Briarcliff Manor

Briarcliff Manor is a village in Westchester County, in New York's Hudson Valley.

Understand

Briarcliff Manor is shared between the towns of Mount Pleasant and Ossining and lies within the ZIP code of 10510. In 1890, Walter W. Law bought 232 acres (0.94 kmยฒ) when he retired from W. & J. Sloan; he called this land Briarcliff Farm. He later owned 5,000 acres (20 km2) and developed the village. It is said that "Manor" was added to the village's name after Law's friend, Andrew Carnegie, jokingly referred to Law as the "Laird of Briarcliff Manor" and the name stuck.

Get in

Westchester County Airport

  • Westchester County Airport (HPN IATA) is conveniently located 12 miles southeast of Briarcliff Manor in the city of White Plains. The airport is serviced by American, BermudAir, Breeze Airways, Delta, and jetBlue and offers direct service to many cities on the East Coast, along with select international destinations. The airport also offers rental car options from six different companies (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National), additional information is available on the website.
    • By bus and train: From the airport, take the 12 bus ($2.75) towards White Plains. At Martine Ave. @ Court St., exit the bus and walk to Main St. @ Court St. and board the 6 bus en route to Pleasantville. At Bedford Rd. @ Wheeler Ave., transfer onto the 19 bus ($2.75) en route to Ossining. The 19 bus has a number of stops throughout much of downtown Briarcliff Manor that will make accessing the village easy. Expected time for this journey is roughly 1.5-2 hours. The Bee-Line Bus service allows for one free transfer onto another bus, so two fares will be necessary for the trip. If paying with a MetroCard, the transfer will be applied automatically, but ask the driver for a transfer ticket if you are paying with change.
    • By car: For those less experienced with Westchester County, it is advised to take this route through interstates and parkways. From Westchester County Airport, merge onto I-684 south and take the exit onto I-287 west towards White Plains. Then take exit 3, merging into the Sprain Brook Parkway north. The Sprain Brook Parkway will merge into the Taconic State Parkway, and exit into Briarcliff Manor at exit 6.
    • By taxi: While taxi service is allowed at Westchester County Airport, taxi companies are unable to cruise around the terminal and the hailing of unoccupied taxis are not allowed. To schedule the service of a taxi while at the airport, you can dial one of seven companies licensed by the Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Stewart International Airport

  • Stewart International Airport (SWF IATA) is located 40 miles northwest of Briarcliff Manor in the town of New Windsor. While a nice alternative to the congestion of the three main airports of New York City, public transportation into Briarcliff Manor is scarce, time-consuming and expensive, and driving requires paying a toll or taking an unfriendly windy road on the side of a mountain. The airport is served by three airlines (Allegiant, Play, and Breeze), and offers non-stop flights to Reykjavik and numerous destinations in Florida and South Carolina. The airport offers rental car options from four different companies (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National) with information available on their website.
    • By bus and train: Briarcliff Manor is impossible to reach by public transportation from Stewart International Airport without taking multiple trains going through Manhattan or taking a combination of trains and the seasonal Beacon to Newburgh seasonal ferry operated by the NY Waterway. Not recommended for any visitors to Briarcliff Manor.
    • By car: The easiest way to travel from Stewart International Airport into Briarcliff Manor. If renting a car from any of the rental car providers at the airport, make sure to enquire about EZ-Pass, New York's electronic tolling system as part of the route to Briarcliff involves a toll. The general route is to follow I-84 east for about 19 miles until you reach the Taconic State Parkway at exit 52A, where you can head south for roughly 30 miles until reaching exit 6 for Briarcliff Manor.
    • By taxi: Taxi service is available at Stewart International through the Welcome Center in the main terminal, but is not recommended due to the long distance in between the airport and Briarcliff Manor.

Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia International Airport

  • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR IATA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK IATA), and LaGuardia International Airport (LGA IATA) are the three major international airports in the New York City metro area and offer service to just about anywhere around the world. If you are a visitor to Westchester County, it is most likely that you will fly into one of these three main airports. While the central hub for downstate New York, it can be a real headache to get transport to Briarcliff Manor from these airports.
    • By bus and train: All three airports are well equipped for train connection to New York City. It is recommended to take from JFK the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) from Jamaica via the AirTrain ($8.00), which will conveniently whisk you into Manhattan into Penn Station. At Newark, the AirTrain Newark (which has a $7.75 fee, but is included in the $15.25 NJ Transit train ticket) connects with the NJ Transit trains which run to Penn Station ($15.25). At LaGuardia, the M60-SBS can take you to the area of Upper Manhattan around Columbia University via the Astoria neighborhood of Queens and 125th Street in Harlem. From New York City, taking the Hudson Line or Harlem Line from Grand Central Terminal or 125th Street is possible.
    • By car: All three airports offer a variety of car rental services which will allow to you more easily drive into Briarcliff Manor. The specific routes from each of the three airports can vary greatly depending on the time of day, so plan accordingly when choosing to drive into Westchester County.
    • By taxi: While taxi service is incredibly easy to get from the three airports, Westchester-based liveries and New York City's iconic yellow cabs cost exorbitant amounts of money for the hour long drive. It is not recommended to take a taxi from these airports, however if you wish to do so, you can hail a cab outside the airport.

By car

  • Briarcliff Manor is easily accessible from the northeastern United States via interstate highways such as the New England Thruway/New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) and the New York State Thruway system. The I-87 portion of the Thruway connecting Albany and New York City crosses the Hudson River at Tarrytown on the Tappan Zee Bridge, as does I-287, which connects with I-95 to the east. The Saw Mill River Parkway, which runs along the village's eastern flank, connects with the Taconic State Parkway to the north (to Albany and the I-90 east-west portion of the Thruway system) and the Henry Hudson Parkway into New York City.
  • From the south, take the NY-9A/โ€‹NY-100 N exit from the Taconic State Parkway, then head two miles north on NY-9A. Turn left at the light onto North State Road, then left in one block onto Pleasantville Road. You've reached the heart of Briarcliff Manor.
  • From the north, take the 9A split from Route 9 just north of Ossining and follow 9A south to North State Road. From the Taconic Parkway, take the Pleasantville Road exit, turn right onto Pleasantville Road and follow the road into town.

By train

Briarcliff Manor is well-served by the Metro-North Railroad. The village is conveniently located near three Metro-North stations โ€“ Scarborough, Ossining, and Pleasantville stations. All three stations provide regular, direct service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City, as well as local service to other Metro-North commuter stations.

  • ๐ŸŒ Scarborough station and ๐ŸŒ Ossining station are located on the Metro-North's Hudson Line. Express service between either station and Grand Central Terminal is about 50 minutes, although Ossining station provides more midday express service. Local service to Grand Central takes just over an hour. A one-way ticket to Grand Central costs $11.25 off-peak and $14.75 peak. On-board train fares are subject to a stiff surcharge, so buy your tickets online or from the vending machines in the station overpass. Full weekday and weekend Hudson Line schedules are available online.
  • ๐ŸŒ Pleasantville station is located on the Metro-North's Harlem Line, and is especially close to Briarcliff Manor's Mount Pleasant portion. Express service between Pleasantville station and Grand Central Terminal is about an hour. A one-way ticket to Grand Central also costs $11.25 off-peak and $14.75 peak. On-board train fares are subject to a stiff surcharge, so buy your tickets online or from the vending machines on the platform. Full weekday and weekend Harlem Line schedules are available online.

By bus

Briarcliff Manor, along with the rest of Westchester County, is serviced by the Bee-Line Bus Service. Standard fares are $2.75, payable by exact change or Metrocard, and include one transfer. The following are the bus routes operating through Briarcliff Manor, along with links to timetables and route maps.

