Abandoned Mental Hospital to Become Fancy Hudson Valley Spa

The abandoned Hudson Valley sanitorium where Henry Fonda's wife committed suicide is being transformed into a posh wellness resort near Beacon in Dutchess County.

After undergoing a lobotomy, President John F. Kennedy's sister Rosemary was sent to live in Craig House on Route 9D. The mental hospital once treated the rich and famous including the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald who suffered from schizophrenia. After closing in 1999, the enormous mansion sat neglected for over 20 years.

Now, the eerie old sanatorium is being transformed by Mirbeau Inn and Spa as they plan to expand their presence in the Hudson Valley. The high-end resort with locations in Rhinebeck and Albany says they're reimaging the property into a modern and elegant wellness retreat.

In a press release, Mirbeau focuses on the romance of the property, spending time talking about how it was originally the home of Joseph and Eliza Howland. The duo built the home in 1861 and named it “Tioronda.” Just 41 years later, however, the house was transformed into a sanatorium and spent over 100 years housing the mentally ill.

While glossing over the whole "mental hospital" aspect of the property, Mirbeau Inn and Spa says that they plan to create  85 "Mirbeau style" guest rooms, suites, and private guest cottages on the property. The Beacon property would be Maribu's largest spa and fitness center at 25,000 square feet.

Aside from being a wellness retreat, the inn and spa will also feature a bistro and wine Bar set inside the historic mansion's dining room which overlooks the site's "Monet Pond Gardens and sprawling estate vistas"

The project is expected to be completed by next year.