Arthur Adams in The Hudson River Guidebook says that in 1836, there was a period of "intense land speculation" in Verplanck's Point and that where there had been fields of corn and potatoes, there was now a large village with several fine mansions. The hotel must have built around this time. The landing would have been for the ferry which brought visitors to the hotel prior to the railroad. The hotel may have been short-lived as it is not noted on Bier's 1891 map of the same area. Adams also says in the 1850's there began to be limestone quarries in this area.