Won a weekend stay via a silent auction. Staff was super kind and accommodating, truly felt like a princess all weekend. Wish we came when it was a bit warmer so we can explore the gardens a bit more read more

Skylands Manor - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey

Absolutely beautiful venue, but there were several aspects that are lacking. I stayed here for two nights as part of a bridal party. My friend got married here, and the wedding was gorgeous and memorable! I'll go into more detail on the feedback. Upon arrival, it's very confusing. It's hard to figure out where to park and where to check-in. There's no visible staff and doors were locked so I had to call multiple times to reach someone who could let us in. There's also a strict curfew so you need to get back BEFORE 10pm or else you can't get into the building. This happened to us when we got back at 10pm from dinner and were all locked out. We had to call and text for an hour before we were able to reach someone. The person let us in, but also told us not to text the number we texted (but it was also ironically the only way we actually reached someone...) Food is hit or miss. On the morning of the wedding, we were all shocked that they were serving the bridal party moldy strawberries. I wish I had taken a photo so I can share it here, but we were in such a hectic busy rush that morning, I didn't get the chance to. The strawberries were not slightly moldy. They were literally COVERED in mold. I don't know how this got past the kitchen. They were literally covered in white fuzzy mold. We obviously didn't eat these. During the cocktail hour, there was decent food. However, during the dinner, the steak was terrible. I couldn't even eat half of it. The steak was supposed to be medium rare but it was over well done and extremely chewy and rubbery. Breakfast was basic and some things were not good (stale pastries). My favorite food was probably the soup at dinner and the oysters during cocktail hour. The seafood tasted fresh! The room I stayed in was beautiful though and I loved it! The only complaint I have about the room is the shower. There was only cold water and it was so hard to take a shower... painfully cold. read more

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Innkeeper Billy Bill was awesome keep everything in order for our light breakfast after a wedding 9/27/25. Everything was clean neat everything had ifs place. Billy answered all questions, he was very polite. Billy thank you for a great breakfast!!!! read more

Skylands Manor - The front of Skylands Manor - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey

I have mixed feelings about this place. Came here for a friend of a friend's wedding. Beautiful grounds. Tons of space and everything is super clean and professional looking. As other reviewers have written... when you arrive, you kinda have to go it alone because there is not much direction and close to no visible staff. We saw cars along the entrance road and just walked.A waitress who was running late guided us to the reception (we were late). We went through a random side entrance. I'm not sure if the wait staff was part of a package but they all seemed new and hovered a bit much. Food was delicious though it came out haphazardly. If I come back here, I will definitely update my review as this was a one-time visit, and the grounds are so gorgeous. It has to be a little better. It's a little gem of a castle in the woods. read more

Skylands Manor - Table setting - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey

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After dozens of engagement sessions and weddings I've photographed here, the possibilities for AMAZING photos are endless. As a wedding venue, I can't speak highly enough about the staff. Everything runs like a well-oiled machine, and my couples are ALWAYS happy! read more

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Amazing place!!!! We were there for 2 nights and Billy, the innkeeper, was absolutely fabulous. Extremely knowledgable and accommodating. We couldn't have asked for anything more!!! read more

Just got back from 2 nights at Skylands Manor. We didn't know what to expect. The innkeeper Billy was amazing!! He anticipated our every need. He made us feel very comfortable and at home . The rooms were beautiful and the grounds outstanding! The breakfast was amazing !! Will definitely be back ! Thank you Billy ! read more

my husband and I stayed at Skyland Manor. the place is gorgeous...the manor had such a nice ambiance, so royal and old fashioned...we loved it!!!! Billy was one of the employees there that went out of his way to help us feel right at home...he suggested nice places to eat and even lent us a flashlight so we can have easy time coming back in the evening since it gets so dark...he was exceptional host...we will def come back with more family and friends...thank you Billy read more

I really don't have words to describe the wonderful time that we had. We spent just one night and the innkeeper Billy was so wonderful - very responsive, kind and accommodating. The Manor was perfect - clean, just the right balance of majestic and inviting. We will absolutely be back again. read more

My daughter Marissa's wedding was her and it was absolutely fantastic. From planning it the past 2 years right up till the lights went out after the after party it was fantastic. The grounds are spectacular and the manor itself is a fabulous venue for any occasion. The old world charm is the perfect backdrop especially for a wedding. The catering was spectacular. The service was spectacular everything was excellent. I highly recommend this place. Enjoy. read more

