オレンダベレアマウンテンリトリート

The name Orenda comes from an Indigenous concept meaning the human ability to harness both the power of nature and one's own inner spirit to create positive change. It reflects the belief that when people gather with intention, healing, creativity, and connection naturally unfold.

Originally, this property was a small apple orchard and farmhouse owned by the Tortuga family in the 1950s. In 1981, Phyllis and Mel Litoff purchased the property as their family retreat and gradually expanded it over many years. Rather than building one large home, they added beautiful gathering spaces as their family and circle of friends grew. The result is the distinctive architecture and warm character that make Orenda unlike any other home in the Catskills.

Mel and Phyllis owned the legendary Sweet Basil Jazz Club in New York City and later helped lead the Belleayre Music Festival. Their home welcomed countless musicians, artists, family members, and friends. Ray Charles, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, Frankie Valli, Linda Eder, James Blunt, and many others became part of the property's rich history.

In 2002, Phyllis passed away at the home after a courageous battle with brain cancer, adding another chapter of love and resilience to this special place.

During the COVID pandemic, the neighboring guest house was sold to a wonderful couple who continue to be treasured neighbors. That decision helped preserve Orenda and support the continued mission of the Honor Yoga Foundation.

Today, Orenda continues its legacy as a place where people gather to celebrate, reconnect, create memories, and heal.

When I began searching for a retreat center in 2017, I wasn't looking for another investment property. I was looking for a place that could change lives.

As the founder of Honor Yoga and the Honor Yoga Foundation, I envisioned creating a sanctuary where people could disconnect from the busyness of everyday life and reconnect with themselves, each other, and nature.

I searched throughout the Northeast, but nothing felt right.

The first time I drove onto this property, I hadn't even reached the front door before I knew. There was an energy here unlike anything I had ever experienced. The silence wasn't empty—it was peaceful. The mountains felt protective. I could immediately picture families gathered around the table, retreat guests practicing yoga on the lawn, friends laughing around the fire pit, and people leaving feeling better than when they arrived.

That vision has become reality.

Today, Orenda is home to family reunions, wellness retreats, corporate gatherings, celebrations, and nonprofit healing retreats. Every group adds another chapter to the story of this property.

I truly believe places carry energy. Every act of kindness, every meaningful conversation, every celebration, every moment of healing leaves something behind. My hope is that you'll feel that the moment you arrive and that you'll leave carrying a little piece of Orenda home with you.

There are many beautiful homes in the Catskills. Orenda offers something more.

Unlike a typical vacation rental, Orenda was intentionally designed as a gathering place. Every room, every outdoor space, and every addition to the property was created to bring people together.

Whether you're preparing meals in the outdoor kitchen, sharing stories around the fire pit, relaxing in the heated pool or hot tub, enjoying the cedar sauna, or watching the sunrise over the mountains, Orenda invites you to slow down and simply be present.

Guests often tell us they sleep more deeply here, spend less time on their phones, laugh more, and reconnect with the people they came with. That is exactly what this place was designed to inspire.

For groups looking for an even more memorable experience, we can arrange private yoga classes, guided meditation, sound baths, breathwork, Reiki, and other wellness experiences led by experienced instructors. Booking one of these experiences also includes access to our dedicated yoga and meditation spaces, allowing your group to create its own private retreat.

Perhaps what makes Orenda most unique is its purpose. When the property is not hosting guests, it becomes home to Honor Yoga Foundation retreats for individuals facing cancer, trauma, addiction, abuse, grief, PTSD, and other life challenges. Every reservation helps make those retreats possible.

When you stay at Orenda, you're not simply renting a home. You're becoming part of a place whose purpose is to bring people together, restore the human spirit, and create lasting memories for generations to come.