Disco Chalet: The Ski-Culture Rave Upping Hudson Valley Nightlife

By Janet Mercel on 2.28.24

The nightlife of upstate New York ebbs and flows like anywhere else. But given its seasonal nature and relative isolation, when it ebbs, it can really ebb. There have been pockets of high level energy over the years, (ie. The Limelight club kids in the late 90s coming up to rave in fields, the Spiegeltent, House of Yes, Prime Time, et al.), but if there is any event in recent years that captures the lost art of curating a mega party, it’s the Disco Chalet.

Produced by Sean B Nutley, the unofficial social mayor of Kingston, and his co-organizer, DJ Laura Lynn, the event spans a weekend of festivities, some low-key, some high, at the picture perfect Inness in Accord, NY.

Laura Lynn, a West Coaster who came to New York in 2018, quickly gravitated to the upstate-downstate trajectory of her Bushwick crew, like DJs Zev Eisenberg and Gadi Mizrahi (Wolf & Lamb) and Eli Goldstein (Soul Clap) who were already throwing invite-only parties at Hudson Valley properties. And Sean’s events, she says, like Catskills Roller Disco, were selling out. “There was just a sea of people at these things, there was such a need in the area. But there’s only a couple a year, and in the fair seasons. In the winter up here, if you’re not skiing, there’s nothing.”

The night magic of Disco Chalet at Inness

“I always loved exploring the apre-ski culture of Europe, it’s a whole lifestyle,” she explains. “Two years ago, I threw a 70s glam themed party at a house near Hunter Mountain. We got snowed in, it was great. People were like, ‘why don’t you make this a real thing?’” Disco Chalet was born, and Sean, whose bonafides include working the door at Area back in the day, suggested Inness. Taavo Somer wasn’t necessarily looking to up the vibe at his peaceful, 220-acre, nature preserving resort, but as no stranger to building a nightlife vibe himself, he immediately saw the vision.

“I started out DJing, believe it or not, from 2000 to 2004. Freemans came from wanting to make nightlife happen downtown [in NYC]. Inness is a different time; it reflects my life now. It’s a more holistic look at nature, wellness, interesting food and design.” These days, as anyone who’s spent time in Ibiza or Bali knows, a holistic point of view encompasses more than yoga classes and grain bowl breakfasts, and there’s more than one way to recharge and reset.

DJ DeeDee Dame at the Pré Fête. Photo by Sasha B

DJs Heidi Lawden and Lovefingers at the Grand Soiree. Photo by Sasha B

“I knew Sean from being around Hotel Kinsley, [another Taavo property] in Kingston, where he’s such a fixture and a character in the community. When he came to me, it was an obvious choice to trust him with something like this,” Taavo says. “His skill set is seeing something that wasn’t there before, an audience that wanted this kind of party, this sense of openness and community.”

Disco Chalet is a smorgasbord of winter events- fully embracing the 70s chic European apres-ski mood that has you hitting the slopes, dancing late into the night and seeing the same people around the breakfast table the next morning. “You don’t have to pay for all the events going on,” Sean explains. “We want it to be a full weekender that’s part of the mountain culture, a chill environment.”

Temperatures rising at the Grand Soiree. Photo by Sasha B

DJs camped out at the base of Windham Mountain for daytime sets, while Mezcal Rosaluna and Amaro Montenegro provided cocktails everywhere. Friday night’s Pré Fête opened the weekend with a warm up DJ set at The Gatehouse, an Anna Karenina-esque, firelit love shack packed to the brim with people eating and drinking. The Grand Soiree is Saturday night’s full-on rave in The Barn. 2023’s inaugural year sold out, and this year saw 500 attendees with a waiting list, drawing so many pre-party revelers that the restaurant at Inness saw its most successful seating since opening.

As for next year, will there be a third Disco Chalet? “We would love to keep growing, next year incorporate a brunch and the new spa that’s opening at Inness,” Sean says. “Especially during this pretty dead time of year, we want to breathe life into as many local businesses in the community as possible.”

“It was absolutely a success,” Taavo confirms. “This was year two. Three would make it a pattern.”