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Skylands Manor is surrounded by amazing landscape beauty. The Manor itself is a castle and has some spectacular rooms. I stayed here for a few nights for work. And even though I arrived late the inn keeper, Kelley came and greeted me and showed me to my room. She even rescued me when I locked myself out of my room. It's a cool location. And the grounds are lovely to walk around. read more

Skylands Manor - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey

just outstanding! Nancy and Liz are wonderful. Liz's breakfast are amazing. They take personalized service to your every need and question. The castle is magnificent and the botanical gardens are intoxicating. you simply must go there and then experience it for yourself. read more

This review is for the grounds only. Visiting the grounds and taking in the views of the surrounding area was a much needed respite from being a hermit during this crisis. Plenty of room for ample social distancing while appreciating the manicured gardens and old buildings set in a lovely area of the state. This was a much needed and appreciated stress reducer! read more

Skylands Manor - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey

Shocked that anyone would recommend this place. Went there for a wedding and the food was horrible! Dry chicken... appetizers were so bad. Inedible. There's no direction when you get there. The cocktail hour was a mess. Different stations of food in different rooms but no one to tell you that there are options. You only notice when you're going to the banquet room for the wedding reception that there are more options for the cocktail hour. Best part of the night was the band who had nothing to do with the venue. Don't recommend! read more

If your looking for an elegant era from the past ,this is the place for you. It's a nice place to spend the night. It's not a hotel resort with a pool or restaurant. It's a gem from the turn of the century. It still has the old warm charm including an Inn keeper. His name is Billy and I can't say enough good things about him. He is truly the ambassador of the manor. read more

Of the two neighboring manors (Ringwood is the other - see: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ringwood-state-park-at-ringwood-manor-ringwood?hrid=0IiY8aUq0fKBjREWB9qznQ) -- Skylands and adjacent Shepherds lake is a walker's paradise. Spring through Fall -- its' botanical gardens are a joy to walk and the Manor house itself is a stunningly elaborate and Gatsby-esque 1920's build -- available for rent for those special occasions where only gowns and tiara's, top hats and tails will do. Well marked pathways and reasonably accessible parking make for a pleasant sojourn for several hours or even all day if you like -- with picnicking facilities scattered throughout. Top Tip: On weekends, the area near the manor house and gardens is not great for road biking as excessive foot traffic, poorly repaired paths and many restrictions makes the experience underwhelming. Biking is better if you stay on the roads leading in and out of the park -- where the hills are steep and challenging. read more

Skylands Manor - Jr. and Sweetie -- amping it up! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey

Actually took a few pics for my wife's maturity photo shoot we were having. Large space with a lot of green and open space. They also have bathrooms which were clean which is surprising considering there wasn't any staff in sight. Just wish this place had people actually working in the park and giving pointers or directions to what to visit first or where is what. Seems like it's all on you and how much land you want to explore but just wish it was more informative and there were more signs. We didn't know where to start because it was confusing getting in. I got lost the first time driving in but ended up parking at the first parking lot since I didn't have an idea where I was going. I guess reading Yelp reviews help. read more

Skylands Manor - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey

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Historical and beautiful. A picturesque backdrop for a photo shoot or a proposal or a wedding. The annual and perennial gardens make New Jersey The Garden State. People travel hundreds of miles for a day trip here! If you live within 50 miles, I strongly encourage you to make this an annual voyage. read more

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This area is a must see at Christmas ! It's breathtaking. You feel like you stepped back In time and we loved it so much at Christmas we had to go back and see it in the Spring allergies be damned!! I also attended one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been to here. Great catering and beautiful grounds to wonder through. I recommend it any time of the year especially if you enjoyed the Book The Great Gatsby, you feel like you are in it! read more

My family and I had the unique pleasure and experience staying overnight after a wedding we attended this past weekend. I want to thank Liz and the staff for their attention to detail and high end level of professionalism. From the cocktail hour through dessert, everything was delicious. Skylines Manor is a magical venue for a wedding and staying here only made the experience more exciting. Thank you so much. read more

I came here on a weekend for an overnight trip and can't believe a place like this exists an hour outside the city. It's a Tudor style castle. The botanical garden was so beautiful and not too many people wondering the grounds. We were the only ones staying over night and I enjoyed being in this secluded oasis. read more

