Saving Santanoni (1970s — Today)

In the early 1970s, the nearly 13,000 acres that comprise the Santanoni Preserve were sold to the Adirondack Conservancy Committee of The Nature Conservancy and then transferred to the state of New York to be added into the State Forest Preserve. This immediately challenged the future of the historic camp. Article 14 of the New York State Constitution outlines the principle known as “Forever Wild,” which requires that land in the state’s two forest preserves — the Adirondacks and the Catskills — remain natural and undeveloped. This meant it was unclear if the buildings could legally be maintained or if they had to be removed, either through proactive demolition, or through neglect.

For nearly 20 years, Camp Santanoni was unoccupied and left to the elements, seen only by hikers, cross-country skiiers, 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 a group of concerned citizens from Newcomb and around the Adirondacks formed Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) with the intention of saving this unusual Great Camp and interpreting it for the public.

In 1992, the State of New York endorsed the idea, committed to developing a plan to preserve the site, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Adirondack Architectural Heritage and the Town of Newcomb began to stabilize some of the major buildings. 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.

Over the course of the 25+ years since preservation began, work has included new roofs for the main lodge, artist’s studio, and gate lodge, as well as repairs to the more than 5,000 square feet of porches at the main lodge. The boathouse, 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, including on the herdsman’s cottage, gardener’s cottage, and creamery. However, in 2005, the centerpiece of the farm, its magnificent barn, was lost to fire.

Work continues at Santanoni to this day, thanks for to the work of the Santanoni Partners: AARCH, the DEC, and the Town of Newcomb. They collaborate to keep the buildings 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.