The Story Behind Hollow Sky

From family weekends to a place to share

A lasting connection.

Hollow Sky is a private modern retreat set on 110 acres in Preston Hollow, New York, shaped as much by personal history as by the surrounding landscape.

The property once belonged to my Uncle, Edward J. Acciardi—“Uncle Ed”—a lifelong educator and guidance counselor who bought the land in the early 1980s. Ed never married or had children of his own, and because I was an only child with two parents who worked long hours, I spent much of my childhood with him. Most weekends brought us to the Catskills, where he taught me about nature, local history, hard work, and the importance of giving something back.

There were always chores to complete before the day could open up: maintaining the property, helping around the house, or taking care of the land. Afterward, we would walk the fields and wooded trails, explore the ponds and creeks, and talk. Ed was curious about people and cultures, and he believed in listening carefully, staying open-minded, and understanding that responsibility mattered. Those weekends ultimately helped shape my own career in real estate and the way I think about land—not simply as something to own, but as something to respect and preserve.

When the property came to me after Ed’s passing, selling it never felt right. The land held too much history, and the experience of being there remained too closely connected to him. Instead, I chose to restore the house and reimagine it as a place where others could experience the quiet and perspective that the property had given me throughout my life.

The renovation was guided by restraint. Rather than competing with the landscape, the home was designed to frame it: long Catskill views, open meadows, apple trees, ponds, woods, and a sky that seems to stretch far beyond the property itself. Warm natural materials, modern furnishings, large windows, and carefully considered comforts create a home that feels refined without losing its connection to the land.

Inside, the atmosphere is calm and comfortable, with a fireplace, a thoughtfully equipped kitchen, private bedrooms, spa-like bathrooms, and spaces designed for reading, cooking, conversation, or simply watching the weather move across the mountains. Outdoors, guests can spend time in the hot tub, gather around the fire, walk the property’s trails, visit the koi ponds, or sit quietly as the light changes over the fields.

Hollow Sky is not intended to feel like a conventional rental. It is a continuation of a family story and an invitation to slow down. The hope is that guests leave feeling grounded—with space to breathe, listen, reconnect, and experience the rare comfort of having nowhere else they need to be.

Experience Hollow Sky

The next chapter includes the guests who come here to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the land.