The Philosophy
The forest has always known how to restore itself.
Beneath the canopy lies the understory: a quiet layer where life slows down, takes root, and grows through connection. In the Hudson Valley, where Understory calls home, that layer holds some of the oldest wisdom in the woods.
We believe people need places like that, too. To remember that we also hold the wisdom to restore.
Understory is created in that spirit: a place to move between heat and cold, solitude and conversation, and to remember what it means to be connected—to nature, to community, and to yourself.
56 acres in Copake, NY with views of Copake Lake and the Catskill Mountains | 90% forested with abundant wildlife, and natural flows for walking trails through the woods | Programmed with a diverse mix of indoor, outdoor, thermal, and wellness experiences that function cohesively and integrate seamlessly with the property's natural setting.
The Property
rendering above
The Founder
Jenn Panawek spent over 20 years in fast-paced careers before nature and community led her down a different path. Twelve of those years were in magazine publishing, including six as Associate Publisher for Bon Appétit and W Magazine, where she led sales for both brands. Beneath the veil of success, she was living with chronic anxiety and undiagnosed health issues, increasingly disconnected from herself and the people around her.
A move to the Hudson Valley changed that. Here, she discovered contrast therapy and functional medicine, and experienced firsthand how reconnecting with her body could restore everything else. She carried that conviction into her next chapter, managing marketing, partnerships, and digital strategy for Hotel Kinsley and INNESS—work that became her launchpad into hospitality, and the foundation for founding Understory: a place built to offer others the same restoration she found.
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