Great Camp Santanoni

Following the transfer of Great Camp Santanoni to the state of New York in the early 1970s, little to nothing was done to maintain the Preserve’s structures. In fact, their existence seemed to conflict with Article 14 of the New York State Constitution, which outlines the principle known as “Forever Wild.”

The “Forever Wild” clause requires that land in the state’s two forest preserves — the Adirondacks and the Catskills — remain natural and undeveloped. What was to happen to existing buildings that were incorporated later into the Forest Preserve?

For nearly 20 years, the question remained unanswered, and Camp Santanoni remained unoccupied and left to the elements — seen only by hikers, cross-country skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who found their way to Newcomb Lake. Due to the often-harsh weather of the area and lack of maintenance, the buildings were in danger of being lost forever when, in 1990, a group of concerned citizens from Newcomb and around the Adirondacks formed Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) with the intention of saving this unique Great Camp and interpreting it for the public.

These activists teamed up with preservationists in New York to lobby for saving Camp Santanoni, and in 1991, the State of New York endorsed the idea and committed to developing a plan to preserve the site. A partnership was then formed with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), AARCH and the Town of Newcomb to stabilize the major buildings.

Nearly a decade later, in 2000, the Camp Santanoni Historic Area was officially created, a management plan was adopted for the site, and the Santanoni Preserve was designated a National Historic Landmark.

In the years since, a host of preservation efforts have taken place at Camp Santanoni, including new roofs for the Main Camp, Artist’s Studio, and Gate Lodge, and reconstruction of more than 5,000 square feet of porches at the Main Camp. The Boat House on Newcomb Lake, the most seriously deteriorated of the Main Camp structures, was largely rebuilt, and restoration work was done on outbuildings including the gazebo, pump house, and bath house.

In addition, conservation work has been done at the Farm Complex, including on the Herdsman’s Cottage, Gardener’s Cottage, and Creamery. Work has also taken place at the Gate Lodge Complex, including restoration work at the Lake Harris Boat House.

Sadly, there have been losses. Prior to the formation of AARCH, the collection of buildings known as the Service Complex, built near the Great Camp Complex to house much of Santanoni’s workforce, had already been dismantled.

In 2004, as preservation work was under way, the Santanoni Barn — the centerpiece of the Farm Complex — was lost to a structure fire. The origins of the fire are still unknown.

Despite these losses, however, preservation continues at Santanoni, thanks to the work of the Santanoni Partners — AARCH, NYSDEC, and the Town of Newcomb. The Partners collaborate to keep the buildings and landscape maintained and the camp staffed in the summer with preservation-trained interns, who perform a wide variety of tasks to keep the historic structures maintained and act as site hosts and guides.

For a detailed look at the ongoing work at Santanoni, visit the Santanoni section of the Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) website. You can also listen to stories about the effort to save and preserve Camp Santanoni at the website for AARCH’s Our Story Bridge project, Camp Santanoni Stories.