2017-18 Dining Guide Web

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SAGAMORE & SAIL
Can you imagine the Adirondacks in the gilded age era when just
one man owned literally hundreds of thousands of acres including all
of Raquette Lake and its entire township? He was Thomas C. Durant,
general manager of the Union Pacific Railroad. His fame derived
from his success at pushing the Transcontinental Railroad from the
East to Promontory Point. Too busy with his own work, he turned
Raquette Lake development over to his son, William West Durant.
Having spent his privileged youth in Europe, William visited the
hunting and fishing camps of the European aristocracy and decided
that the Adirondacks lent its woods, lakes, and mountains to similar
grand estates. He arrived on Raquette Lake where he concentrated
his efforts on Pine Knot, a camp that would eventually be owned
by Collis P. Huntington, another Transcontinental RR man. William
West Durant’s building legacy eventually included Camp Uncas
(1895) owned by J.P. Morgan and Sagamore Lodge(1897) purchased
in 1901 by Alfred G. Vanderbilt, the wealthiest young man in America.
Altogether he built well over 100 buildings at the three camps
and supported 200 workers year ‘round to construct roads, telegraph
lines, the shortest standard gauge RR in the world, and two churches
to serve the well-heeled guests who visited the three luxurious wilderness
estates.
William West Durant’s rampant spending on development of estates
we now call Great Camps led to his bankruptcy; but his three
camps remain and all boast National Historic Landmark status shining
a spotlight on the tiny village of Raquette Lake.
Honoring William West Durant’s name is the dine and cruise boat
on Raquette Lake, the W.W. Durant. Cruising on Raquette Lake’s 99
miles of shoreline where you will still see Durant’s original camp,
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it captures the ambience of an opulent, by-gone era by surrounding
guests with wainscoting, stained and etched glass, gleaming brass,
rich carpeting and polished oak, while, at the same time, offering
the convenience and comfort of modern amenities. Raquette Lake
Navigation Co. offers a variety of cruises from June through October.
Cruise and dine experiences- including luncheon, dinner, Sunday
Champagne Brunch cruises- all offer delectable menus planned
and executed by CIA graduate Chef Jim Pohl and our trained kitchen
staff. Scenic excursions allow the visitor to enjoy the scenery and
history without dining (though snacks and beverages are available).
Read what satisfied guests have written about their experience on the
W.W. Durant at www.raquettelakenavigation.com.
The Vanderbilts, Morgans, and other Captains of Industry “vacated”
the stifling heat
of New York City
to vacation in their
sumptuous Adirondack
Camps. Great
Camp Sagamore, a
National Historic
Landmark, offers
2-hour guided tours
daily from late June through Columbus Day. You will see the Main
Lodge where guests still stay, the Dining Hall, the Bowling Alley, the
Blacksmith’s Shop, the Barn and Carriage House. You’ll marvel at
the rustic luxury enjoyed by the Vanderbilt family and be invited to
ask why they thought their annual trips into the woods for over 50
years were so important. www.greatcampsagamore.org will give you
a tantalizing taste of history.
Visit both the W.W. Durant and Great Camp Sagamore for SAG-
AMORE & SAIL.
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