CAMPGROUND CHIC MEETS LUXURY LODGINGS

by Kate Dell’Aquila

Summer has finally arrived. The sun is shining, the oceans are warming and all of a sudden (miraculously) everyone seems to be donning a golden tan. Self-maintenance and tanning are not the only things on summer-goers minds however; finding the perfect place to stay during the “silly season” has become just as important as looking your sun-kissed best on vacation. Making that ultimate decision is not easy. Questions like: Who you are vacationing with?, and, what sort of vacation do you want to have – relaxed or fun?, come into play. For most New Yorker’s, these kinds of questions are superfluous, summer is spent in The Hamptons. Often, for New York sunshine seekers, contemplating a place to stay becomes somewhat an ordeal year in, year out, because picking the perfect Hamptons hotel, will ultimately determine your vacation.

The Hamptons have become synonymous with luxury and snobbery. Let’s be honest, there’s really no middle ground. So, when treats! heard there was a new establishment whose self-description was “campground chic,” we had to check it out.

Ruschmeyer’s, is now open in Montauk (yes, the home of the Montauk Monster.) The creative baby of King and Grove’s, Robert McKinley and Ben Pundole, Ruschmeyer’s is taking nostalgia to a whole other level. Inspired by ’50s summer camps, McKinley and Pundole created the character, Commodore Captain Ruschmeyer the Third, to inspire the design of their hotel. According to legend (McKinley,) Commodore Ruschmeyer the Third was a collector of maritime objects and the hotel is filled with vintage treasures Ruschmeyer (no-doubt) discovered during his travels.

Ruschmeyer’s, originally Second House Tavern, was built in 1952 on three acres of lush countryside. The newly renovated rooms and grounds are inspired by a time when summer activities stirred much delight among camp-goers, think Dirty Dancing’s Kellerman’s. With a variety of kitsch activities like ping-pong, kite boarding, paddle boarding, balsa-wood planes, bubbles and yoga, there’s got to be something for everyone. The beer garden is like a huge sandpit for big kids who just want to have fun, and the “Magic Garden” is lit up at night with a slew of lights that look like fairies dancing in the night sky.

For those who wish to relive their childhood by day but act all grown up by night, Ruschmeyer’s provides the perfect balance. Phil and Ben from Silkstone, the brains behind the Fat Radish in NYC, serve sumptuous seafood dishes using fresh ingredients in the main restaurant. While Ruschmeyer’s bar, Electric Eel Disco (the original name of the space) offers cocktails and dancing for those who want to let their hair down and pullout their parents flares.

The 19 cabins provide a haven for those who want to slink away from the casual-chiccrowd and enjoy the warm summer-night breeze. A standard room comes with complimentary wifi, views of the Magic Garden, television, and John Masters Organics amenities.

So for those of you who want to strike a balance between Hamptons luxury and Hamptons fun, check out Ruschmeyer’s. You’re sure to find something that sparks your imagination and perhaps even, takes you back in time.