Great Camp Sagamore
Visit the Gilded Age private playground of one of America’s wealthiest families.
Photos courtesy Great Camp Sagamore
In the latter half of the 19th century, many of America’s wealthiest families (think Vanderbilts, Morgans, Rockefellers) built or purchased vast tracts of wilderness to create private summer retreats to escape from hot, dirty, crowded cities. And while initially, the first camps were relatively rustic, they soon evolved into “Great Camps” that provided the comforts of home in a wilderness setting.
Historians cite Camp Sagamore as the quintessential Great Camp. Constructed in 1897 by visionary Great Camp designer William West Durant on 1,526 acres of remote wilderness in the Adirondack Park, Great Camp Sagamore eventually became a wilderness retreat for the Vanderbilt family for half a century. It is now a National Historic Landmark managed by a non-profit educational institution as a public trust.
The Chalet at Great Camp Sagamore.
Take a fascinating tour of Sagamore to experience life at one of the most exclusive get-aways imaginable. You can visit the 27 different buildings that make up the Vanderbilts’ family compound and playground.
Despite its remote location, the Camp afforded luxuries like electricity, hot and cold running water, indoor plumbing, an ice house, a laundry, a two-story greenhouse, almost 30 fireplaces, and even a bowling alley. The staff was required to spray water on the rocks of several indoor fireplaces to keep the decorative moss alive indoors and preserve the desired rustic look. Gilded Age guests dressed for lavish dinners every night with menus printed in French, fine china and sparkling crystal.
It literally took a small village to maintain Sagamore year-round. The property included a working farm as well as a sugarhouse for making maple syrup. The Camp had its own blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse for workers’ children, a hydro system for electricity and a sewer system. Workers also had to keep the private 158-acre lake stocked with fish for guests who wanted to drop a line.
The beautiful wood-paneled dining room at Great Camp Sagamore in the Central Adirondacks.
As you tour the property, you’ll experience what life was like for Vanderbilts and their guests, as well as the large staff, many of whom lived at the Camp year-round,
To immerse yourself, you can stay overnight at Sagamore (do not confuse it with The Sagamore Resort on Lake George). Lodging rates are inclusive of all meals and many fun activities for the whole family. Accommodations vary, so be sure to read the descriptions carefully for the style that best suits your needs.
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