Eastern Seaboard’s Largest Solar-Powered Resort Commended in NJ Joint Legislative Resolution
Resort Also Prides Itself on its Bee Initiatives, Working with Local Farms, Sourcing Local Ingredients, and
Offering Sustainable-Focused Activities for Meeting Attendees and Guests
Hamburg, New Jersey – Nov. 2, 2023 – The Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey has recognized Crystal Springs Resort [1] in
Sussex County, N.J. for its extraordinary commitment to sustainability
and development in an eco-conscious and community friendly manner,
highlighted by its standing as the largest solar powered resort on the
Eastern Seaboard. The on-site solar field is comprised of 19,000 solar
panels generating 3.5 megawatts annually, an output greater than the
combined annual power consumption of the Resort’s two hotels.
New Jersey State Senator Steve Oroho along with Assemblymen Hal Wirths
and Kevin Rooney presented the Joint Resolution acknowledging the
resort’s commitment to sustainability. The Resolution recognized
Crystal Springs Resort for having developed the largest resort based
solar field in the Eastern United States. It also commended the
Mulvihill family for a wide array of sustainability initiatives they
have enacted over the years in their development and operation of the
resort, providing long-term benefit to the local community, Sussex
County and the State of New Jersey. These include preserving the value
of the surrounding property, developing operations, employing thousands
of local residents, and attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists and
business travelers from both in and out of state to generate revenue and
tax dollars for the local economy.
Additionally, the Resolution recognized various successful partnerships
in which Crystal Springs Resort has engaged. Highlights of such
partnerships include:
* the creation of a pollinator corridor in association with JCP&L and
the New Jersey Audubon Society,
* the preservation of bog turtle habitats in conjunction with the NJ
Division of Fish and Wildlife,
* sourcing menu ingredients from local growers and producers, and
* developing programs to encourage Resort guests to visit local farms.
“It is great to receive this recognition for our solar field and other
sustainability initiatives, but the greenest thing about us that is
often overlooked is the fact that we are a drive-to destination,” said
Chris Mulvihill, Chief Marketing Officer of Crystal Springs Resort.
“Every time someone decides to drive to Crystal Springs Resort instead
of taking a trip to a fly-to destination, they are saving jet fuel and
massive amounts of carbon emissions. We did the math, and if we can
convince just a handful of corporate groups per month to host their
annual retreats with us instead of flying to Las Vegas, those companies
will be offsetting more carbon emissions than our entire 25 acre solar
farm.”
Further reflecting on the Resort’s objectives, Mulvihill continued,
“Our mission is to become the New York Metropolitan area’s most
sustainable choice for getaways and group gatherings. In addition to the
solar field, pollinator corridor, and bog turtle initiatives, we have
done a lot to incorporate themes of sustainability, nature, wellness and
local agriculture support into our programming for the benefit of our
guests”. Companies hosting offsite meetings with Crystal Springs
Resort can enhance their event with team-building activities such as
sustainable farm tours, hiking with a botanist who identifies edible
native plants, and learning about beekeeping and building bee boxes that
can support the fragile bee population.
“While we recognize the primary purpose of a company’s offsite
gathering may be to conduct business meetings, it never hurts to enhance
an event with additional experiences that can give attendees a
connection with nature and inspire them to be better stewards of the
environment”, said Mulvihill.
About Crystal Springs Resort
The Northeast’s largest four-season golf, spa, and culinary resort,
Crystal Springs is located in the Kittatinny Mountains in northern New
Jersey, 43 miles from New York City. The two-hotel resort (Grand
Cascades Lodge and Minerals Hotel) is known for its culinary program,
hosting the internationally recognized New Jersey Wine & Food Festival
and boasting 10 seasonally inspired dining venues that feature over 200
locally sourced menu items, highlighted by 4-star Restaurant Latour and
its world-famous _Wine Spectator_ Grand Award-winning wine cellar. Other
amenities include two full-service luxury day spas (rated #1 & #2 in
N.J. by _Spas of America_); state-of-the-art Minerals Sports Club;
multiple indoor and outdoor heated pools, including the tropical
Biosphere Pool Complex with lush foliage and freeform nature pools, and
six championship-caliber golf courses including New Jersey’s #1 public
course, Ballyowen. In addition to serving thousands of hotel guests,
Crystal Springs Resort annually hosts hundreds of weddings, special
events and corporate meetings.
