Hidden beneath Kingston's historic Rondout District lies one of the Hudson Valley's most remarkable commercial spaces — The Rondout Caves. Originally carved out in 1856 for a tunneling project, these massive hand-hewn stone vaults have stood cool and constant ever since. The primary vault spans 125 feet long, 32 feet wide, and over 16 feet high, with a natural bluestone floor and a steady 56°F year-round temperature — ideal for beverage production, fermentation, or cold storage. The property's entrance emerges from the former ruins of the original 19th-century brewery, now an open, level area perfect for creating a terrace, parking court, or a new small building to complement the subterranean space.
Its story runs deep: once home to the J. Hauck & Son Brewery, the caves supplied lager to the region for more than sixty years before being rediscovered in the 1990s and revived as a boutique wine storage facility. A natural spring flows from the back wall, with the water tested to have no contaminants, no bacteria, and no surface water interaction-but with a great mix of healthy minerals. This water is clear like a ''flawless diamond'' and possesses the most refreshing taste which is indicative of the great mineral springs of the world, and is piped to the production facility.
Located in Kingston's Rondout District, the caves sit within one of the Hudson Valley's most vibrant and creative neighborhoods — a riverfront enclave known for its historic architecture, restaurants, galleries, and breweries. The area continues to attract artists, entrepreneurs, and visitors seeking authentic spaces that blend heritage and innovation. With its proximity to the Hudson River, the Kingston waterfront, and the city's thriving cultural scene, the Rondout offers both visibility and atmosphere that few locations can match.
Today, The Rondout Caves offer a rare opportunity for visionary creators — whether an artisan brewer, urban winery, craft cidery, or food innovator — to bring a new era of production, tasting, or event experiences into this naturally climate-controlled subterranean setting perfect for a brewery, winery, cidery, distillery, cold-storage facility, specialty food production, experiential venue, tasting room or any combination of the above.