ONE FRIDAY IN JUNE I was woken from my dreams by the soft sound of Tibetan chimes. For a moment, I didn't know where I was, but as the rose-colored light peeled into my room at the ripe hour of 5:30 a.m., I remembered. "I'm up!" I shouted. In return, I received a friendly "Good morning, Jess" from the staffer outside my door, before the chimes floated down the hall to wake the next guest.
This is what a typical wake-up call looks like at the Ranch Hudson Valley. The recently opened wellness retreat is the East Coast outpost of the Ranch Malibu, which is known for its challenging fitness programs and plant-based cuisine. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Sue and Alex Glasscock, its original program has developed a cult following since opening in 2010 (Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Garner are devotees).
Entering the 40,000-square-foot estate in Sloatsburg, New York-just an hour north of New York City-was like walking into a scene from The Great Gatsby: detailed trim on the high ceilings, a grand, light-filled staircase, and marble floors. I later learned that this former home, known as the Table Rock Estate, was built in 1902 by financier J. P. Morgan as a wedding gift for his daughter. Whom was she marrying, you ask? The great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton.
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