Lake House at High Peaks Resort The Montrealer December 18, 2014 8116 Renovation of this funky 1960s-era Adirondack motor lodge is a finalist for ‘Best of the Year’ by Interior Design Magazine Lake House is part of the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid, overlooking the pristine Mirror Lake. Lake House is a separate building with a unique character and history of its own, and it has recently been completely renovated and refurbished, retaining the original Adirondack character. The design firm of Studio Mapos in New York has done such an outstanding job with their rebirth of the Lakeview Motor Lodge; that their work has been nominated as one of four finalists for the 2014 Interior Design Magazine’s prestigious “Best of the Year” design awards. The Adirondack decor and welcoming fireplace in the Lake House lobby lounge Originally built in 1961, the resort was inspired by the clean lines and large windows predominating the architecture of that era – when automobile designers were designing massive cars with spectacular fins for cruising the network of super highways constructed during the 1950s’ Eisenhower Presidency. It’s easy to imagine guests pulling into the parking lot of Leahy’s Lakeside Inn (renamed in Lakeside Motor Inn in 1979) with their shiny Thunderbirds, Cadillac Eldorados, Corvettes, Ford Country Squire station wagons and Lincoln Continentals. While touring Lake House, High Peaks Marketing Director Lori Fitzgerald commented; “We were surprised and touched by the sensitivity that the design company took with so many of the small details – details that resonate with our guests. Reflecting our mountainous terrain, the three levels of the building are referred to as Meadow, Forest and Alpine. All rooms have lake views; and each of the forty-four rooms is named after one of the forty-five peaks that are located on the Adirondack State Park.” Continuing, Lori adds: “Every room has a framed map showing the location of that room’s mountain peak, and many guests like to purchase a souvenir map of ‘their’ peak. Others say they are determined to stay in each of the forty-four rooms. We take this as a sign that their guest experience has been satisfactory!” The 1960s architecture has been preserved and enhanced at Lake House at High Peaks Resort. I admit that I wasn’t prepared for the unique decor of deep gray walls, scarlet red bed spreads, natural wood furniture, accent trim and raw wood plank ceilings. It was one of the ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ moments. My first thought was that I want to come back and stay here. The colours and materials are complementary. The overall effect is warm and enveloping; and has already proved to be hugely popular with hip and urbane guests of all ages. “The decision to renovate was actually dictated by the poor economy immediately following the 2008 recession in the United States. We considered rebuilding – but it was a lot less expensive to renovate. The happy result is that we have maintained this unique architecture of the 1960s, and at the same time the designers have created a guest experience that appears to be a runaway success.” The Lake House Bar is popular with the locals and resort guests The unique guest experience begins immediately with check-in. Wearing jeans and plaid shirts, Jon or John greet new arrivals at a lobby picnic table and check-in is done on an iPad. No front desk, no barriers between staff and guest. It’s more like being welcomed to your cousin’s country home, who takes a few minutes to tell you where your room is located, and where to find the canoes, swimming pool and bar. Jon and John also perform a concierge service; and they can arrange for fishing and hiking guides, and tell you about the many outdoor activities in the Lake Placid area. The Olympic skating oval is open from early December. Lake House has indoor and outdoor pools, an expansive guest lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and a long-bar that has already proven to be popular with the locals and guests. After a day of skiing or other robust fresh-air activities, join the gang at the lobby bar for a drink and a bowl of chilli. Lake House guests have the full run of all the High Peaks Resort amenities, including the Dancing Bears Restaurant, and Aveda Spa in the main resort building. In the summer months; kayaks, rowboats and the lakefront pool are available to Lake House guests. The forty-four room Lake House is ideal for company meetings or multi-generational family reunions. Meeting rooms on the Meadow level can also be used to receptions and live entertainment. All rooms have lake views, and the unique decor is very popular with returning guests Lake House at High Peaks Resort is achieving solid reviews on Trip Advisor (4.5 Stars) and Expedia (4 Stars). The high number of repeat bookings is a testament to the popularity of this resort-within-a-resort. With its unique decor, Lake House Bar, massive fire place and easy ambiance; Lake House is ideal for travel plans as varied as a couple’s getaway to a family reunion. For business meetings, its distinctive character and onsite amenities will establish a new standard for grading the success of a company’s off-site meetings. Happy motoring! Travel Planner Lake House is located at 1 Mirror Lake Drive in Lake Placid, and is part of the High Peaks Resort campus. For information and reservations, please call: 1-518-523-4422 or visit www.highpeaksresort.com/lake-house Lake Placid is a comfortable two hour drive from Montreal, straight down 87. Follow the signs to Lake Placid along 9 North, along the Ausable River and past the spectacular Whiteface Mountain.