  • Bee-Line Bus Route 14 ($2.75) connects White Plains to Peekskill. Heading towards Peekskill, there is one stop in Briarcliff, situated 125 ft (38 m) from the intersection of Pleasantville Rd and Poplar Rd, while the southbound route has three stops along Pleasantville Rd in downtown. The bus operates hourly on weekdays from 7 AM to 11 PM, on Saturdays from 7 AM to 10 PM hourly, and on Sundays from 10 AM to 7 PM every other hour.
  • Bee-Line Bus Route 15 ($2.75) serves as local route operating from White Plains to Peekskill, with one stop 500 ft (150 m) north of the intersection of Pleasantville Rd and North State Rd. The bus operates every other hour on weekdays from 7 AM-5 PM, with only three scheduled buses between 11 AM-6 PM on Saturdays.
  • Bee-Line Bus Route 19 ($2.75) is a local route operating from the Ossining Railroad Station to Katonah, with stops along Pleasantville Rd in downtown. The bus operates every hour and a half on weekdays from 6 AM-6 PM, and every other hour on Saturdays from 7 AM-6 PM.

By boat

Get around

Getting around Briarcliff Manor and Westchester entirely depends on where you are staying and what you want to see. If you plan on spending most of your time within the village, most downtown sights are within walking distance of each other.

By car

For travel within Briarcliff Manor, having access to a car is highly recommended. The area typically experiences light traffic with rare occurrences of jams, and parking is generally free of charge. With many of Briarcliff Manor's attractions lying beyond the downtown area and lacking sidewalk access, and all accommodations being situated outside the village, it is advisable for all travelers to have access to a car.

By bus

The use of the Bee-Line Bus Service for intracity travel within Briarcliff Manor is generally not recommended, as most attractions are within walking distance or have no ideal bus service. The one main exception is connection to the North State Road business district, which can be easily accessed via Bee-Line Bus Route 15.

See

Architecture

Briarcliff Manor is an architectural haven, from historic buildings to churches and temples, Briarcliff Manor has plenty to see and marvel at.

  • ๐ŸŒ All Saints' Episcopal Church, 201 Scarborough Road, โ˜ +1 914-941-6955. An English Gothic church built by Richard Upjohn in 1854, with a Stick Style rectory dated to 1883 and an Arts and Crafts-style Old Parish Hall built in 1904. The church is on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • ๐ŸŒ Ashridge. A Greek Revival mansion built around 1825.
  • ๐ŸŒ Beechwood, 1โ€“3 Beechwood Way. A neoclassical Federal mansion, with a more ornate Colonial Revival addition by R. H. Robertson. The building has two large porticoed entryways, a two-story octagonal library, numerous porches, verandas, and over 100 interior rooms. Beechwood was the filming location for Savages, a 1972 Merchant Ivory film and the 1970 film House of Dark Shadows.
  • ๐ŸŒ Briarcliff Congregational Church, 30 South State Rd. An English Parish-style church with Gothic Tiffany windows and a Norman-style tower.
  • ๐ŸŒ Briarcliff Manor Public Library, 3 Library Road. A Tudor Revival library, built by Walter Law in the style of his Briarcliff Lodge in 1906 as a train station. It became a library in 1959, and an expansion was completed in 2009.
  • ๐ŸŒ The Chilmark Estate. A Tudor Revival stone and stucco mansion viewable from the road, built in 1896 and home of V. Everit Macy and remaining a private residence today.
  • ๐ŸŒ The Clear View School. A Neoclassical-style school building completed early in 1917 as the Scarborough School. The building has a grand porticoed entry and French windows. Also on the property is a 1960s Modernist schoolhouse and an 80-acre parkland designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
  • ๐ŸŒ Dysart House. A Tudor Revival house, built by Walter Law in 1897 as a precursor to his more-famous Tudor Revival structures, the Briarcliff Lodge and Briarcliff railroad station (now a public library). Law built Dysart House as a guest house for those who arrived by the nearby train station. In 1902, the house became the Tewksbury School, and in 1913, it became Mrs. Frances Scharff Marshall's Day and Boarding School. It remains a private residence.
  • ๐ŸŒ Juniper Ledge. An Arts and Crafts-style bungalow on the National Register of Historic Places and built in 1910; a fine example of its school of architecture and former home of suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt.
  • ๐ŸŒ Manor House. A Tudor Revival building built in 1925 by Oscar Vatet for Rev. Dr. Rufus P. Johnston (pastor of John D. Rockefeller's Fifth Avenue Baptist Church). The building later became home to Dr. Arthur O'Connor; then to Cognitronics, and later to Frank B. Hall, Inc. It is an empty and unused part of Briarcliff Corporate Campus.
  • ๐ŸŒ St. Maryโ€™s Episcopal Church. A Gothic Revival church built in 1851, the church has narrow lancelet windows created by Bolton Priory, one of Americaโ€™s first stained glass manufacturers, and is the only complete set of Bolton windows in existence.
  • ๐ŸŒ Vanderlip-Street house (Julian Street Jr. residence). A Modernist house designed by Wallace Harrison for Frank A. Vanderlip (who built it for his daughter and son-in-law) was one of the first contemporary-style homes in Westchester.

