Photo by Jesse Winters
By Liz Witbeck
Today, thousands of people flock to the area throughout the year, especially during the summer. The Glenmoore Lodge, located on Glen Lake “is the best kept secret around,” said Kerry Smith, who owns it with his wife, Alicia.
“We’re right in the middle of everything. We’re right in between the Great Escape and the shopping outlets, but you wouldn’t know it,” he said.
The lodge, located at 330 Glen Lake Road in Lake George, has been in existence since the 1890s.
The Smiths are originally from Brooklyn. Kerry has a background in hospitality and bartending. He describes himself as a “people person” who was naturally drawn to the industry. Alicia spent her childhood at Glenmoore Lodge. Each summer the family would vacation at the cabins.
“I always thought that I would own it someday,” she said.
That dream came true in 2015, when the Smiths became owners of the property.
The lodge itself is the main facility upon the grounds. There are six rooms available to rent within the lodge. Of the six, two are family suites, each with two large bedrooms. Other rooms include queen or double beds for guests. Each room has a private bath.
Amenities within the lodge include flat screen cable television, free wifi, air conditioning, miniature refrigerators, toiletries for bathrooms, coffee maker, ironing boards, alarm clocks, and more. Fresh linens and towels are provided, and rooms are cleaned daily.
Glenmoore Lodge provides a bed and breakfast atmosphere. Guests enjoy breakfast prepared each morning. One of the signature parts of the breakfast are the bagels that Kerry bakes himself.
The cabins are another feature of the property. There are six available for rent: Balsam, Hemlock, Juniper, Pine, Spruce and Tamarack. They range from one- to two-bedroom cottages. Living rooms have pullout sleeper sofas. Up to four people can stay at each cabin.
All cabins have kitchens, equipped with pots, plates, cups, utensils, coffee makers, and other appliances. There are flat screen televisions, cable, free wifi, air conditioning, toiletries for the showers, and more. Each cabin comes with a charcoal grill. Linens are supplied and rooms are cleaned daily.
“It feels just like coming home. We do our best to make it feel like you are at home while you’re here,” said Kerry.
That can be a challenge, with visitors whose homes are from around the world. The lodge receives international guests of all kinds, from Denmark, Australia, and Germany, to name a few.
Recent regulations have made it so that no other hotels can build upon the lake. The lodge is grandfathered in, allowing them to be the only accommodation on the waterfront.
Activities for guests include fishing, paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, and more. All activities are included with the stay.
The Glenmoore Lodge had its first wedding this past summer and it can accommodate other events.
The Smiths have many plans for the future, including commercializing the kitchen, so they can make full breakfast and lunch menus for guests. They also want to expand the waterfront, which is a major attraction of the lodge.
Currently, Glenmoore Lodge is open from May until October. One of their main goals is to winterize the facility in order to keep it open all year long.
Glenmoore Lodge is accepting reservations at their lodge and cabins for next summer.To make a reservation, visit www.glenmoorelodge.com or call 518-792-5261.