ASHLEIGH LIVINGSTON
Press-Republican
PERU — For nearly five decades, Valcour Educational Conference Center has been made available exclusively to those affiliated with Plattsburgh State.
But that will soon change.
"(Starting) April 1, 2012, we're open to the public for every reservation you can think of," said Chris Whalen, director of property and marketing for the center.
Since being purchased by College Auxiliary Services in 1964, the facility has been used for social events and business meetings by Plattsburgh State alumni, current and former faculty and staff, and members of the college's boards.
The decision was made to open it to the public, Whalen said, in hopes of it becoming financially self-sustaining.
Whalen said Auxiliary Services is a nonprofit organization, and money to keep up the facility currently comes from Plattsburgh State students, faculty and staff who pay for the services and programs there.
"I really felt like it was important for this property to become self-sustaining, so that (student, faculty and staff's) money would stay on campus," she said. "So that's our goal."
GETAWAY SPOT
Whalen said she knows it will take time before the center is completely self-sustaining and hopes to see that happen within the next five or six years.
The facility hosted its first-ever open house on Sunday, Oct. 9, to showcase its offerings to members of the public, many of whom, Whalen said, had never seen the property before.
On that day, guests were invited to tour the 9-acre lakefront estate, which includes a nine-bedroom mansion and boathouse built in 1905 by the Joseph Sibley family.
On the ground level of the main house is a reception area, which seats up to 120 people. Upstairs are nine guest bedrooms, five of which overlook Lake Champlain and have private baths.
"I think in terms of the use of the property, we're hoping that the bedrooms will be used more as a bed and breakfast," Whalen said. "You don't have to have an event here in order to stay in the bedrooms. You can stay here just to get away."
'BEAUTIFUL ATMOSPHERE'
Several vendors that feature options in event décor, entertainment and fare filled the boathouse, which seats 170.
Carrieann Rollier, event specialist at Nelson's Flower Shop in Plattsburgh, was excited by the decision for the center to go public.
"I think it's going to be really good for the community. I think people are going to really like that," she said at the open house. "We (Nelson's) already do a lot of weddings here, so if they're going to open up even more (to the public), then it's going to bring us more (business)."
Odette Cintron of Plattsburgh, who recently became engaged, attended the open house to check out the center as a possible venue for her wedding.
Cintron said she is glad the public will soon have access to the estate, especially since the grounds make for a unique backdrop for an outdoor wedding ceremony.
"I know I want to have an outdoor wedding, so Valcour Conference Center is really a good place to be," she said. "It's a beautiful atmosphere, and you get a really good sense of Lake Champlain."
SPECIAL WEEKENDS
Whalen said that while she expects the public's events to keep the facility busy, Plattsburgh State affiliates need not worry about being crowded out.
"We'll always set aside special weekends for them (college affiliates) like Alumni Weekend or Homecoming Weekend," she said.
"They'll always have access to the property."
For more information, visit www.plattsburghcas.com.
Email Ashleigh Livingston at: alivingston@pressrepublican.com