Do

Parks and preserves

Briarcliff Manor and the surrounding areas offer numerous opportunities to explore the outdoors, from hiking on trails in the Hardscrabble Wilderness Area to admiring the views of the Hudson River at Scarborough Park.

  • ๐ŸŒ Law Memorial Park, 1031 Pleasantville Rd (just south of the village center). A charming park, with a public pool, racket sports courts (permit only), a soccer field, baseball field, and a pond with benches, walkways, and period lighting. The pool is usually open Memorial Day to Labor Day, although non-residents are not generally allowed unless you are accompanied by a village resident. In the summer, the pavilion next to the pool sells ice cream, cold drinks, and small finger foods.
  • ๐ŸŒ Pocantico Park, 2 Laurel Lane. The largest park in Briarcliff, offering two hiking trails of moderate difficulty with a total of one mile of hiking trails. At the top of the hiking trail, there is a scenic vista with views over Briarcliff. Parking is available along the side of Laurel Lane.
  • ๐ŸŒ Scarborough Park, 156 Scarborough Station Rd (from the train station, walk up the street past the US Post Office, turn on Locust Rd.). A small patch of green that borders the Hudson and offers gorgeous river views across to the Palisades, one of the only riverside parts of Briarcliff. At sunset, the views over the Hudson River are gorgeous. A quiet place to relax, unwind and feed the geese or go fishing.
  • ๐ŸŒ Chilmark Park. Large park in the Chilmark district, formerly the site of the Chilmark Country Club. Offers tennis and pickleball courts (permit only), a basketball court, soccer field, baseball field, and a large playground.

Golf courses

  • ๐ŸŒ Sleepy Hollow Country Club, 777 Albany Post Road. Private 27-hole golf course on the National Register of Historic Places, and considered by many to be one of the best in Westchester County. The clubhouse, a Renaissance Revival mansion and formerly the private residence Woodlea, contains Beaux-Arts and Georgian Revival features, and was designed by Stanford White and built during the early 1890s.
  • ๐ŸŒ Trump National Golf Club, 100 Shadow Tree Lane. Private 18-hole golf course located just southwest of Briarcliff's central business district, featuring a $1-million waterfall on hole thirteen.

