Not long ago I had the chance to experience Great Camp Sagamore. I discovered that roughing it like a Vanderbilt was not all that rough.
Downton Abbey made famous the luxurious lifestyle of England’s aristocrats in pre-WWI Britain. In the U.S., the real-life wealthy elite lived in equal luxury during the Gilded Age at the turn of the last century.
Though in typical American fashion, tycoons like Alfred Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan combined comfort with a grand scale. Their wilderness Great Camp retreats in New York’s Adirondack mountains provided a luxurious escape from the gritty city life.
Great Camp Sagamore has a historic past
Situated on the banks of Sagamore Lake, the Vanderbilt family’s summer retreat is one of the last remaining intact camps from the Great Camp era and is now listed as a National Historic Landmark.
You can take a quick tour of Camp Sagamore twice a day. But, the best way to really experience its idyllic setting is to stay for a few days and participate in one of the many offered programs (including many intergenerational weekend programs).
Camp Sagamore is located in one of the most remote regions of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, and the land around it is a designated wilderness. This means no motorised boats on the lake, no motorised vehicles on the trails, and very little connection to the outside world.
There are many ways to experience Great Camp Sagamore
There are a number of ways to experience Camp Sagamore. If you are just passing through the area, twice daily tours take guests through the grounds. These tours provide a historic overview of the unique architecture and buildings on site.
For those that like to combine travel with learning, there are also a very wide variety of multi-day educational programs. Painting, writing, basket weaving, chair caning, fly fishing, and wellness are among the diverse course topics. Fees include accommodations, meals, instruction and access to all the usual camp activities.
Staying at this historic property provides a different type of luxury. The luxury of a peaceful, natural and unspoiled environment can be experienced much like the Vanderbilt family did one hundred years ago.
Accommodations are very comfortable and all meals are provided. Activities like kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and hiking are also included.
My Great Camp Sagamore experience
I loved my three day weekend experience at Camp Sagamore. Besides seeing this historic camp, I also had the chance to tour a couple of the other Great Camps nearby. William West Durant also built these camps for such notable wealthy elites as J.P. Morgan and Collis P. Huntington.
It was interesting to learn how this Great Camp architectural style went on to influence the National Park lodge architecture for which parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone are famous.
Besides taking part in the historic tours, I also canoed on the pristine lake, taking in the quiet surroundings and the mirror-like views. The easy three mile hiking trail around the lake also offered a chance to forest bathe in unspoiled woods and peaceful solitude. In the evening, a local story teller and musician entertained us with his unique Adirondack style.
Unplug and escape into nature
There are not many opportunities to experience living history, especially when it comes to living like the rich and famous of days gone by. Great Camp Sagamore is a unique experience. It offers a glimpse into the lives of America’s wealthy elite as they tried to escape the daily pressures of their society at the turn of the nineteenth century.
For us today, Camp Sagamore is also a chance to unplug for a few days and experience unspoiled nature in extreme comfort.
