Queen’s stewards
Lake George homeownship comes with tending to environs
Lakefront property on Lake George is a finite resource, and to have quintessential Adirondack beauty — land, water, mountain views and wildlife included with your very own address — is often the payoff of hard work, good fortune or family ties.
Paul Rutherford, a Clifton Park-based author and business owner, planned to someday return to Lake George as a permanent getaway after spending his teenage years there with friends. Like many others, careers, marriage and children put lake life on pause, until he and his family were able to purchase their first lake house on Elizabeth Island years ago.
“That first property we owned was a little inconvenient since you could only get out there by boat,” Rutherford said. “And I really wanted a place to share with family and friends.”
So in 2015, while Rutherford and his brother were searching for a lakefront property with hopes to build, their Realtor introduced them to Diamond Village Resort, for sale by the family who had owned and operated the 28-cabin, nine-hotel room property in Diamond Point for nearly 40 years after purchasing it from its original owners.
That purchase allowed the Rutherford family to realize their lakefront dreams, but not without learning the responsibility that comes with joining the rest of Lake George’s homeowners. There is a shared goal in addition to rest and relaxation: to respect the lake, abide by its rules and make sure your home does, too.
“There are a lot of state and local regulations that govern people’s properties (on Lake George), and that is what we want to make them aware of,” said Walter Lender, executive director of the Lake George Association, which works to protect the quality of the lake and watershed. “As the lake ages, homeowners can negatively affect the lake by adding more nutrients, sediment or erosion from their property.”
Though Lake George isn’t believed to have been discovered until the 1600s, the body of water formed between 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Today, with nearly 64,000 residents living in Warren County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Lender says the biggest threats to the lake’s clarity, its availability for recreational use and as a source of safe drinking water include storm-water runoff, fertilizers, septic and leaf litter, which can speed up the aging of the lake if added in excess.
“You’re not just an owner of a lakefront home, but a true custodian of the lake,” Rutherford said . “It’s your responsibility to maintain (the lake) and hopefully, to leave it better than you found it.”
For Rutherford, inheriting a heavy amount of rainwater that would gather along Lake Shore Drive required him to significantly extend the original timeline of his project. He also waited three years before demolition to let the property breathe (and to enjoy the existing cabins used by family and friends) as he crafted an architectural plan to build log homes that would fit best with the scenery and authenticity of the area.
“We put together a storm plan for approval, added rain gardens and completely changed the shape of the property so no water can get into the lake from the road,” Rutherford said. “If you are willing to do the right thing, these organizations are here to help you. But it takes patience.”
Rutherford recalls working with more than half a dozen local agencies and organizations for various plans and approvals prior to the completion of the two homes and boathouse structure early this year.
“Our goal is to connect people with the lake and with the water itself,” Lender said. “What they do can affect the water quality, whether it’s adding a new patio or paving their driveway; they need to create a plan for that. And if they don’t, their own property value will decrease when the quality of the lake does.”
Right now, Lake George home prices are at an all-time high. Movoto Real Estate reports the median list price of a home is up 73 percent in a year, from $341,950 in 2020 to $594,599 today, with a 45 percent decline in active inventory. As seasonal traffic to the region has continued to increase over the years, it’s further accelerated people’s desire to spread out and safely vacation during the pandemic.
Ashley Nagy, a full-time Lake George resident and Realtor with the Adirondack branch of the Shannon Mccarthy Team at Keller Williams Capital District, said, on average, her buyers are bidding $20,000 over asking prices to compete for a vacation home or a full-time residence within the Lake George school district. She typically works with homeowners with a budget between $300,000 and $400,000 before considering the amount they’ll use to go over asking.
Nagy confirms trends seen across New York state in other lake areas or mountainous regions like Sacandaga Lake or the Catskills, where the influx of families coming from downstate or other Northeast cities to find a secluded getaway are driving the demand for homes.
“It’s my job as an agent to prepare my clients for the reality of the market,” Nagy said. “If someone really wants a house, you aren’t doing them any justice by not telling them how competitive their offer needs to be.”
Nagy says it’s unusual for a Lake
George area home to stay on the market for more than a few days, and that multiple
offer situations can range from 10 to 34 offers on a single house at one time. During a phone interview with Nagy, she performed an MLS search for Lake George homes ranging from $250,000 to $700,000, and returned only eight active listings.
“People are certainly coming up earlier and staying later, which was unheard of in past years,” said Lender, who, like Nagy, lives in Lake George year-round. “I think most locals are happy about that, but it does put a bit more pressure on the lake to ensure it’s managed carefully and people are respectful.”
Since Nagy doesn’t live on the lake, she is spared from some of the rules and regulations for lakefront owners. For her young family, living in Lake George is about being close to relatives — her parents and siblings live in the area — and also being near the local public school. She enjoys the sleepy offseason just as much as the busy months filled with day trippers, weekenders and seasonal residents.
Josh Nemer, owner of Nemer Motor Group, visits Lake George almost every weekend to visit his family who have been there full-time since 1984, and to take his young family out on their boat. For Nemer, it’s owning a boat that puts into perspective his duties as a patron of the lake.
“I grew up working at marinas and
boating on the lake,” he said. “And while I have a decent knowledge of boating, you’ll encounter people who rent boats and have never driven one before.” Nemer is close friends with the family who lost their 8-year-old daughter, Charlotte Mccue, in a boating accident on the lake in 2016. That crash, coupled with the increased boating activity Nemer has noticed on the lake, especially since the pandemic, has made him even more aware of safety.
“I also get concerned about the quality of the water, as well as protecting the mountainside,” he said. “I don’t agree with building homes (into the mountainsides) like you see in California. When you look out onto the lake, those vast areas look best left untouched.”
Aside from the learned behavior of ongoing lake maintenance and protection, lovers of the Adirondacks are also committed to preserving its history. Rutherford recently completed a book, “Captain Paul’s Contemporary Guide to Lake George,” based on his experiences boating with friends and family and pointing out historical tidbits and facts along the route.
He’s hoping to publish the book before this summer as a modern, easy-to-read boater’s handbook to elevate both the host and guest experience while on the lake.
“Lake George offers a ton of history,
and there are interesting things around every corner,” said Rutherford, who hinted at tales of ghosts at Fort William Henry and hidden treasure on Key Island. Within a few flips of the page, readers can learn a fact or two about Lake George’s 170 islands, bays, hotels and celebrities embedded in the history of the lake.
“I built this property to share it with family and friends,” said Rutherford, who was only able to host his “bubble” friends last summer becuse of the pandemic. “And I intend to treat it like a vacation house and not a home. I always want it to feel like I am getting away.”
The purpose of protecting the lake, telling its stories and creating new ones is the same for everyone who has experienced the scenery and lifestyle of the Adirondack region. It’s the opportunity to make memories, enjoy the natural beauty and to create something long lasting for future generations.
“Everybody thinks about the moment and not the future,” Nemer said. “And to see the lake through my children’s eyes brings me back to my childhood and why we’re so committed to being on the lake today.”