Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Industry & Commerce

Location

107 Dillon Rd, Raquette Lake, NY 13436, USA

Lat/Long

43.81317, -74.6573

Grant Recipient

Town of Long Lake

In the summer months it was common for city residents wishing to escape the heat to travel for a quiet getaway to one of the many camps and resorts of the Adirondack Mountains. One such example was Raquette Lake House. Built in 1903, this hotel became a popular summer destination for tourists.  A little over a decade later, the Raquette Lake House received some much-needed improvements, per the June 6, 1916 edition of The Post-Star:

With the addition of a large and attractive dining room and a number of large guest rooms with open fireplaces and private baths the Raquette Lake House is now in a position to accommodate the number of extra guests who could not be received last year.

These capital improvements were a success and tourists continued to arrive for another decade. Unfortunately disaster struck on February 20, 1927, when a fire swept through the community of Raquette Lake. The February 23, 1927 edition of the Cattaraugus Republican details the incident:

Fire which destroyed six buildings including the Raquette House, and three lake steamers caused damage here today of at least $400,000. About 75 persons are homeless. Starting in the general store about 10:45 and fanned by a high east wind, the blaze soon got beyond control of the local fire forces. The blaze quickly spread to the sheds where the lake steamers Sagamore, Adirondack and Killoquoah were stored for the winter and all three vessels were destroyed. Three cottages, and a barn were next devoured by the flames, but 50 horses were rescued. Despite the assistance of the Inlet forces which arrived shortly after noon, the flames reached and destroyed the Raquette House and large casino, a well known summer resort.

The following year initial plans to rebuild the hotel were later abandoned.

As of 2021, all that remained of the former hotel was its foundation.