Own a 12-acre Adirondacks summer camp from the 1880s for $4.25M
The Hedges of Blue Mountain Lake is a family camp compound in the Adirondacks dating to the 1880s. The 12+ acre site, with its 1,600 feet of waterfront land, private beach, two docks, tennis court, and 21 buildings, recently hit the market for $4.25 million, as first spotted by the Wall Street Journal. Though the summer season is already well underway, the income-generating property is offered furnished, so the new owners could get some vacation rentals going in no time.
Pat Benton and her late husband Rip bought the camp for $2.5 million in 2000. “My husband and I decided we were going to move from the South and sell everything we had there. We were going to do an ‘On Golden Pond’ and live up here,’ Mrs. Benton told the Journal, adding that they “loved the fact that this park is still very wild and open and pure.
The main lodge
But they did more than just live there. Initially, they lived in the Upper Cottage while operating the rest of the 21 buildings as a summer lodge. Business was so good, that in 2005 they moved to a house 15 minutes away to have more rentable rooms on the lake-front property.
The Birch Room (named for the fact that it’s paneled in white birch) was a selling point for the Benton’s, as it represents the true feel of the Adirondacks
The chandelier in the Moose Lodge was made from an antique sled; the Bentons added the stained-glass
Over the years, the couple spent about $1 million updating the campground, including historic restoration and repairs.
The entire site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The main lodge was constructed in 1880 as a family’s summer retreat. It has four bedrooms, a library, and a dining room with original paneling.
In 1900, the seven-bedroom Stone Lodge was added for a family member.
The cabins above were added in the 1940s.
In total, there’s more than 20,000 square feet of livable space, including 31 bedrooms, 36 full baths (14 of which were redone last year), a commercial-grade kitchen, and a 100-person dining lodge complete with the original tin ceilings and walls
The barn was transformed into a playroom. There are no televisions or telephones on the grounds.
The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but this doesn’t protect it from change. However, Mrs. Benson, now 78, says she “wants the camp to be protected by another family,” noting that “it’s perfect for a family compound, or it could stay open to the public.
[Listing: The Hedges on Blue Mountain Lake by Merrill L. Thomas Inc.]
[Via WSJ]
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