Renovation Project Will Restore Iconic Hotel to Gilded Age Glory
Hotel Saranac, Curio Collection by Hilton made history by becoming the first of the Adirondacks grand hotels to be built of brick when it opened its doors in 1927. In a time when the Adirondacks resorts were almost exclusively wood structures, Hotel Saranac stood out as a New York City-style hotel, overlooking the main streets of Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Ninety years later, in advance of its rebirth this summer, the rich history of Hotel Saranac is being recognized by Historic Hotels of America.
Historic Hotels of America is an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to celebrate and recognize the finest historic hotels. There are over 295 hotels listed.
To be considered for inclusion among Historic Hotels of America, hotels must be more than 50 years old, and have “faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity.” Hotel Saranac is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Hotel Saranac is an important part of the history of Saranac Lake and we wanted to make sure we restored this iconic hotel to its Gilded Age glory,” says Fred Roedel III, CFO of Roedel Companies. “We’re honored that Hotel Saranac is being recognized by Historic Hotels of America.”
Hotel Saranac was purchased by Roedel Companies in 2013 and is currently undergoing a complete restoration. The hotel, originally designed by architects William H. Scopes and Maurice Feustmann, who had offices in both Saranac Lake and New York City, has a flair that had not been previously seen in the region. Among the features being restored is a second floor lobby modeled after the Grand Salon of the 14th century Davanzati Palace in Florence, Italy.
Hotel Saranac is scheduled to re-open this summer, serving as a basecamp for the exploration of the Adirondacks as well as a showcase for the rich history of the hotel and Saranac Lake.
“Congratulations to Fred and Roedel Companies for their wonderful stewardship of the hotel’s rich history and commitment to the historic preservation and restoration of Saranac Lake's most important historic hotel,” says Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Director of HHA and Historic Hotels Worldwide.
Hotel Saranac’s history allowed Roedel Companies to sign a franchise agreement with Hilton Worldwide to make Hotel Saranac a Curio Collection by Hilton. Curio Collection by Hilton hotels are hand-picked for travelers seeking local discovery and authentic experiences at distinctively upscale and historical hotels. The Curio brand allows Hotel Saranac to be independent and tied to Hilton’s global reservation platform.