Log Hotel Restoration

Built in 1876 by Miles Tyler Merwin, the Log Hotel is thought to be the oldest existing building in the central Adirondacks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Log Hotel embodies the evolution of the Adirondack economy. Originally built as a logging campsite, it was later converted into a hotel for tourists. All of the other early hotels in Blue Mountain Lake are now gone, including the Prospect House, the first hotel in the U.S. to be lit by electricity. The Log Hotel stands as a monument to regional history.

The Museum has cared for the Log Hotel since 1954, but a recent comprehensive assessment revealed routine maintenance would no longer suffice in preserving the structure. In 2012 its foundations were stabilized, and in 2023 its electricity was upgraded, but more is needed to best preserve this historic structure for years to come. Restoration priorities include: reinforcing the roof and replacing shingles, repairing logs and restoring siding, further stabilizing the piers, and dismantling and reconstructing the chimney. These efforts to preserve the Log Hotel will cost over $600,000 and will ensure that the Log Hotel will be around for ADKX’s tens of thousands of annual visitors for years to come.

To make a gift online, click the Donate Now button below and fill out the online form. For additional information about making a donation, please call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 518.352.7311 ext. 119.