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We also made the mistake of getting here very late. It wasn't on purpose, but it happened. It was very cold That night and I also had to walk from the parking lot. Other than that, it's was a very pleasant experience. We stayed in the Gatsby Room. Wonderful view with a very comfortable set up. Yes, you will have to wait for hot water; it's not that long and it gets seriously hot. They don't offer toiletries, so make sure to bring your own. They will provide towels. The room was too warm, ironically, so we opened a couple of windows and slept very well. The breakfast in the morning was simple and delightful. The InnKeeper for us was Carla; a warm and caring person that provided outstanding service. Breakfast ends at 10:00 AM. The property is breathtaking in winter. We where there for a wedding. Which if you are attending a wedding there, stay. It's worth it. The wedding was amazing!! The event planner, Linda, was strict and stuck to the schedule. You need a person like her when you have an event with 200+ people. She does a great job! The food? That was a spectacular part of the wedding. Not to mention the dessert. The bar was efficient and professional. No frills there. I am looking forward to coming back during spring. Check out the pics below, you'll be impressed. But this is key, this is NOT a hotel. It's a unique experience and very worth the ride to get there. read more

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Grand-looking chateau in a 96 acre park seems like a perfect venue for a wedding during Covid19 with lots of room for social distancing. Too bad about the booming generator (storm took out power), cave-like bathroom and haphazard catering (stale appetizers and salad after salad) -- just missing organ music and Vincent Price! Valet delivered our car and after bumping along the winding dirt road in the starless night faced a padlock on the gate! Bumped back where the valets did a Three Stooges headslap, until a mysterious woman emerged with the magic words: Follow that car, the driver has the key....got out unscathed. read more

New Jersey treasure and pleasure. A measure for all, small and tall. read more

Some of the expectations on Yelp here are absolutely nuts... People listen up: It's a historic house in the middle of the botanic garden in Jersey, not a five star spa resort. The cheaper rooms have shared bathrooms or hallway bathrooms, this is stated multiple times while you're booking them. Also, the breakfast in the morning is not a full buffet, again, they don't promise that. THAT OUT OF THE WAY, Skyland Manor is beautiful and absolutely amazing and worth every penny. My sister got married here the other day and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. Linda of Frungillo Caterers was a pleasure to plan with, she made sure everything ran perfectly day of - and it absolutely did. We dropped off a bunch of dried flowers and centerpieces the week before and come day of the wedding everything was there on the table, perfectly arranged and absolutely as we wanted it. They also did an amazing job of transitioning the ceremony from outdoors to indoors in less than a half hour - we wanted it outdoors initially but it became just freezing cold and dark so, - their understanding and can-do attitude was really wonderful and appreciated. Also- the catering food was DYNAMITE. The cocktail hour had wonderful options - from carving stations to a mashed potato bar - and a generous open bar. Then the dinner itself was shockingly wonderful, really high end. My boyfriend and I stayed in a Gatsby room which was STUNNING! Huge, wonderful, and so beautiful!!!! A super comfortable bed, a huge bathroom...This place is a literal castle and each room is just so beautifully detailed - the gilded detailing on the ceiling and walls really made me feel like I was back in England. Yeah, sure, the bathroom feels dated - but that's quite literally the charm of the place. Everything worked fine, the place was heated, no complaints. I love how beautiful Skyland Manor is and I'm so happy this wedding went so smoothly. Thank you Skyland / Frungillo. I'd love to come back again! read more

I can't say enough about our stay at the Castle at Skylands. The grounds and the castle are beautiful. There are limitless photo ops both inside and out, and it is very easy to find a place you will feel comfortable. But the true star was Liz, she helped my large group have the best birthday celebration that any of us could ask for. The rooms were fantastic for our group to hang out in and not bother the other guests, the breakfasts were excellent and Liz was always around to make sure our stay was memorable. If you come to enjoy the structure and grounds and realize this castle is over 100 years old with original pieces and equipment, you will enjoy the quirkiness of each individual room. We are already thinking about next year! read more

