Young couple restores historic Sparrow Bush estate into wedding venue and inn
The new owners of Pine Brook Manor say they hope the 130-year-old property becomes a place where people can gather, celebrate and slow down.
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Tucked away in the woods of Sparrow Bush sits a historic estate that new owners Colin and Indiana Crilley hope will soon become the backdrop for weddings, family gatherings and weekend escapes.
The couple recently reopened Pine Brook Manor — a 130-year-old property featuring water views, a historic wood bridge, a waterwheel and more than 100 acres of mountain scenery — as a wedding venue and inn.
“It’s amazing here to wake up in the mornings and listen to the waterwheel turning,” Colin Crilley told News 12. “It’s just so incredibly peaceful.”
The property dates back to 1895, when it originally operated as “Pine Park Cottage,” a Victorian boarding house welcoming summer visitors near the end of the Port Jervis rail line. Over the decades, the estate became tied to the Dunwald family, whose construction business also helped shape parts of Port Jervis.
Crilley told News 12 his family became only the third owners in the property’s 130-year history.
“We really think of ourselves as being the current stewards of this property,” he said. “There’s something really important and critical about the land we are on and the responsibility we have to the place and the community as a whole.”
The Crilleys moved from Florida with their newborn daughter and took on the major project of restoring the estate.
“Indy found one more and checked it out and we really fell in love with it,” Crilley said. “It’s perfect.”
The couple says they spent years searching for a property where they could create meaningful experiences for guests.
“Our wedding was really amazing,” Crilley said. “We wanted to create a place where we had that for others too. It’s not just an event hall or a space to party, but a place where you and your friends and family can really gather and spend time together.”
The estate’s first weddings are expected to begin this July.
To help introduce people to the property, the couple is also launching a giveaway called “We Need More Love,” where one couple will win a free wedding at the venue.
The giveaway includes access to the property, getting ready spaces, tables, chairs and help coordinating the big day.
“We want to hear people’s love stories and give one lucky couple a chance to have their wedding here,” Crilley said.
Couples can enter by submitting a video sharing their love story.
The Crilleys say they also hope the restored estate becomes a lasting part of the community and local economy — and a place where families can create memories for years to come.
“We are so excited to be able to raise our family here too,” Crilley said. “This is going to be her home and I feel so grateful that that’s the life we have ahead of us.”
Click here to learn more about the wedding giveaway contest.
