Community leaders, local business owners, residents, and wellness enthusiasts gathered on July 18 to celebrate the grand opening of AspiratInns Wellness Resort & Spa in Slate Hill, NY, a new health and wellness destination at the former Catlin Gardens property.
The celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, holistic vendors, complimentary skin analyses, champagne, giveaways, and special discounts on spa services. Guests toured the newly renovated facility while learning about the resort’s wellness programs and future plans.
Owned and managed by Valerie Strickland and co-owner and Spa Manager Valentino Ascolese, AspiratInns blends luxury spa services, wellness treatments, and hospitality in a peaceful countryside setting. The owners envision it as a place where guests can relax, recharge, and focus on long-term health.
A community investment
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Strickland thanked her family, business partner, employees, contractors, and friends for helping transform the property into reality.
“This has truly been a labor of love,” she said, expressing gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project. Ascolese echoed her appreciation, describing the staff as an extended family that worked together over the past year and a half to bring the vision to life.
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Representing the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Membership Manager Frank Marino called the opening “a big win for Orange County.”
“It’s great to see the community come together to support this business,” Marino said. “This gives families a place to relax and escape everyday life while bringing holistic wellness services to the area.”
Marino believes the new resort will attract visitors who will also support nearby businesses.
“It’s all about shopping local,” he said. “People coming here will also visit local shops and restaurants, helping the local economy.”
The opening also held personal meaning for Marino, who worked at the property as his first job when he was 16 years old.
“It’s really cool to come back full circle and see this place alive again,” he said. “Slate Hill is a smaller town, and this will bring great traffic to the area.”
Visitors welcome a fresh beginning
Many visitors came to explore the new wellness destination and experience its services.
Amy, who lives nearby, said she learned about the grand opening through Facebook and was especially interested in the spa and wellness offerings.
“I was impressed by the red-light therapy,” she said, adding that she looks forward to trying more of the services.
Genevieve Ascolese, daughter of co-owner Valentino Ascolese, attended to support her father after helping behind the scenes throughout the project.
“This used to be a wedding venue,” she said. “They’ve restored it into something even more beautiful. I hope people come to experience the wellness services, enjoy the gardens, and see everything they’ve created here.”
Among the visitors were April Masefield, owner of Masefield Insurance Services, and Diana Granta, an aesthetician who was eager to learn more about the wellness services.
Masefield, a longtime friend of Strickland, said she had watched the transformation of the former event venue into a modern wellness resort.
“I’ve watched her transform this entire property,” Masefield said. “It’s amazing. It’s beautiful. It’s inspiring.”
She described AspiratInns as “a one-stop shop for wellness, health, longevity, and biohacking” and encouraged people to visit with family and friends.
“It’s the perfect place to disconnect from the city, enjoy nature, and celebrate health,” she said. Granta said she attended after hearing about the event and was curious to explore the spa’s offerings.
Wellness supports the community
Orange County Chamber members also attended the celebration to welcome the new business.
Mike Contaxis of Team Johnson at SERVPRO of Orange County said supporting new businesses strengthens the entire community.
“When businesses support each other, everyone benefits,” he said. “They bring people into the community, create opportunities, and help local businesses grow.”
Holly Wright of Hudson Valley Kitchen Design Center, who also serves on the Orange County Chamber’s Board of Directors, said wellness businesses play an important role beyond providing luxury services.
“We need to stop thinking of massage as just a feel-good experience,” Wright said. “Taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish. Businesses like this remind us that our health is one of our greatest assets.”
Contaxis agreed, saying wellness businesses encourage people to care for both their physical and mental well-being while strengthening the local economy.
A vision for the future
Strickland brings more than 20 years of customer service and business development experience to the venture. After successful careers in insurance and solar sales, she shifted her focus to the health and wellness industry with the goal of creating a premier medical spa unlike any other in the Hudson Valley.
Ascolese contributes four decades of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Inspired by his own wellness journey, he hopes AspiratInns will help others pursue healthier, more balanced lives.
As guests explored the renovated property and enjoyed the opening festivities, the atmosphere reflected more than the launch of a new business. For many attendees, it represented the revival of a familiar local landmark and a renewed investment in the health, vitality, and future of the Slate Hill community.
