My Neighborhood: Saugerties, NY—Land of Oz

Saugerties Lighthouse The Land of Oz The phrase “There’s no place like home” carries more meaning for Jennifer Oz LeRoy than it does for most. The granddaughter of Mervyn LeRoy, famed director and the producer of The Wizard of Oz, now makes her home on Oz Farm, an 82-acre equestrian estate in Saugerties, New York. But LeRoy is not simply clicking her heels and hoping things work out; she runs a thriving wedding business at the rustic-chic Oz Farm (280 MaldenTpk., 845.554.0969), which hosts some 20 weddings each year. “We plan every aspect: the design and the feel of the event, the catering, all the logistics,” says LeRoy, who is also the great-granddaughter of Jack Warner of Warner Bros. fame. Highly sought-after for her expertise in hospitality (she became manager of New York City’s Tavern on the Green at just 22 years old), LeRoy is also a partner in Shale Hill Hospitality, which operates several area businesses and is about to debut Millstream Tavern in Woodstock and Farm Kitchen in Saugerties. The community’s inventive, entrepreneurial vibe helped convince LeRoy to move there full-time in 2016 after purchasing her farm in 2006. “I love living in Saugerties,” she says. “Being upstate is about being creative. You can move here and become a woodworker, a gardener, or whatever you want.” —by Amy R. Partridge ACTIVE PURSUITS Tivoli Sailing Company Like any good upstater, LeRoy takes advantage of the Hudson Valley’s plentiful outdoor activities. Horses are her top priority, and her farm provides numerous trails on which to indulge her passion. She also enjoys the hiking trails at Kaaterskill Falls (the highest cascading waterfall in New York State) in Hunter and touts her nighttime sailing experience, with Tivoli Sailing Company (100 Rondout Ldg., 845.901.2697) in nearby Kingston, as a favorite. “It was an incredible experience to sail and be able to see all of the stars— just beautiful,” she says. Katerskill Falls DELISH DELIGHTS Silvia For a small town, Saugerties packs a punch when it comes to food and drink. At the top of LeRoy’s recommendation list? Miss Lucy’s Kitchen , which she calls “a classic Saugerties restaurant, now run by Sara [Rodland], who does an incredible job,” and The Dutch Ale House , “a restaurant where you can find your classic favorites or something elevated.” She also recommends boutique wine store Windmill Wine & Spirits (89 Partition St., 845.247.3863 ), operated by the same husband- and-wife team behind The Dutch and who are also LeRoy’s partners in Shale Hill Hospitality. In nearby Woodstock, you can often find LeRoy at her two favorite restaurants, Cucina (109 Mill Hill Rd., 845.679.9800) and Silvia (42 Mill Hill Rd., 845.679.4242 ). BEAUTY BETS “I used to be one of those people who always went back to the city to have my hair done,” LeRoy says. That all changed when she discovered Lux Hair Studio . Lux owner Francine Kolbinski did LeRoy’s hair and makeup while she was filming a television pilot, The Land of Oz, based on her wedding business, and LeRoy finally felt comfortable leaving her hair in local hands. “I’m so lucky to have her!” she says. QUICK GETAWAY When LeRoy and her partner of 10 years, Steven King, need a stress-relieving weekend, they head to Round Top and check into Glen Falls House . The boutique mountain hotel boasts “a sourced-from-scratch- comfort-food kitchen” called Trotwood and 40 guest rooms with the quirky, retro, hipster vibe that is one of the Hudson Valley’s hallmarks. Located on 47 acres of wilderness, it offers easy access to hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, and natural swimming holes. Find your next home with Elliman.