Begun around 1919 by Pierre Bernard (1876-1955) and Blanche DeVries, the Clarkstown Country Club was a center where guests learned Eastern Philosophies, yoga, music and dancing. Guests also participated in sports and watched elephants perform tricks. Bernard had many exotic animals, in addition to elephants. This included a chimpanzee, tigers, and lions. There were many rumors and misinformation about the Club being published in the 1930s and 1940s, and it appears Bernard did not try to stop the rumors. The club at its largest grew to cover 160 acres, with thirty-four buildings.