Jessica Ferguson and Chris Menter closed on the purchase of The Juliana Resort located at 3842 Lake Shore Drive in Diamond Point, in May. They are ready to greet long-time customers and new ones as the season begins to heat up.
The couple purchased the property from Eric and Alia Fahlborg for $2.9 million. The Fahlborg’s have owned and operated the resort since 2003, when they bought it for $1.43 million.
Since that time, The Juliana has become a popular return destination for many families, who come there annually to vacation on Lake George. The Juliana has 24 rooms and sits on two acres, situated approximately halfway between Lake George village and the village of Bolton.
The resort caters specifically to families and groups—offering two-bedroom housekeeping suites with full kitchens and private decks with gas grills—as well as efficiency units with kitchenettes and standard and queen-size rooms lakeside or poolside. Ferguson said there are also some two-bedroom suites with living rooms.
She and husband, Menter, have no immediate plans to do any renovations or remodeling. She said that rooms are already booked for most of the season, although there are still a few rooms available.
“People usually leave their deposit a year in advance,” said Ferguson.
“There are not a ton of resorts like this, with full kitchens,” said Ferguson. Families usually arrive with their groceries and stay on the lakefront property more reasonably than if they were to stay at a hotel with no kitchen facility. She said the resort has a more intimate, small community feel to it.
“It’s like an extended family, with the same people coming back each year,” she said.
The Juliana has amenities such as kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards that guests may use during their stay. Other amenities include badminton, ping-pong, fishing, volleyball and there is also a movie and game room. Ferguson said they also have a karaoke and movie nights at the beachfront cabana near the water, which can accommodate up to 100 people. She also said the private dock is a popular fishing point. There is also a heated in ground swimming pool.
Ferguson and Menter are also partners with Menter’s parents – Theresa and David Menter – at Scotty’s Lakeside Resort in Lake George Village. They purchased that property in 2014 for an undisclosed amount.
Ferguson said that they are currently managing that property as well as The Juliana. Scotty’s is the largest beachfront property in the village, with 103 rooms and a café and beach bar.
Ferguson said they usually reach maximum occupancy at both locations right after school vacations begin, and business doesn’t subside until after Labor Day weekend. When talking about The Juliana, Ferguson said that the goal would be to eventually turn it into a four-season resort. She said it was a “good buy, whether we expect that to happen or not.”
The Menter family is said to own approximately 800 hotel and resort rooms in Lake George. They also own the Wakita Motel, which is located near The Great Escape, and they recently purchased the Country Inns and Suites in Queensbury.
Ferguson said she and her husband also recently purchased Nordick’s Motel located just south of The Juliana Resort. The Juliana transaction was handled by Kim Scott, realtor with Select Sotheby’s International.