25 years - A Pictorial Celebration

[mrs.dr.ron]

Amaroo - did you go to the JFK Presidential Library - it is a spectacular setting - well worth the visit. It was a our first Presidential Library we went to and got us hooked on seeing all the others.

Home | JFK Library

www.jfklibrary.org

 

[amaroo]

Amaroo - did you go to the JFK Presidential Library - it is a spectacular setting - well worth the visit. It was a our first Presidential Library we went to and got us hooked on seeing all the others.

Home | JFK Library

www.jfklibrary.org

Unfortunately didn't have time. Nantucket looked the better option. Next time....

 

[amaroo]

Displays at the front gate





On arrival I handed the keys to the car over, and we were handed glasses of bubbles and given a tour of the property. No paperwork, no passports, no unloading of the car - just the perfect way to be welcomed.

Within 30mins of arriving we were cruising Upper Saranac Lake on their vintage boat sharing champagne and canapés with other guests. Just what I needed after a 6+ hour drive.





Back on land we discovered one of The Points 4 x 24hr never closed self serve bars .... you will see more of this one later.

 

[Matt_01]

Was the vintage boat a wood Chris-Craft?

 

[cjd600]

Superb photos as usual @amaroo , appreciate the time you take on your TRs

 

[amaroo]

As mentioned at the start of the TR, The Point was built in the early 1930's by a Rockefeller. It was built as the family's Great Camp, having been here I'm astounded they could even manage to think they could build something this remote 90 odd years ago. The term - spare no expense comes to mind!

The Point has 11 rooms - all are in original buildings. The property covers 74 acres and is operated on an all inclusive basis. We booked here 23 years ago and had to cancel.... you could say we took our time to get here.

Each room is named, we booked WeatherWatch - this was once the living room of original guest house.




The fireplace was huge and did get used ..... not a big fan of stuffed animals, but it's a when in Rome thing...



This bed was massive, almost high jump standard. The Point is an electronic free zone - no wifi, TV, nothing. I had the best sleep here and have decided to make my bedroom an electronic free zone ..... amazing what extra sleep one can get by doing something so simple!

 

[amaroo]

Was the vintage boat a wood Chris-Craft?

I'm not into boats - so not sure. The one we enjoyed on arrival was this one...

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Amaroo - tell them they need some windex on those windows !!!

 

[amaroo]

Amaroo - tell them they need some windex on those windows !!!

I looked at that and decided it was the temp of the boathouse and being sealed up. Was all good when we were on it.

 

[amaroo]

Weatherwatch bathroom - was once Mr Rockefeller's photography darkroom.

The shower was also a steam shower - total bliss!





Layout of The Point

Main Lodge has 4 rooms, the Great Hall, and kitchen

Eagle's Nest has 3 rooms and The Pub

Boathouse has one room and the Boathouse

Guest House has 3 rooms including ours



Entrance to the Main Lodge



Eagle's Nest - The Pub is on the lower floor



The Boat House




Guest House - Weatherwatch (our room) is the door in the middle



Entrance to the third room (Evensong) of the Guest House



Croquet Lawn



Our stockpile of wood stacked near the entrance

 

[amaroo]

The Point is an all inclusive establishment - everything is included, full board, bars and kitchen never shut, all activities, the job lot!

Meals can be formal, casual or private affairs - guest choice. The Great Hall is where communal dining takes place, it has a dress code for 5 days of the week where they encourage men to wear jacket and tie and coughtail dress for ladies. Wednesday and Saturday the dress code is black tie.... they do not enforce the dress code.

We stayed three nights and dined in the great hall (communal) for all of them - most people did. The place was at full capacity so there was plenty of people to meet and talk with. There are many places to eat if communal dining is not your thing. The kitchen, the pub, terrace, your room - plenty of options.

The evening kicks off at 7pm with coughtails



Given the setting and communal dinning - I didn't take any photos. However, here are the dinner menus for the three nights we stayed - the food was delicious!







Breakfast menu, again no photos. The breakfast menu didn't change for the three days we were there.





The kitchen. Guests are encouraged to drop in for a chat. The team were very engaging and a pleasure to meet.





The lunch and dinner menus are written everyday in the kitchen - if you don't like something they'll sort it for you so no one goes hungry. If you want anything - they'll do their level best to get it done for you.



The original 1930s fridge - still operates today as the kitchen fridge. Basically a steel and concrete skin filled with sawdust and wood chips. The thing is nearly 90 years old and still performing perfectly.

 

[amaroo]

After dinner it was up to the Lean-To bar and bonfire



Where one of the other guests made us our first ever campfire s'mores ..... you can google that one.



Back at the room - a decanter was waiting....



I knew the perfect place to enjoy it .... these arm chairs rotate 380 degrees. What a terrific idea





Morning view from the bed..



Morning view from the front door...



It is the season.... walking to breakfast.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I never "got" the taste sensation of Smores - a cracker biscuit and marshmellow dont go together in my books !!

 

[amaroo]

Today we drove to Coney Mountain - about a 30min drive.



Where the foliage was really turning. The Point, like most of Upper Saranac Lake is mostly covered with pines - they don't change colour. This is where the hire car comes in very handy. We could have flown here with Cape Air from Boston and then NYC, but we felt having a car would give us more options.



The walk up to the top of Coney Mountain is pretty easy - 2.1mile return trip that takes around 40min each way.





The foliage was looking beautiful from the top. Shame about only using a phone camera, it just didn't capture what the eyes could see.

 

[Daver6]

That seems like some random wine and food pairings they've got there. Cabernet and venison. Pinot and beef. How did it work out? Could you also just select other wines from their cellar?

 

[amaroo]

Back in the car we went for a drive around Tupper Lake

 

[amaroo]

Lunch is served at 1pm or whenever you want it. We never actually had a formal lunch as we were busy getting out and about, but it's a three course affair. We got back around 3pm and asked them to knock up a couple of sandwiches.

 

[craven morehead]

After dinner it was up to the Lean-To bar and bonfire

View attachment 193046

Where one of the other guests made us our first ever campfire s'mores ..... you can google that one.

View attachment 193045

Back at the room - a decanter was waiting....

View attachment 193047

I knew the perfect place to enjoy it .... these arm chairs rotate 380 degrees. What a terrific idea

View attachment 193042

View attachment 193043

Morning view from the bed..

View attachment 193048

Morning view from the front door...

View attachment 193044

It is the season.... walking to breakfast.

View attachment 193049

This place is the Bomb !! What a cracking joint

 

[amaroo]

I never "got" the taste sensation of Smores - a cracker biscuit and marshmellow dont go together in my books !!

Yes, certainly an acquired taste, ours also included chocolate.

 

[amaroo]

That seems like some random wine and food pairings they've got there. Cabernet and venison. Pinot and beef. How did it work out? Could you also just select other wines from their cellar?

No complaints. They had many options available, so it is possible to personalise the pour, but everyone went with the flow.