By ITR WIRE
The legendary Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake N.Y., in the Adirondacks region will reopen in late 2017 after a $30 million-dollar restoration. Originally designed by Adirondacks architects Scopes and Feustmann, the hotel opened in 1927 as a luxury property on Saranac Lake. Visitors from up and down the East Coast flocked to the property, drawn by its grand design, scenery and historic surroundings on downtown’s Main Street.
Hotel Saranac’s grand ballroom, public spaces, and landmark exterior are all being updated during the refurbishment. Indigenous ingredients like pine, birch, and maple infuse treatments at Ampersand Salon & Spa, a state-of-the-art sanctuary named for the mountain nearby. The hotel’s rustic-chic restaurant, Campfire Adirondack Grill + Bar, will feature an “Adirondacks-to-table” locavore menu based on the North County’s game, fish, produce and even maple syrup, along with local craft beers. Academy & Main, the hotel’s retail arcade, will offer 20 distinct mini-boutiques selling everything from house-made candy to locally sourced, artisan-made goods.
The restoration has brought a modern spin to everything that made the Hotel Saranac a 20th-century icon. The property is a luxury basecamp for Adirondacks exploration, with hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing and gallery hopping all steps from the front door. It’s a social hub for the village of Saranac Lake, where locals and visitors can swap tales over craft cocktails by a crackling fire pit. Guests are encouraged to plan a personalized itinerary for their visit with the hotel’s Explorer Concierge.
Hotel Saranac is now part of the select Curio Collection by Hilton, a collection of hotels appealing to travelers seeking local discovery. New Hampshire-based Roedel Companies, an owner-operator with deep family ties to Saranac Lake, purchased the property 2013. Roedel engaged Boston-based Korn Design to guide the overall vision and create a brand strategy for the re-launch of the hotel. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also played an instrumental role in bringing the hotel to life, awarding a $5 million redevelopment grant to Hotel Saranac.
The hotel, the last survivor of 13 luxury properties that once dotted Saranac Lake in the 1920s, includes 82 revamped guest rooms in its main building, and 20 more suites in Compass Point, an adjacent complex that will open in early 2018. Each Compass Point suite has been designed to match the architectural detailing of the building.
Hotel Saranac’s legacy echoes throughout guestrooms, all reimagined with regional heritage in mind. RSJ Associates of Wilton, N.H. spearheaded the interior design with the goal of giving all rooms a modern touch while still maintaining the feel of the “Great Gatsby” era of sophistication and elegance. They feature dark-wood architectural furniture, deep blue rugs, crisp white linens, and rich textures, in color palettes of deep reds and rich oranges Each guestroom features original, retro-inspired travel posters especially commissioned for the hotel, incorporating native symbols from the region.
The hotel’s famed Great Hall (pictured above), one of the most original public areas in the hotel, dominates the second floor with its Palazzo-inspired design. Influenced by the 14th Century Davanzati Palace in Florence, the Great Hall features ornately painted grand beams spotlight ingicons from the region, including geese, hare and fish. It has an intimate fireplace setting with the Great Hall bar offering cocktails with nods to the Adirondacks as well as speakeasies from the 1920s. The adjacent terrace will offer a spacious and stylish veranda overlooking Main Street.