With its glorious ballroom, gorgeous public spaces and landmark exterior burnished to a new glow, Hotel Saranac boasts amenities fresh as the Upstate air.
Originally designed by Adirondack architects Scopes and Feustmann, Hotel Saranac opened in 1927 as a beacon of elegance in serene Saranac Lake. Visitors from up and down the East Coast flocked to the hotel, drawn by its grand design, breathtaking scenery and historic surroundings on downtown’s Main Street.
A painstaking, thoughtful restoration has brought a modern spin to everything that made Hotel Saranac a 20th-century icon. It’s a luxe basecamp for Adirondack exploration, with hiking, kayaking, forest bathing, snowshoeing and gallery hopping all steps from the front door. It’s also a social hub for the beautiful village of Saranac Lake, where locals and visitors can swap tales over craft cocktails by a crackling fire pit. And it’s an indulgent escape for anyone who wants to experience an iconic American playground – and one of the nation’s most beautiful natural landscapes.
Now part of the select Curio Collection by Hilton, a collection of unique hotels appealing to travelers seeking local discovery, Hotel Saranac was bought in 2013 by New Hampshire-based Roedel Companies, a standard-setting owner-operator with deep family ties to Saranac Lake.
Offering a comprehensive suite of hospitality services, Roedel Companies has taken a fully integrated approach with the restoration, including managing its development, construction, interior design and operations. Roedel engaged Boston-based KornDesign to guide the overall vision and create a brand strategy for the re-launch of the iconic hotel. Governor of New York State 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 sole survivor of 13 luxurious properties that dotted Saranac Lake in the 1920s – includes 82 reimagined guest rooms in its main building, and 20 more suites in Compass Point, an adjacent complex that will open later this year. Each Compass Point suite has been uniquely designed to match the architectural detailing of the building. These larger, more private sanctuaries are perfect for families, social groups and events.
Hotel Saranac’s legacy echoes throughout guest rooms, all reimagined with regional heritage in mind. RSJ Associates of Wilton, N.H. spearheaded the interior design with the goal of giving the guestrooms a modern touch while still maintaining the feel of the “Great Gatsby” era of sophistication and elegance.
Dark-wood architectural furniture, deep blue rugs, crisp white linens, and rich textures, in color palettes of deep reds and rich oranges, marry cherished history and polished modernity. Each guestroom features original, retro-inspired travel posters specially commissioned for the hotel, incorporating native symbols from the region.
The hotel’s famed Great Hall, one of the most original public areas of the hotel, dominates the second floor with its Palazzo-inspired design. Influenced by the 14th Century Davanzati Palace in Florence, ornately painted grand beams spotlight icons from the region, including geese, hare and fish.
The Great Hall features an intimatefireplace setting and The Great Hall bar, offering cocktails with nods to the Adirondack as well as speakeasies from the 1920s, a tribute to when the hotel originally opened. The adjacent terrace offers a spacious and stylish veranda overlooking Main Street.
