The rumor that the Honor’s Haven (formerly the Fallsview) resort hotel in Ellenville had been sold has been confirmed. The Shawangunk Journal has learned that on August 9, the hotel was bought by the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society, GEBIS, a somewhat controversial Taiwan-based Buddhist group headquartered on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

GEBIS is a Canada-based organization that got its start in Nantou, Taiwan, in 1991. It was founded by Master Jih Chang who was drawn to the Gelugpa tradition of Buddhism, a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages which believes in a monastic system of study, and counts among its adherents the Dalai Lama.

Chang called his group Bliss & Wisdom, and as it grew it developed specialties, including organic agriculture. The group became, they say, the largest Tibetan Buddhist organization in Taiwan. Somewhere along the way, the way, the name became GEBIS.

According to the information on the official GEBIS website, in 2000, Jih Chang appointed Master Zhen-Ru, aka Mary Jin, to be his successor and the spiritual teacher of the Bliss & Wisdom community. The two had met during Jih Chang’s trip to mainland China in 1998. In 2004 Jih Chang died and Master Zhen-Ru succeeded him as leader of Bliss & Wisdom.

Under the leadership of Master Zhen-Ru, the group built a large monastery of hundreds of monks and nuns on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Tensions grew between the monastery and the locals. Last year, more than 200 people attended a public forum about the accumulation of land by the organization, which some in attendance said resulted in “massive inflation” of the cost of property on the island. There were accusations that GEBIS was sidestepping regulations by using shell companies to buy up additional land. People also complained that GEBIS farmland was left fallow, which the organization disputed, pointing to their long association with organic agriculture. GEBIS, for their part, described the dispute as “a disconnect” resulting from rumor and misinformation.

Honor’s Haven has skeletons in its past, too. The 240-acre, 232 room resort has struggled over the years. The Dahn Yoga retreat formerly on the property was accused both of financial fraud and of being a cult, but criminal charges were dropped and the center enjoyed positive reviews. In a move that surprised local officials, it was put up for sale last year, the owners citing the uncertainly of the post-pandemic financial environment.

The former senior staff are no longer contactable at the hotel. We will continue to follow this story, and update you with the purchase price, plans for renovation, and any other relevant information as the deal develops.

We reached out to the new owners, and Michelle Quon, their Director of Marketing and PR, sent us a statement which read in part: “In a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, Honor’s Haven will now be managed by an esteemed hotel and resort management company based in New York, ensuring that the high standards of hospitality and tranquility are meticulously maintained.” The name of that management company is Serenity Hospitality LLC.

“As Honor's Haven embarks on this exciting new chapter,” the statement continued, “the Ellenville community and visitors from afar can look forward to enhanced wellness programming and a steadfast commitment to holistic health. The forthcoming initiatives in 2025 promise to elevate the retreat experiences, cultivating new and enriching healthy lifestyles for all who visit.”