First the good. The castle is gorgeous. The bedroom was clear. It looked like a great place to hold an event. It's right next to the Botanical Gardens, so you couldn't pick a more beautiful location. It feels far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but isn't so it's perfect for a weekend get away. The price is right too, starting at $95/ night. Now the rest. First I left for the manor right after work , which is in Philadelphia. The road up to the manor is not lit. At all. Which meant will my gps dropped me off at the wrong side of the road, I had no earthly clue how to get there. When I called I got snapped at for coming late at night. (it was 9 pm. ) The directions I was given to go the rest of the way were good in the daytime, but included landmarks that I could not see at night. When I got there, I couldn't find the parking lot. Again nothing is lit. I was under the impression that they had Wi-Fi, and asked about it. I was told it was spotty.. No, in fact, they only had 3G. This meant in order to do my job, I had to do research on my phone, type it on my computer, and then bring my computer to a Wi-Fi place off site in order to send email. Also when I went to leave, & I drove my car up to get the luggage, I had someone come up to me and tell me that I couldn't be there. She spoke so fast that I couldn't get in that I was staying at the hotel and needed to load up my car. I finally got my point across but I was pretty miffed. This has happened one other time when my boyfriend and I were standing outside, at night, about an hour after we had checked in. We were asked by the woman who checked us in if we had a right to be there. And we had to show her our key in order to not be escorted from the premises. One more thing that my boyfriend wants me to add, when we came back during the day we had to show our room key so we didn't have to pay for parking. This is because the parking is shared with the parking for the Botanical Gardens. The male security officer told me that he needed to see my room number so that he could go visit me that night. I rolled my eyes and my boyfriend lean forward in the car. When the security officer so my boyfriend he backed off, but it really was highly inappropriate. Finally, unless you get a sweet, it's important to note that the bathrooms are shared. They are gendered, but shared. There are also not very clean - torn screen, dead bugs, stained curtains, etc. In addition the bathroom in the ladies room, gets very wet. That is to say it's on a slope and the water gathers. When this happens it creates models which you might not be able to see and it becomes very slippery. If you're looking for a nice place to stay that's off the beaten path, this is your place to go. If you're looking for a nice low cost bed and breakfast but has the modern comforts that we've become accustom to, look somewhere else. read more

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Skylands, New Jersey Botanical Gardens of a showcase of art, sculpture, architecture and horticulture. Skylands Manor is like stepping back in time, a time when the super rich built mansions as summer homes in the countryside. The manor house built in the English tutor style was designed by John Russel Pope who among other accomplishments designed the Jefferson Memorial. It was financed by the Salomon family of New York who made their money in the banking business. The gardens around the estate are formal with water features, statuary and a large variety of plantings. Paths are well kept with an overhang of stately trees. There are 96 acres of specialty gardens and 1000 acres of woodlands with trails. Perennial and annual gardens are well maintained. Usually peaceful with small crowds it makes for a peaceful relaxing day spent amid beauty and serenity. During the week admission is free except on hoildays. On weekends there is a $5 parking fee. Tours of the manor house are available on some weekends and are $7 for adults. read more

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My wife and I decided to spend our ten year anniversary here. ( now we can say we have been to a castle in our life. Lol.) . Arriving here was very easy once you got off a major highway. Once we arrived, David the innkeeper was there to greet us. What a pleasant gentleman who made us feel like family from the moment we said hello. The room was nice and having a sink was a nice bonus for such a small room. We slept ok as the bed was a bit small but decent for the two of us. Breakfast was nice, orange juice, blueberry muffins, bagels and cereal. We will be coming back in the summer as we want to enjoy the garden. read more

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This castle is supposed to be a place to hold weddings. We stayed there for a weekend to just relax. Since it is on a mountain and we arrived there around 10 PM, it was very dark and we couldn't see the sign clearly. Also, GPS doesn't take you to the final destination. So my suggestion is not to check in at late night! (At least when you could still see the road clearly otherwise it's a bit dangerous) Overall the place looks very historical but is clean and beautiful. The breakfast area was impressing. The castle gives a totally different feeling from day time to night time. (It's a castle, so it's pretty scary at night lol) Also, there's a botanic garden right near the castle. Too bad we didn't go this time because we had other plan. read more

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This beauty is a must see. It's right next to shepherd lake and in proximity of Ringwood Manor so you can make a day trip out of it. I know they also have some summer concert- check the website. Even though it's somewhat even ground, be ready to walk since parking lots are a bit far from the manor. We visited on a Tuesday and it was very quiet maybe 4-5 people max. Could not get inside the manor since the sign said "bed and breakfast call for reservations". They also have a botanical garden. Definitely visit. Really cute! read more

If I didn't have to give this place a star to post a review it would get none. There management is disgusting and the way they treat there employees is humiliating. They are very demanding but don't care about your time. They don't care about anyone else but themselves. For example, they hang up on their customers that are having weddings there or just people staying there. I would never recommend this place for anyone to work at, stay at , or spend their special day there. There's a lot behind the scenes you wouldn't want to know. You certainly don't get what you are promised they make it seem that way until you get there. It's a bunch of lies. read more

