A small wedding ceremony on a wooden dock at Twelve Ponds, overlooking a still pond at sunset, with rolling hills in the background.

Catskills, New York

Twelve Ponds

One hundred private acres of lakes, forests, and pasture — reimagined as a venue for weddings, retreats, and the gatherings that matter most.

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The Property

A landscape, not a venue.

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.

Aerial view of Twelve Ponds, showing a series of ponds and meadows surrounded by autumn forest and distant mountains.
Twelve Ponds at first light — a chain of spring-fed lakes threaded across one hundred acres.

Highlights

The setting, in detail.

Every structure has been thoughtfully restored or purpose-built — a working composition of period craft and modern intent.

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.

The Barn

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.

The Greenhouse Pavilion

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.

The Observatory

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.

The Land

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.

The Views

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

The artist who shaped this land.

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.

Wojciech Fangor, M 10, 1969 — a softly-blurred blue sphere on a pale ground, from the artist's 'positive illusionary space' series painted at Twelve Ponds.

"M 10," 1969 — part of Fangor's exploration of positive illusionary space, painted at Twelve Ponds. Image courtesy of the Fangor Foundation.

The Experience

Three ways to gather.

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.

Quiet pond at midday with a willow tree reflected in the water, a small dock at left, and the Catskills in the distance.

01

Weddings

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.

  • Friday to Sunday private buyouts
  • A single event per weekend, yours alone
  • Curated vendor network, or bring your own
  • Multiple ceremony settings — pond, meadow, observatory garden
Interior of the restored barn at Twelve Ponds with weathered wood walls, a long farmhouse table set for dinner, and open doors leading to the lawn.

02

Retreats

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.

  • 2- to 5-day private buyouts
  • Wellness, leadership, or creative programming
  • Catering, transportation, and concierge included
  • Stargazing nights at the observatory
Meadow at golden hour with a willow tree, a stone arch sculpture, and the sun setting over the wooded hills in the distance.

03

Private Events

Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, fundraisers, and the gatherings that don't quite fit anywhere else. A landscape that makes any occasion feel inevitable.

  • Half-day and full-day rentals
  • Seasonal menus from local farms
  • Photography & production partners on call
  • Parking for 50+ vehicles

"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

Location

A quiet corner of the Catskills.

Twelve Ponds sits along a quiet 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.

From New York City
Approximately 3 hours by car
From Albany
Under 1 hour by car
From Hudson, NY
Under 1 hour by car
Nearest airport
Albany International (ALB)
Region
Catskills · Schoharie County
View across a pond at Twelve Ponds toward rolling Catskills hills under a wide sky.

Nearby

Worth the detour.

Food & Drink

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

Outdoors

  • Vroman's Nose — clifftop valley hike
  • Mine Kill State Park & Falls
  • George Landis Arboretum
  • Christman Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary

Culture

  • Howe Caverns — show cave & boat ride
  • Old Stone Fort Museum
  • Schoharie County Arts Trail
  • Cooperstown — under an hour

Frequently Asked

A few questions we hear often.

Where is Twelve Ponds located?

Twelve Ponds is located 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, and private events. The property is available on a private-buyout basis — a single event per weekend, yours alone — with Friday-to-Sunday stays typical for weddings and multi-day programs common for retreats.

Who was Wojciech Fangor, and how is he connected to Twelve Ponds?

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

What is on the property?

More than 100 acres of the northern Catskills — 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 a hand-built wooden observatory designed by Wojciech Fangor in 1983.

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 for the full event.

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?

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

Inquire

Begin a conversation.

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

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