You can read books and watch documentaries about the history of America’s Robber Barons, but one fascinating way to gain interactive experience and knowledge is to visit one of their grand mansions, which now operates as a luxury resort.
Their legacies are complex, balancing the immense wealth held by a few, the means by which that wealth was acquired, and, in some cases, their enormous philanthropic and cultural contributions, but there’s no arguing that names like John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and Cornelius Vanderbilt still have appeal today.
One sparkling example of a robber baron’s estate is Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (from US$1,295 per night) in Puerto Rico, about 30 minutes west of San Juan. The 1,700-acre property was originally purchased by Alfred T. Livingston in 1905 and passed on to heiress Clara Livingston, who then sold it to Laurance Rockefeller, son of John D. Rockefeller, in the 1950s with the goal of pioneering what travelers now call eco-resorts.
“Ms. Livingston agreed to sell her childhood home to Mr. Rockefeller, who wanted to preserve the land,” says Marcel Cloete, the resort’s general manager. “Eight years later, Mr. Rockefeller opened Dorado Beach Resort for the most discerning travelers.”
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Though the hotel has been modernized, it remains true to its original ethos of conservation and preservation. For example, it is LEED Silver certified, one of fewer than 50 hotels worldwide, and offers on-site programming in partnership with the Jean-Michel Cousteau Environmental Ambassador Program. The lush grounds are filled with nature trails for jogging or strolling, and guests can rent bikes to explore and travel the grounds.
The resort’s 114 rooms are scattered among low-rise buildings surrounded by nature and feature amenities like oversized bathtubs, outdoor showers, and terraces with ocean views. One historic attraction worth visiting is the giant 100-year-old fig tree in front of the hotel’s Spa Botanico, while the rocky breakwaters that protect the hotel’s tranquil crescent-shaped beach are known as Rockefeller Rocks.
“Looking to the future, we remain committed to keeping our promises and working to restore and revitalize our beautiful land and rich cultural history,” Cloete said. “From protecting our 100-year-old fig trees to further expanding our conservation efforts through our composting program and sustainable practices.”
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The beginnings of commercial aviation made Puerto Rico an early vacation destination for America’s wealthiest families, but the famous summer retreat closer to the center of financial and power in New York was Rhode Island. The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection (from US$1,000 a night) was completed in downtown Newport in 1909 by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, the third son of family patriarch Cornelius Vanderbilt.
“This former mansion has been transformed into a luxury resort filled with charming eccentricity, meticulously restored to its former glory as the social epicenter of a coastal city,” said Raffaele Pazzini, general manager of the hotel. Upon Auberge’s acquisition in 2018, the Vanderbilt underwent an extensive renovation and transformation, and now features 33 rooms, an array of luxury amenities, and artistic décor.
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Of course, it’s not the only nationally famous Vanderbilt mansion in Rhode Island: The Breakers, built in 1895 and renowned for its grandeur, is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as a museum for an admission fee. What’s special about a place like Vanderbilt is that visitors don’t just get to experience a piece of history, they get to experience it for themselves.
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“Trace of Vanderbilt’s rich history is woven throughout the hotel,” says Pazzini. “We’ve had so much fun with the hotel’s history that we’ve woven its legend into our design touches, offering bookable experiences that pay homage to the Gilded Age, and taking inspiration from the personality of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, an avid traveler with a bit of a rebellious spirit, who we’ve paid homage to throughout the hotel’s quirky eccentricities, design and service.”
Across the Atlantic, in England’s Cotswolds, there’s an estate with a fascinating history: Cowley Manor (from around USD 418), part of the Mr. & Mrs. Smith Group. This country mansion was first built in 1695 and eventually belonged to the Sainsbury family, founders of the Sainsbury supermarket chain. Lord Sainsbury amassed a multi-billion dollar fortune while running the second-largest grocery chain in the UK, and branches of his family have been heavily involved in British politics and philanthropy, along with other business dealings.
Once a family home, the 55-acre grounds of Cowley Manor served as a source of inspiration for Lewis Carroll. Alice in WonderlandToday, the hotel consists of 31 eclectically styled rooms that nod in style to its quirky literary history, and a separate spa facility that includes heated indoor and outdoor pools. Being able to walk the gardens’ countless paths and admire the impressive collection of plants remains a top amenity. The hotel will join the Experimental Group in 2023 after an extensive renovation, and will house a branch of the internationally acclaimed Experimental Cocktail Club.
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Another US lodging to add to your robber baron hit list is The Point (from USD 2,250, all-inclusive for two) in Saranac Lake, New York. The property was the first Relais & Châteaux member in North America 40 years ago and was built by William Avery Rockefeller II as a series of well-appointed log cabins. It’s not the only Gilded Age lodging in the Adirondack area, but it’s the only one that’s open to the public and available for booking. The Point offers 11 unique accommodations spread across four original buildings, with décor and furnishings designed to evoke the feel and style of the residences and homes of the heyday.
There’s plenty to explore in the South, too. In 1886, a group of ultra-wealthy people known as the Jekyll Island Club purchased the barrier island of the same name off the coast of Georgia. Over the next few decades, families including the Morgans, Vanderbilts, Pulitzers, Bakers and Cranes built private cottages on the island.
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Of particular note is Sans Souci, which means “no worries,” a Victorian cottage built for JP Morgan in 1896 with 24 rooms. Other historic cottages open to the public (from $309 USD) include the 10-room Cherokee Cottage, built in 1904, and the luxurious 13-room Crane Cottage, built in 1917. Both feature Italian Renaissance architecture. Jekyll Island Club Resort’s main clubhouse is a modern, 40-room all-suite hotel that’s another option for tourists.
But the island is also famous for its history full of political intrigue and intrigue: Jekyll Island, for example, was one of the four interconnected locations where the first intercontinental telephone call was made in 1915. Its direct connection to the luxury of the most prominent families of the Gilded Age, and the often glamorous presence of such mansions in the decades that followed, in both Rhode Island and Georgia, makes for an unforgettable stay, especially for history buffs and lovers of American culture.
“The hotel’s connection to the Vanderbilt family and Newport history, and knowing that it has been the setting for so many famous movies, adds depth and excitement to our guests’ stay,” said Pazzini of The Vanderbilt Hotel in Newport.
Whether you’re in Puerto Rico, upstate New York, or anywhere else, dress appropriately, take the perfect photos for social media, and have fun living out your most glamorous dreams.
