hotel, according to co-owner Charles Ferri. Hudson House at 1835 Broadway (Route 9W) in West Park has recently opened for tours of the distillery which produces bourbon and rye under the Black Creek brand name.
The distillery is open for tours and tastings on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 noon until 6 p.m.
Situated on a 27-acre parcel with views of the Hudson River, Ferri told Mid-Hudson News that a partnership with Millbrook Winery has resulted in the production of five different wines under the Hudson House label.
Ferri called his Hudson House the result of a vision he developed while working on Wall Street. “I have wanted to bring a ‘destination distillery’ to the region for quite some time and when this property became available, I had to act fast.”
He purchased the property with the backing of a few investors six years ago.
He stressed the importance of the support he has received from government leaders. “We have been welcomed and supported by local, county, and state government officials that have helped make this dream a reality. The various governments recognized the benefits of the project and have helped at every step.” Ferri pointed out that his Black Creek Rye has received the support of the Empire State Development Corporation because the distillery uses ingredients grown in New York.
The facility is comprised of a mansion that had been built in the 1800s and when the Christian Brothers took possession, they built a substantial addition in 1933. The mansion’s various first floor rooms are the event spaces, including a 5,000 square-foot ballroom, that can be rented. The second-floor rooms are slated to be the hotel rooms.
Ferri, along with his fellow investor Paul Seres, encountered unforeseen structural problems with the building during remodeling. The issues needed to be addressed and required a substantial amount of funding that had not been anticipated. The extra work has delayed the development of the hotel portion of the facility.
Ferri and Seres also have plans to develop a portion of their riverfront parcel. The site is one of only a few that have access to the Hudson via a tunnel on their property that goes under the CSX rail line. “We are developing a destination that will provide an experience of a lifetime for our guests. It’s a destination like no other,” said Ferri.
