The Last of Saranac Lake’s Grand Hotels Opened in July, 1927
The chapters of Hotel Saranac’s story are chock full of memorable moments and tales that sometimes seem larger than life.
Was there actually a skating rink built on the outdoor terrace in the winter of 1929?
And did horse-drawn carriages roll through the first-floor arcade to deliver guests arriving from out of town?
Tall tales? Perhaps. But there are plenty of other stories that are crystal clear in the memories of the many people who have been touched by this iconic hotel that lords over Saranac Lake, N.Y. Those memories have been pouring out over social media as Hotel Saranac celebrates its 90th anniversary this month.
Hotel Saranac was built in 1927, opening its doors on July 1 of that year. It remains the last of the grand hotels that once populated this micropolitan village in the heart of the Adirondacks.
New Hampshire-based Roedel Companies bought Hotel Saranac in 2013 and will re-open the hotel this year after an extensive renovation. Hotel Saranac is once again poised to serve as a basecamp for guests seeking adventure in the Adirondacks and a social hub for the village residents.
New Hampshire-based Roedel Companies bought Hotel Saranac in 2013 and will re-open the hotel this year after an extensive renovation. Hotel Saranac is once again poised to serve as a basecamp for guests seeking adventure in the Adirondacks and a social hub for the village residents.
A recent post on the Historic Saranac Lake website shared the story of Dick Demerse, a veteran who came home from World War II and worked as a bellhop at the hotel. He remembers the hotel’s manager giving him a job when work for returning veterans was becoming scarce.
In response to a July 1 post on Hotel Saranac’s Facebook page commemorating the original opening, people shared wedding pictures and their memories of Sunday morning breakfast at the Boathouse, haircuts from Gus the Barber and the various themed buffets held in the hotel’s dining room on Thursday nights.
When the hotel first opened, the first floor arcade was an open-air passageway that connected Academy and Main Streets and featured storefronts, restaurants and a landing to take hotel guests up to the second floor lobby.
That arcade is being brought back to life with an upscale restaurant (Campfire Adirondack Grill + Bar), a lavish spa (Ampersand Salon and Spa) and a curated gift shop (Academy & Main).
Another chapter is about to be written.