I Attended a wedding at this venue and it was the worst and most unethical experience. Upon entering the venue there wasn't anyone at the door to great you and guide you towards the event. For cocktail hour, the cocktail spread was split into about 4 different rooms. You had to travel across each room in order to be able to see what was being served. Only one of the cocktail rooms had small tables and chairs which wasn't enough for all of the guest. The open bar was not located in a convenient section, it was indoors in the corner of a room, where as the venue was located outside. Lets dig in to the poorly presented outdoor venue, I am in awe with Groom and Bride who experienced the worst day of their lives rather then the most magical day that they deserved and pay THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR! It was raining, all of the guest had to sit on wet chairs, they paid for Dinner to be served for their guest. But instead he venue decided to instead make the food BUFFET STYLE ! Poorly presented Buffet style, the guest had to get up after sitting in the rain to serve themselves. To make matters worst the Groom and Bride asked to move the venue inside but were told they can't make that happen because they had a venue set up for an event that upcoming Thursday! The wedding was on a SUNDAY! The dance floor was wet making it hazard to all the guest dancing. A friend of mine also overheard two servers stating that there is a SPIDER in the food to remove it before serving it - how disgusting is that ?! They took advantage of this family and didn't provide them the services they paid for it was over all it was a DISASTER! Think a Million times before booking this venue. They SCAM you of your dream wedding and no one ever deserves to live relive a nightmare that should have been a fairytale. read more

I wanted to take the time to leave a much-needed review. Thanks to Michelle and her crew, the night, along with all the tedious details following the night, would not have been possible. I received many concerns leading up to my wedding night due to covid-19. Thankfully, everyone's questions were answered and expectations were met and exceeded! Hearing the feedback from our guests, witnessing for myself, everyone felt safe, and attended to! This is a hard time for many, and especially scary. Thankfully I chose the PERFECT venue lead by extremely professional people that took the best care of us every step of the way. Thank you to Michelle especially, for picking up every one of my nagging bridezilla calls hehe, her patience goes without saying! If you are looking for a top-notch venue with HIGH-quality service, I strongly recommend Skylands Manor!!! :) read more

We visited the gardens yesterday in the early evening (the [daily] hours are 8-8) and it's a lovely place, although unfortunately not much was in bloom this late in the season and I'm sure it's much more beautiful during late spring. A wedding was being set up when we were there and it would certainly be a wonderful setting for that type of event. Amazingly, admission is free (also note that parking is free on weekdays and there's a $7 charge on weekends). read more

This is an absolute amazing experience !!!! I stayed in the Gatsby room and it was simply breathtaking down to the decor and the old fashion bathroom. The breakfast was delicious and the entire atmosphere was so elegant. The grounds are neatly taken care of and is such a beautiful place to be in. I will definitely visit again read more

Pros: Beautiful hotel and location. The staff are attentive and the food was delicious. If not for this I would have given them 2 stars. Cons: Parking was too far from the hotel and our room did not have a bathroom. There was no hot water in the shared bathroom. They don't have a pool either. read more

Huge towering presence in the park. It is a beautiful location for weddings and events or even just to shoot photos outside or have wedding photo shoots. It is open to walk around and sometimes they open up the inside as well. It reminds me of an old German structure that I've seen in Germany. I recommend it as part of the walk around the park for families, friends. lovers, really anyone! read more

I stayed here for 2 nights and 3 days with my partner as a little birthday treat, and I very much enjoyed my stay. We booked the Gatsby room, which was breathtakingly beautiful and tastefully decorated. The space was clean, staff was friendly, and the views were pretty great, too. The only negative things I have to say are that we stayed here on a very, very cold March weekend and the only source of heat is a small electric fireplace, which didn't really provide much warmth. We were freezing pretty much the entire time. The breakfast choices were also pretty underwhelming and we wished they had a little more options, or tastier food. Other than that, our stay was pleasant and I would definitely recommend this place for a nice weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. read more

Used a Groupon deal to stay here last week with my fiancé and it was very romantic. Currently, the manor was decorated for Christmas so the charm when you walk in was just amazing. I recommend bringing your own blankets and towels if you're local. The Gatsby room was a WOW but it was very cold and the linens turned me off a bit (some 'mysterious' stains on the bedspread....). They do have a lovely fireplace heater that warms you up a bit and sets the mood, but just play it safe and bring your linens from home. My only other wish was for the bathroom. This room did have it's own private bathroom, but it could have used a little more attention. The room was so stunning that I was really turned off by how neglected the bathroom looked. Plenty of hot water and everything works just fine, but it felt a little creepy to me - especially late at night. The breakfast in the morning was lack luster and a toaster for the breakfast breads was MIA, but I did not stay here for the food so my expectations were low. Overall, charming experience! read more

Skylands Manor - December. 2013 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Ringwood, New Jersey