Pendry Natirar, a new luxury boutique hotel at the historic Natirar estate in Peapack-Gladstone, is officially open.

Located adjacent to the property’s 112-year-old mansion, the resort includes a range of accommodations, such as:

• 66 guestrooms, including 20 suites.
• A two-floor, 19,000-square-foot spa with tranquility lounge, indoor plunge pool, Himalayan salt room and 12 treatment rooms.
• A 10-acre working farm that provides fresh produce and ingredients for acclaimed restaurant and cooking school, Ninety Acres. 
• “Elevated” outdoor pursuits, like guided e-bike tours, archery, axe-throwing, riverside nature hikes, guided horseback trail rides and fly fishing.
• Children’s programming built around art sessions and group games, like safe archery, scavenger hunts and farm visits.

Pendry Natirar also has 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Additionally it offers an exclusive modern members club, fitness center and a tavern serving cocktails, light bites and afternoon tea.

Reservations are available online. With a minimum two-night stay, weekday rates begin at $516 and weekend rates begin at $576.

A little history

Additionally, the property has 24 contemporary residences that aim to offer “priceless country estate lifestyle in a pristine natural setting.” Pricing for the 2,900-square-foot to 4,000-square-foot homes starts in the low $3 million range.

The project also restored and expanded the property’s grand Tudor-style mansion.

The estate was built more than a century ago when Kate Macy Ladd, an heiress, and her husband, Walter Ladd, acquired more than 500 acres in Somerset County. After both owners passed away, the mansion became a convalescence center for women until 1983. At that time, the property was sold to King Hassan II of Morocco so he could be closer to Princeton University, where his sons attended.

Following the king’s death in 2003, Somerset County acquired the property for $22 million and designated the majority of area as public parkland.

Ninety acres of the property, including the estate, was then leased in a public-private partnership with the intent that Natirar founder and owner Bob Wojtowicz would restore and expand upon the property.

Wojtowicz said, “Natirar was built more than a century ago as a place for families to come together and connect. And while it has served a variety of purposes over the decades, our vision was always to bring it back to its original intent and I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Pendry Hotels & Resorts to bring the resort to life.”

A luxury destination

Other than being an attractive destination, the hotel is the first recipient of funding through New Jersey’s new Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program. 

In November 2022, Somerset County officials awarded the project a $26 million bond to fund eco-friendly upgrades, saying that they believed the property will be “a significant addition” to the area’s “wedding, health and wellness and farm-to-table tourism markets.”

Mark Zurlini, chief lending officer at ConnectOne Bank, described the area as “a shining gem that will attract New Jersey residents and visitors from across the country as a destination that blends elegance, comfort, and beautiful natural surroundings.”

“With $62 million in financing from ConnectOne bank, guests will benefit from having access to a luxury Pendry brand hotel with stylish design and high-quality amenities that showcase everything that our community has to offer. We are proud to be a part of this journey with them,” he said.

Alan Fuerstman, founder, chairman and CEO of Montage International, the company that manages Pendry properties, said, “Having grown up in New Jersey, I’ve always held a deep appreciation for the state’s unique blend of history, natural beauty and the charming countryside. I am delighted to introduce Pendry’s unique brand of hospitality to this remarkable destination.”

His son and Pendry Hotels & Resorts co-founder Michael Fuerstman, agreed, saying, “Arriving at Pendry Natirar is magical.”

“You are instantly transported to another world, a country estate setting, full of adventure and charm. It is the perfect place to make lifelong memories with family and loved ones. We look forward to our guests experiencing this special destination and welcoming the local community to the next chapter of Natirar,” he said.