EJ Latitudes 1/08.qxd - Frontiers Elegant Journeys

Three camps built in relative proximity close to Raquette Lake —
Camp Sagamore for the Vanderbilts, Camp Uncas for J.P. Morgan,
and the camp at Lake Kora — were considered the triumph of
builder W.W. Durant, the stylish son of Dr. Thomas Clark Durant,
who helped pioneer the country’s first transcontinental railroad.
Envisioning luxury in the wilderness, Durant created a much-imitated
architectural style that would become a ”unique episode in
American architectural history,” said Kaiser. Now, for the first time,
the current owner of this spectacular, historic acreage is making
the compound available in its entirety for up to 22 guests.
The historic camp at Lake Kora, complete with some of the finest
rustic furniture of the period, is considered a masterwork of regional
architecture by experts. Located six miles from the main road on
1,000 wooded acres with three lakes, this privately owned estate
(originally built for the prominent Woodruff family and owned for a
time by the Vanderbilts) is comprised of original turn-of-the-century
handcrafted log and stone lodges. Among the numerous outbuildings,
there is a Main House with five inviting, unique rooms and a
stunning Boathouse with individual apartments. There’s a lakeside
Gardener’s Cottage, two lovely additional guest cabins, plus a very
private cabin on an island in the lake. Fireplaces are abundant in all
of the buildings and always lit for you when there’s a chill in the air
— truly the ultimate in log cabin luxury!
The old Power House has been restored to a pine-paneled meeting
facility with wireless capability and Power Point. The old Ice House
is now the ladies’ side of the spa and — you guessed it — the Meat
House is the men’s side. Among the amenities are a vintage twolane
Brunswick bowling alley, traditional wooden canvas canoes for
guests’ use, and any classic lake toys you might possibly want — all
in mint condition. In the evening, roast marshmallows at the lakeside
log lean-to, called a “wikiup,” decked out with reclining cushions,
woolen Adirondack blankets, and a roaring fire pit. During our
early October stay, a local native American storyteller came after
dinner and held us spellbound with tales of the woods.
There’s so much to do at Lake Kora. With the lake as the focal point,
there’s a walking path and other scenic hiking paths plus a private
lighted tennis court and a softball field. The Playhouse has ping
pong and a huge game room with TV and video toys, and there is
an Adirondack-style pool table in the Main Lodge.
Delicious, classic American cuisine with the freshest ingredients is
featured at Lake Kora. Phenomenal meals are served in the Main
Lodge’s convivial dining room, though picnics are frequently
requested and very popular. (Don’t miss the wild blueberry pancakes
with the camp’s own maple syrup — oh, my!)
The best time for visits is mid-July throughout the winter. Available
for groups of up to 22, the daily rate is $25,000 with a 4-day minimum.
Frontiers is privileged to offer this rare chance for families,
corporate gatherings or groups of friends to experience one of the
last impeccably maintained, privately owned Great Camps of the
Adirondacks. Live like a Vanderbilt and experience history for your
next family get-together or customer entertaining at the beautiful
camp of Lake Kora.
Jill Jergel
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