Hiking and cycling

  • ๐ŸŒ North County Trailway (from the Briarcliff Manor Public Library parking lot, head towards the library and turn right at the bike racks). A 22.1 mi (35.6 km) paved, multi-use path that spans from Eastview to the Putnam County border. Built along the railbed of the former Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad, the trailway provided rail service in the late 19th century and early 20th century from the Bronx to Putnam County. While on the trail, look out for old remnants of train tracks bisecting the trail.
  • ๐ŸŒ Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park (from the Scarborough Engine Company, head north up Scarborough Road). A 26.2 mi (42.2 km) unpaved multiuse trail which follows the path of the Croton Aqueduct, built in the 19th century to fulfill New York City's need for fresh water. The park stretches from the Bronx County border to the Croton Dam in Cortlandt, and features numerous historical buildings along the trail. In the winter, the trail, snow dependent, can be used for cross-country skiing.
  • ๐ŸŒ Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway (50 ft (15 m) east of the Briarcliff-Peekskill Parkway on Ryder Road). 12 mi (19 km) of unpaved linear park, built on lands originally intended to become a parkway. Bisects many nature preserves, reservations, and parks. No bicycles allowed.

Other

  • Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society, One Library Road (left of the Briarcliff Manor Public Library, on the basement level), โ˜ +1 914-941-4393. 9AM-4PM on weekdays. Usually held every few months, the society hosts events surrounding the local nature and history in Westchester County. They also have an extensive collection of maps, books, and memorabilia regarding the history of Briarcliff Manor.
  • The Briarcliff Manor Chamber of Commerce runs "1st Thursday... Night Lights", a themed event on the first Thursday of every month from June to September for walking, shopping, and dining around the village from 4-8PM.
  • The Pleasantville Farmer's Market, the largest farmer's market in Westchester, is held in bordering village Pleasantville every Saturday.
  • Rockwood Hall, a former estate, is a park on the bank of the Hudson River. The park has an extensive network of good jogging trails.

Annual events

  • Memorial Day Parade. Featuring Fire and Police Departments, boy and girl scouts, bands, and other groups, who march from the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department to the Tree Streets and back to Law Memorial Park for a brief remembrance ceremony, usually held in the Law Pavilion. There are multiple pedestrian areas where spectators can watch the parade throughout the village.
  • Briarcliff Manor Community Bonfire. Hosted at Law Memorial Park during the month of December by the village and the Recreation Advisory Committee, the bonfire features live music and a community Sing-a-Long, holiday craft projects for children, and small snacks and warm drinks.
  • Santa's Express. Hosted by the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department, a firefighter dressed as St. Nicholas sits on top of a village fire engine and drives through the streets in the Briarcliff Manor fire protection area. If you wave to Santa, he will throw you candy and other trinkets from the truck.
  • Community Day. Held every September, it is one of the biggest events in the village every year. Local vendors, inflatable play areas, and food trucks are all brought out to Law Memorial Park, and there is always a firework show at the end.
  • Briarcliff High School Concerts, Dramas, and Musicals. Briarcliff Manor High School's Performing Arts Department presents annual free winter and spring concerts, as well as a paid fall drama and spring musical production.

Buy

Briarcliff has three retail business areas, a general (non-retail) business area, and scattered office buildings and laboratories.

The village's principal retail area, the Central Business District, also known as the Village Center or East End, is located on Briarcliff Manor's main street on Pleasantville Road and continues on North State Road. The area has numerous businesses lining Pleasantville Road, and is home to the village hall and a pocket park, and has brick sidewalks, period street lighting, and free parking. Farther south along the road is the Walter W. Law Memorial Park, and southeast along the road are the three schools of the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. Additional businesses and restaurants lie along North State Road.

The central business district primarily has retailers such as restaurants, cafes, small food markets and specialty shops. The North State Road business district has a supermarket, a bank, a gas station and a mixture of retail stores, and the other retail areas have national and local stores. A mile north on Pleasantville Road brings you to the Chilmark Shopping Center with an ACME grocery store, CVS pharmacy, and restaurants.

