The sophisticated vacationer seeking an exclusive getaway might consider a log cabin filled with twig, hickory, and birch bark furnishings a bit too informal and woodsy for his or her tastes. 

But the rustic ambience found at Lake Placid Lodge only heightens the measure of fine luxury and comfort to be found there. Nestled securely in the oldest mountain range in North America, the Lodge boasts the very best of the past and present on the shores of Lake Placid, five hours north of New York City. 

Lake Placid Lodge’s location in the Adirondack mountain range sets the stage for a transporting experience. The word Adirondack means “bark eater,” a name given to the indigenous Indians of the region who ate tree bark to survive. The Adirondack mountain region is one of long winters, short summers, and brilliant autumns, so it is not surprising that 100 years ago people with last names such as Rockefeller and Vanderbilt looked north for their escape from the city. 

In 1882 a small “camp” was built on the shores of one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes in the region named Lake Placid. It was the first of several massive lodges built by America’s legendary industrialists, financiers, and railroad magnates beginning in the 1800s. These lavish retreats eventually became known as the “great camps of the Adirondacks.” By 1946 the private lodge had become a hotel named Placid Manor. When David and Christie Garrett, owners of the small exclusive resort The Point, discovered it, they were determined to recreate the original atmosphere and the spirit of such a great era. The Garretts wanted to return the manor to its classic heritage, and the result is a unique architectural legacy of legendary status that has survived the decades intact. 

Lake Placid Lodge is exhilarating primarily because of the exacting attention to detail and the commitment to furnishing its 11guest rooms and 19 cabins with only the finest examples of great camp-inspired Adirondack furniture. 

Many local craftsmen have been deeply involved in this unique furnishing approach of Lake Placid Lodge.  They include Scott Foster, whose Cold Brook Studio creates an entire collection of furniture featured at the Lodge; Dave Robinson, a trained sculptor, who is also an innovative designer and woodworker; and Barney and Susan Bellinger, who specialize in custom-made furnishings fitted with specially commissioned oil paintings of scenes with sentimental meaning to the clients.  Ralph Kylloe, author of eight books on the rustic furnishings and artistry of the Adirondack style, understands the artistry and attention given to every piece of furniture found in the Lodge.  He explains the connection between the luxurious Manhattan mansions owned by these early industrialists and the décor of their great camp homes: “Some of these early camp lodges were the recipients of whatever was left over from New York City homes,” he says. This included items such as Tiffany lamps and Persian rugs, designs for which were inspired by nature. And the Arts and Crafts movement in upstate New York focused primarily on unadorned, timeless furniture whose designs reminded you that a certain chair or table “began as a simple piece of wood.”