The Power House in Mills-Norrie State Park
The Hudson River Research Reserve’s 2026-2027 Education Programs will take place at the Power House, which is located near Mills Mansion within Staatsburgh State Historic Site. We are excited to welcome your students here for the season.
The Power House is riverside with a small indoor classroom, restrooms, a seining beach, and access to hiking trails. Drinking water refill is available onsite. This temporary program location is not wheelchair accessible. Visitors must park near the Carriage Barn and travel approximately 300 yards downhill on a paved driveway to the gravel path that leads to the Power House.
We invite you to explore the new site using the image gallery below. To enlarge photos, hover over the image and click the plus sign.
Entrance View Driving North
Entrance to Staatsburgh State Historic Site, driving north on Old Post Road.
Entrance View Driving South
Entrance to Staatsburgh State Historic Site, driving south on Old Post Road.
Bridge Over Train Tracks
After the entrance gate, take the one lane bridge and follow the road around the bend.
Take Right at Fork
Bear right at the fork. Continue northwest until you reach the parking lot.
Bear Right at Fork
Bear right at the fork. Continue northwest until you reach the parking lot. The bus will not be able to drive directly to the Power House.
Parking Lot Near Carriage Barn
Park in the lot near the Carriage Barn. The bus will not be able to drive directly to the Power House.
Path to Power House
A green gate marks the path that takes you toward the Power House. Note that there is no motor vehicle access. Students will walk past the green gate. It is a 3 to 5-minute walk until you reach the gravel path that connects to the Power House.
Road Splits into Gravel Path
After walking for 5 minutes or so, there will be a gravel path on that splits off from the road toward the river.
Follow Gravel Path Toward the River
Take the gravel path. The terrain is uneven and not wheelchair accessible. Please watch your step.
Continue on Riverfront Path
The gravel path leads to the Bathroom, Power House, and Seining Beach.
Bathroom
The bathroom is along the gravel path just before you reach the Power House. There is a drinking water dispenser on site to refill water bottles.
Power House
The riverfront Power House includes a small indoor classroom.
Staatsburgh State Historic Site (Mills Mansion)
Staatsburgh State Historic Site is the elegant country home of Ogden Mills and his wife Ruth Livingston Mills. Overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, Staatsburgh is a fine example of Gilded Age architecture.
For more information on Staatsburgh State Historic Site including the site map, rules, restrictions, and guidelines for allowed uses, visit the OPRHP website.
Open for Recreation: Year-round
Fee: Park access is free, but there are fees associated with admission to the mansion.
Allowed Uses: Parking, Biking, Hiking, Picnic Area, Tours, Wildlife Watching, Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing (may be seasonal or have other restrictions)
Directions
Please note: if you are entering an address into a GPS device, please include the entire street address for most accurate results:
Staatsburgh State Historic Site
75 Mills Mansion Drive, Road #1
Staatsburg, NY 12580
From points south – via the Taconic State Parkway (no commercial vehicles)
Exit the Parkway onto Rte. 55 going west toward Poughkeepsie. Continue on Rte. 55 through the city of Poughkeepsie. You will approach the Mid-Hudson Bridge – JUST BEFORE the bridge, on the right, is a ramp leading to Rte. 9 North. Make a right onto this ramp.
Take Rte 9 North through Hyde Park, approx. 3.3 miles north of the entrance to Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site bear left at the fork onto Old Post Road. Continue on Old Post Rd through the Hamlet of
Staatsburg. Approximately a mile on your left, opposite the Dinsmore Golf Course, is the gate to the mansion’s grounds. The sign reads: Staatsburgh State Historic Site.
From points south – via NYS Thruway:
Take Exit 18 New Paltz. Take the ramp up to Rte 299 and make a right, going east. At the end of 299 is a traffic light at the intersection of 299 and Rte. 9W. Make a right and go south on 9W. Beyond the first traffic light in the town of Highland, take the ramp (on right) for the Mid-Hudson Bridge.
At the end of the bridge, just before one enters Poughkeepsie, is a ramp to Rte. 9. Follow the ramp around to take Rte. 9 North toward Hyde Park. Continue on Rte. 9 through Hyde Park; about 3.3 miles north of the entrance to Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site bear left at the fork onto Old Post Road. Continue on Old Post Rd through the Hamlet of Staatsburg. Approximately a mile on your left, opposite the Dinsmore Golf Course, is the gate to the mansion’s grounds. The sign reads: Staatsburgh State Historic Site.
From points south – via Rt. 9
Take Rte 9 North through Hyde Park, approx. 3.3 miles north of the entrance to Vanderbilt Mansion National
Historic Site bear left at the fork onto Old Post Road. Continue on Old Post Rd through the Hamlet of
Staatsburg. Approximately a mile on your left, opposite the Dinsmore Golf Course, is the gate to the mansion’s
grounds. The sign reads: Staatsburgh State Historic Site.
From points north – via NYS Thruway
NYS Thruway (I 87) South to Exit 21 (Catskill). Turn left at stop sign. Follow Rt. 23 east to the Rip Van
Winkle Bridge. Watch the signs!
After you cross the bridge bear right onto Rt. 9G south. If you look on top of the hill you can see Olana! Follow
9G south for approx. 30 minutes to the intersection of Route 9 and 9G. Make a right onto Route 9 South.
Continue straight (south). At the next traffic light in the center of the Village of Rhinebeck (Beekman Arms is
on your right) continue south on Rt. 9 for 4.6 miles and make a right onto Old Post Road. Proceed 1.8 miles; the
entrance to the site is on the right The sign reads: Staatsburgh State Historic Site (and the Dinsmore Golf Course is on the left).
From points north – via Taconic State Parkway (no commercial vehicles)
Take exit for Route 199 West. At 1st Traffic Light bear left onto Route 308 West. Continue on Route 308 to the village of Rhinebeck.
At traffic light (intersection of Route 9) make a left onto Rte. 9 south. Continue south for 4.6 miles and make a right onto Old Post Road. Proceed 1.8 miles; the entrance to the site is on the right The sign reads: Staatsburgh State Historic Site (and the Dinsmore Golf Course is on the left).
From points north – via Rt. 9
From the traffic light at the intersection of Rt. 9 and Rt. 308 in the center of the Village of Rhinebeck (Beekman Arms is on your right) continue south on Rt. 9 for 4.6 miles and make a right onto Old Post Road. Proceed 1.8 miles; the entrance to the site is on the right The sign reads: Staatsburgh State Historic Site (and the Dinsmore
Golf Course is on the left).
Important Building Access Announcement
Norrie Point Environmental Center will be temporarily closed for renovations through 2027. See above for details about new locations for education programs. Please visit our FAQ page for more details about the temporary closure.