Just a few blocks further north leads to Route 133. Turn left onto 133 for the commercial district of the village of Ossining. After 1 mile west on 133, turn left onto Route 9. Go 1ยฝ miles south on Rt. 9 to reach the historic Scarborough neighborhood of Briarcliff Manor and the Arcadia Shopping Center which includes a CVS, and a Stop & Shop grocery.

Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Sleep

While Briarcliff Manor does not feature traditional hotels or motels, it offers unique accommodation options including a well-equipped conference center, along with various lodging choices within a fifteen minute drive.

  • ๐ŸŒ Edith Macy Conference Center, 550 Chappaqua Rd, โ˜ +1 914-945-8000. Situated among 405 wooded acres on a mountainside. They promote the country setting as a good location to conduct corporate work sessions in a relaxing environment without distractions.

Budget

  • ๐ŸŒ Comfort Inn & Suites, 20 Saw Mill River Rd., Hawthorne (Starting from downtown Briarcliff Manor, travel south along NY-9A for approximately five miles. After passing the first stop light, continue to the second stop light on NY-9A and make a left turn there.), โ˜ +1 914 592-8600. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Small chain hotel located right off of the Saw Mill River Parkway and NY-9A. A few chain restaurants in the nearby area. The hotel includes all the standard amenities including Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, and a pool. $100-200 per night for a single room.
  • ๐ŸŒ Extended Stay America - Elmsford, 118 W Main St, Elmsford (From downtown Briarcliff, turn left onto the Taconic State Parkway South, and take exit three onto the Saw Mill Parkway. Take exit 22 and turn left at the traffic light. The hotel should be on the right-hand side.), โ˜ +1 914-347-8073. Small chain hotel with easy access to the Saw Mill Parkway. I-87, and I-287. Central location with many nearby restaurants. Included standard amenities like breakfast, Wi-Fi, and a full kitchen. $100-200 per night for a single room.

Mid-Range

  • ๐ŸŒ Tarrytown House Estate on the Hudson, 49 E Sunnyside Ln, Tarrytown (From downtown Briarcliff, take the Taconic State Parkway south and take exit three onto the Saw Mill River Parkway. Approximately six miles down the road, take a sharp right hand turn onto Mountain Rd. Take a slight left onto East Sunnyside Lane and the hotel will be on the left.), โ˜ +1 914-591-8200, . Nestled within 26 acres of lush greenery, this historic hotel presents breathtaking views and a rich history that traces back to the mid-19th century. The hotel offers all the standard amenities, including a fitness center and a pool. Adding to its charm are reported sightings of a ghost near room 293! $150-300 per night for a single room.

Go next

Briarcliff Manor is in central Westchester County, bordering river villages like Ossining and Sleepy Hollow.

Briarcliff Manor is 30 miles (48 km) north of Manhattan, which makes it easy for anyone to travel to and from the Big Apple. For those not looking to splurge on a week-long urban adventure, day trips or even a special dinner excursion are simple and absolutely worth it! If you're worried about driving in the busy city, the MetroNorth train is a 45-minute ride along the Hudson River.

Across the Tappan Zee Bridge in Central Valley, this outlet center is a popular shopping haven for New Yorkers and tourists. Stores range from casual to designer, such as Gap, Burberry, Polo, Disney, and many more. A food court and restaurants are also provided.

Also across the Tappan Zee Bridge in West Nyack is a massive 4-level shopping mall. A variety of retail stores for shoppers to explore, as well as an ice skating rink, movie theater, and fun zone for kids.

Activities such as ice skating, miniature golf, concerts, theatrical performances and historical tours are all within driving distance in the county.

Routes through Briarcliff Manor
Somers โ† Croton-on-Hudson โ†  N  S  โ†’ Elmsford โ†’ Yonkers
Albany โ† Ossining โ†  N  S  โ†’ Sleepy Hollow โ†’ New York City
Croton-on-Hudson โ† Ossining โ†  N  S  โ†’ Sleepy Hollow โ†’ New York City


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