Celebrating over 130 years of recreation and conservation in New York State's Adirondack Park.
Camp Santanoni, located in Newcomb, New York, was built by the wealthy Pruyn family of Albany, and welcomed its first guests in the spring of 1893. Located in the 13,000-acre Santanoni Preserve, this publicly-owned National Historic Landmark is one of the earliest examples of what is now known as an Adirondack Great Camp.
Visitors to Santanoni today can enjoy much of the same outdoor recreation the Pruyn family did. In addition, much of the historic areas of this retreat are similar to how the Pruyns originally envisioned them, thanks to a long-standing partnership of Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the Town of Newcomb, New York and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
Latest News
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Daily tours of the Farm and Main Camp, and Saturday tours of the Gate Lodge came to a close on August 22, but never fear! We will continue to offer Main Camp tours on a reduced schedule through mid-October. Visit our Fall, Winter and Spring page for more information! Learn more about our special tours this fall on our Special Events page!
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced new accessible mobility device options for two popular sites in the Adirondack region.
DEC, in partnership with Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), is expanding the existing Great Camp Santanoni Accessibility Program with a new wheelchair-accessible transport service device in Newcomb, Essex County.
Frontier Town in North Hudson, Essex County, will now offer free use of both an adult- and a youth-sized electric wheelchair suitable for the paths and paved areas of the campground.
Joe Zalewski, Region 5 Regional Director said, “DEC is pleased to support Governor Hochul’s ‘These Lands Are for Everyone’ initiative with additional mobility device options to improve accessibility at two of the Adirondack region’s historic and beloved sites. A wheelchair-accessible transport service device at historic Great Camp Santanoni expands options for members of the public with a disability to enjoy the trail and buildings with a companion. The adult- and child-sized electric wheelchairs now available at Frontier Town complement the campground’s many accessible features, including trails and campsites, and will allow more patrons to explore this beautiful campground and day use area alongside their friends and family.”
Erin Tobin, Executive Director of AARCH, said “With this additional mobility device accommodation, New York State has created greater accessibility into the historic Great Camp Santanoni. AARCH looks forward to continued partnership with DEC and providing more opportunities for individuals of all abilities to experience the wonder of the main lodge porch overlooking Newcomb Lake."
Learn more about Frontier Town and the two mobility devices.
Since 2024, DEC has offered an electric wheelchair program with free reservations for a user-driven scooter-style power wheelchair at Great Camp Santanoni. Based on public feedback, DEC is now offering a free wheelchair-accessible transport service device PHED Dual RIDEABOUT to expand the accessibility program to people with mobility impairments who are unable to operate the personal mobility devices. For the remainder of the 2026 season, members of the public with a disability can venture to the Camp’s historic buildings using this device at no cost.
Qualified individuals can make a reservation for themselves and up to two companions and enjoy the ride to the Great Camp while an AARCH staff member drives and provides interpretive and educational content along the way.
In addition to the new wheelchair-accessible transport service device reservation program at Great Camp Santanoni, DEC is now offering two electric wheelchairs for use by adults and youth with mobility disabilities at Frontier Town Campground and Day Use Area. Frontier Town offers many accessible features, including campsites, an equestrian mounting platform, and amenities. Now, visitors with a disability can use “The Rig” and its youth-sized counterpart, “Kids Rig,” on a first-come, first-serve basis to explore accessible trails, viewing areas, playgrounds, and more.
The program at Great Camp Santanoni began in 2024 after consulting with stakeholders, including members of the disability community and the joint DEC and Adirondack Park Agency’s Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). AAC and community feedback helped guide DEC’s pilot program which originally featured two electric wheelchairs. After two seasons and feedback from users, DEC determined that one of these two devices, “The Rig,” was better suited for a less-rugged trail and gave it a new home at Frontier Town.
This collaborative decision-making process also informed DEC’s decision to purchase the golf cart in spring 2026. After requesting public comments in 2025 on options to expand access and consulting with AAC, DEC ordered a custom-built wheelchair-compatible electric wheelchair-accessible transport service device in 2026. The device can carry both manual and power wheelchair users together with one or two companions. DEC also contracted with AARCH to accept reservations and drive the device on up to five days a week, including weekends through mid-October.
To locate wheelchair accessible features at education centers, campgrounds and day use areas, waterway access sites, and land areas, explore DEC’s interactive Accessible Recreation Destinations map.
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The Santanoni Preserve could not stay in such good condition without our hardworking volunteers!
We still need volunteers for our upcoming Moose Pond Trail Work Day. Visit our volunteer page to learn more and sign up!
VISIT
The Santanoni Preserve is open year-round, however, many of the buildings are only open during the summer and for special events in the spring, fall and winter.
Historic Preservation
Since the early 1990s, a partnership of Adirondack Architectural Heritage, the Town of Newcomb, New York and the New York State Department of Conservation have worked together to preserve Great Camp Santanoni for future generations.
The Friends of Camp Santanoni
Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) operates the Friends group for Camp Santanoni. The Friends assist in preservation, interpretation, and educational programs at the camp. Friends get invitations to volunteer work days and special events, and receive the Camp Santanoni newsletter.
history
Commissioned by Robert and Anna Pruyn at the turn of the 20th century, Santanoni is one of the earliest examples of what is now known as an Adirondack Great Camp.
Events
In addition to free tours of Camp Santanoni’s historic buildings in the summer, there’s always an exciting slate of events taking place at the site. Visit the Special Events page for more information about this year’s events.
volunteer
Great Camp Santanoni relies on its volunteers to help maintain its buildings and landscape. We have several volunteer events throughout the season. Visit the Volunteer page for more information about this year’s volunteer opportunities.
"There is independence, delight, and peace in the isolation."
— Robert C. Pruyn
