The Adirondack Mountains have long been a destination for people who wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.  For those who want a little creature comfort with their wilderness experience, there are many choices of inns and lodge within the vast Adirondack Park from which to choose..  Amongst all the options, there is one place that truly exemplifies the tradition of Adirondack hospitality in a true wilderness setting, and that would be the Garnet Hill Lodge and Resort.  At the end of a dead-end road, in the shadow of Gore Mountain, and set upon a hillside overlooking the majestic Thirteenth Lake,  Garnet Hill Lodge certainly has breathtaking views, like you’d expect from any Adirondack lodge.  But the views are only the appetizer.  The Great Camp architecture welcomes the traveler with open arms, with it’s broad porch and sweeping front lawn opening up to a beautiful glacial lake set amongst the mountains of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness.  The Great Room in the lodge with its massive stone fireplace calls in to set a spell.

Here, you’re able to “rough it” in style.  Think of Garnet Hill Lodge as a base camp for an epic wilderness adventure. The deep woods at the front door beckon in any season. This place is truly an Adirondack treasure; the time spent here will carve deep fissures into your memory, its recall bringing a smile to your face no matter the stress you may have.  This is why we come to places like this.

Managing a treasured place such as Garnet Hill Lodge and Resort is a huge responsibility.  The remoteness, the seasonal variables, the weather; these factors have tested all those who have been smitten by the lodge, the land and the lake.  The latest to feel the pull of the heart, and the purse strings, is Don Preuninger and partner Melinda Piper.  Nearby residents and long time fans of Garnet Hill, they saw an obligation to carry on the legacy of this place and continue its tradition of welcoming the hurried and the worried. As new owners, Don and Mindy are excited about their purchase, but more importantly, the pair are thrilled to have a chance to share Garnet Hill Lodge with the next generation of wilderness seekers.  Eco-LOCAL had a chance to ask them a few questions about their new enterprise:

EL: Congratulations on becoming the new owners of the Garnet Hill Lodge.  What possessed you to take on such a venture?

DP: Thank you.  It was a bit harder and took a bit longer to get the closing done than we had hoped, but we're now in full swing with the lodge, restaurant, pub and ski shop open for business.  My partner Mindy and I are very enthusiastic about Garnet Hill Lodge and we're looking forward to a rewarding relationship with our guests.
As for why we pursued this venture from the start and stayed with it to see it through, the short answer is that Garnet Hill Lodge is a place that fits our soul and personality.  It's the kind of place we want to take care of.  It's the kind of place we want to welcome guests into; the kind of place that attracts people that we want to spend time with.  I've thought of owning my own restaurant for quite some time but never actively pursued the idea because it didn't feel right.  With this undertaking it just feels right.  The Lodge feels right for us and our vision for the Lodge feels right for all those who know it well and care about it.

EL: The Garnet Hill Lodge is one of the special places in the Adirondacks.  How did it all start?

DP: The roots of the Lodge go back to the early 1900's and the community that grew up on the hill around the Hooper garnet mine that was here.  After that had run its course by the 1930's, the Hoopers built the main Lodge in 1936 as a retreat destination for artists and writers who wanted to 'get away from it all'.  From there its reputation started to grow for the cross country skiing that was available right out the door of the Lodge and of course for the beautiful view of 13th Lake that stretches below the hill.
In the 1970's the property passed into the hands of George Heim who grew the property as a business tremendously over the following years.  The trail system was expanded to the 50 kilometers that exists today as well as the Lodge was developed as a resort and vacation destination that it still is today.

EL: It’s quite a responsibility to take on a property with such a storied past.  How do you plan to apply your signature to the story yet to be written?

DP: Our vision for this property is primarily to restore it to it's roots because that is what we and the guests want for it: to make it what it was meant to be. We are not going to try to make the Lodge something it's not.  We want to emphasize the quintessential aspects of the land, buildings, furnishings, food and support staff that contributes to the character and vitality of the guest experience here.  To that end we are enhancing the beauty and peacefulness of the buildings and grounds in every way we can.  We provide guests with interesting activities as well as many ways to relax and enjoy just doing nothing.
Over the coming year we will be hosting numerous special events and gatherings for groups who want get in touch with nature and their own inner spirit.  We plan to offer home grown vegetables and herbs to our guests to compliment the home style cooking that Chef Andrew specializes in.

We've also drawn on the talents of Mary Jane Freebern who has worked at the Lodge in the past to provide fresh baked goods to our guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

EL: You mentioned that GHL attracts the kind of people that you want to spend time with. What is it about these people who are drawn to this place that makes you happy?

DP: Well they're people who are wholesome and down to earth.  They're people who enjoy nature and physical activities as well as the finer things in life such as good food, art and music.   I'm a classically trained musician myself who also happens to like to play jazz and popular piano styles.  Mindy is also a very good singer and piano player so we both enjoy the arts and we're both open to many different styles and venues for music performance.

EL: GHL is on the edge of the wilderness.  Is there a technology void here?

DP: Our guests tend to be relieved by the low profile role that technology plays here.  Yes, we do have wireless internet access and TV and phones are available, but a lot of people are really looking for an escape from that, if only for a day or two.  It gives one perspective to be able live without the constant bombardment of media messages.  I like to think that instead of listening to gadgets of one variety or another, people here listen to themselves and to each other.

EL: The seasonal swings and weather of the Adirondacks are notorious for testing the grit of entrepreneurs like you.  How do you see yourselves able to handle these challenges?

DP: Yes, it has been difficult to keep everything together even to this point and we don't expect our life here to be a bed of roses going forward either.  But we've both lived in this area a long time. We know the area, the climate and the people here well and they know us and support us.  It's been amazing how supportive the community here has been in volunteering to help with the transition and makeover that has taken place over the last month.  It's been like one of those TV shows where a whole crew comes in to transform a home or business to give it an entirely new look and feel.  And a lot of that has been done here by volunteers.

 

EL: The Saratoga-North Creek railroad is a new way for people to come into the Adirondacks.  Will the train passengers be able to get to Garnet Hill Lodge in some way?

DP: The railroad is a wonderful thing for us because it gives people coming to the North Country a real destination where they can spend time.  The folks running the train have been great to work with to provide special packages for people to choose from and they are also providing shuttle service between the Lodge and train station. It’s a great opportunity for the train passengers to experience a true wilderness outing. Even for an afternoon one can have a very fine time relaxing and taking in the views and scenery here. Or take a snow shoe trek or even go cross country skiing for a few hours.  Then you may decide to spend the night to be able to do it all again in the morning. And we’ll get you back to the train station in time for the evening departure.

No matter the season, it’s a great time to visit! The Garnet Hill Lodge is 5 miles north of the village of North Creek, at the end of Thirteenth Lake Road in North River. For more information, call (518) 251-2444 or online at www.garnet-hill.com

View of 13th Lake in a winter storm