Rejoice: The Wells House Is Back In Business...Summer 2017 Update: See Below:

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Summer 2017 Update: The Wells House remains closed with no signs it will reopen anytime soon. Schroon Laker has learned the owners have ceased work on the renovation. We will continue to monitor future developments.

The Wells House in Pottersville --  the restaurant, bar and ten room hotel that has been shuttered since April of 2011 – has new owners.

Schroon Laker has learned that the closing of the deal took place Friday morning. The landmark building was foreclosed on in 2012,  and has been listed by the bank with Friedman Realty ever since. Schroon Laker has learned that the contract contains a clause for the new owners to apply for a liquor license.

Joel Friedman, from Friedman Realty, said he had no idea what the new owners plans were, but when asked if it would open as a restaurant and or a hotel, he replied “Hopefully.”

“What this area needs is more beds for tourism,” Joel told Schroon Laker.

Once opened, the return of another eatery for folks in Horicon, Chester, South Schroon and the town of Adirondack will be surely welcomed.

The Wells House has experienced several incarnations since its doors were first opened in 1885: from featuring lavish accommodations and comestibles for travelers from New York City who over nighted there after a long train and horse and carriage ride in the heyday of Schroon inthe early 1900s, to literally being a biker bar  -- where a Harley was parked on the bar – The Wells House has apparently seen it all.

In the last decade the building has undergone two extensive renovations. You can read a terrific history of The Wells House and her glory days, written by Joe Steiniger on his North Country Rambler blog, here.




Custom Home In Schroon

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This Single Family home,  featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 full and two 2 partial bathrooms, is located at 78 Hemlock Drive.

From Listing Agent Brooke Clark:

"Custom, sprawling, private, luxury... you won't want to miss this one. Over 4500 feet, gourmet kitchen, SS appliances, outdoor wood burning heating system. Sip coffee while you drink in the sun on the porch outside your bedroom. Watch the snow fall from your jacuzzi tub, jump onto the trails that surround the house on foot, 4 wheeler or snowmobile. Only minutes from the town dock for launch, the beach, all amenities including restaurants, yoga, cinemas. A quick hour to Saratoga, Gore and Lake Placid.

Schroon Lake Bed and Breakfast For Sale

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If  you have ever fantasized about owning your own Adirondack business, working out of a beautiful space and living in this slice of heaven called Schroon, here is your chance.

The meticulously maintained Schroon Lake Bed and Breakfast, lovingly cared for by Mark and Sharon Piper for more than four years, is looking for new owners.

This gorgeous Victorian style B&B, which has just won the coveted Trip Advisor 2014 Award for Excellence for the third year in a row, is on the market.

Mark and Sharon are selling their beloved property due to family health issues.

“We are deeply sad to say good bye to this business,” Sharon told Schroon Laker recently.

“We have met so many wonderful guests, people here in town and it’s been the best experience. But it is time to move on.”

The Bed and Breakfast is a turn-key operation. The Inn  -- run as a B&B since 1989 -- has solid summer and year round bookings, with returning and new guests. It comes complete with everything needed to run the business, says Sharon.

That includes the up until now secret baked goods recipes from Renaissance man Mark Piper, and a full training session on how to run your own B&B from Sharon.

The spacious property – would even make a wonderful home – if a buyer is looking for a large place to live, Sharon says.

“It’s zoned commercial, so there are multiple uses for the Inn. The new owners could have a gift store on the ground floor, an office upstairs, the uses and possibilities are endless.”

The property is just under two acres, and is on Route 9 about a mile north of downtown Schroon, with easy access to exit 28 from the Northway.

The inn has four large suites and a large stand-alone cottage, just steps away from the main house.

But the home has potential for 9 bedrooms. Also included is  a two car garage, shed, gazebo, hardwood flooring, formal dining room, generator, huge porch with deck and incredible landscaping. The property is in white glove MINT condition.

Click here to learn more about the sale and click here to see their website.

 

 

 

The Future Of Frontier Town? Uncertain, Again!

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The future of what happens next to more than 80 acres of the former Frontier Town property in North Hudson  -- recently sold at the Essex  Tax Foreclosure Auction  -- is uncertain.

Essex County has moved to block  the winning bidder from taking  possession of the property. On Monday the Essex County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to give four parcels of land  -- won at the April 30 auction by George Moore of Keeseville -- to the town Of North Hudson. 

North Hudson Town Supervisor Ronald Moore (no relation to George Moore) told Schroon Laker on Tuesday there is a "long process the county will have to go through" before North Hudson takes possession of the land.

“Right now, it’s a County matter.  It (the transfer) will have to make its way through various committees, including  the Ways and Means committee.”

If successful, the town will pay Essex County $60,000, Supervisor Moore said, which is $10,500 more than the $49,500  paid by the winning bidder.

Schroon Laker has learned that  George Moore owns what  is considered the prime piece of Frontier Town: the parcel of property where the old A frame main building stands (a former McDonalds Restaurant), which has prime access to the Northway.

The parcels of property now under review, have no direct Northway access and are only accessible from Route 9 and an access road from Blue Ridge.

If North Hudson is successful in its bid to gain ownership of the land, Town Supervisor Moore said he plans to work with the Essex County Industrial Development  Agency and potentially make the property into a recreational area. Some of the land has access to the Schroon River.

“There are multiple uses for the land. It could be used as  a campground, an area for horse riding, cyclists and of course snow mobiles,” Moore said.

“It would bring a much needed boost to the economy.”

Moore said if North Hudson was successful, he’d explore the possibility of preserving any remaining buildings from the old Frontier Town, which was last opened as a tourist attraction in 1998.

“Most of the buildings are gone. Even with the ones that are standing, there might be a tree growing in the middle of it.

No matter who takes ownership of the land, there is much work to do before the public can safely access the property. Several structures have been condemned and some buildings have asbestos.

According to a report in Tuesday’s Press Republican,  the winning bidder, George Moore, was exploring the possibility of taking legal action. From the Press Republican:

“I told my attorney I will top North Hudson’s bid. I am extremely unhappy with my turn of events. I was told it (the $49,500) was a fair price. It topped all other bids”.

 What do you think of the County’s action? Should North Hudson be able to purchase the land? Or should it stay with the winning bidder?  Share you thoughts in our comments section.