Mountain soul, Modern Luxury: Adirondacks Landmark Hotel Saranac Reopens After $30 Million Restoration

After Nearly a Century, Legendary Hotel Is Once Again a Hub for Locals and Visitors;

Reviving the pine-scented luxury of an Adirondacks legend, Hotel Saranac will reopen late-2017 after a multimillion-dollar restoration that infuses modern indulgences with untamed North Country spirit.

With its glorious ballroom, gorgeous public spaces, and landmark exterior burnished to a new glow, the Hotel Saranac will also boast amenities fresh as the Upstate air. Indigenous ingredients like pine, birch, and maple will infuse treatments at Ampersand Salon and Spa, a state-of-the-art sanctuary named for the majestic mountain nearby. The Hotel Saranac’s rustic-chic restaurant, Campfire Adirondack Grill + Bar, will boast an “Adirondacks-to-table” locavore menu based on the North County’s natural bounty - game, fish, produce, and even maple syrup, along with local craft beers. Academy & Main, the hotel’s retail arcade, will offer twenty distinct mini-boutiques selling everything from house-made candy to locally sourced, artisan-made goods.

Originally designed by Adirondacks architects Scopes and Feustmann, Hotel Saranac opened in 1927 as a beacon of elegance in serene Saranac Lake. Visitors from up and down the East Coast flocked to the hotel, drawn by its grand design, breathtaking scenery, and historic surroundings on downtown’s Main Street.

A painstaking, thoughtful restoration has brought a modern spin to everything that made the Hotel Saranac a 20th-century icon. It’s a luxe basecamp for Adirondacks exploration, with hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing and gallery hopping all steps from the front door. It’s a social hub for the beautiful village of Saranac Lake, where locals and visitors can swap tales over craft cocktails by a crackling fire pit. And it’s an indulgent escape for anyone who wants to experience an iconic American playground - and one of the nation’s most beautiful natural landscapes. Guests are encouraged to plan a personalized itinerary for their visit with the hotel’s Explorer Concierge.

Now part of the select Curio Collection by Hilton, a collection of unique hotels appealing to travelers seeking local discovery, the Hotel Saranac was bought in 2013 by New Hampshire-based Roedel Companies, a standard-setting owner-operator with deep family ties to Saranac Lake. Offering a comprehensive suite of hospitality services, Roedel Companies has taken a fully integrated approach with the restoration, including managing its development, construction, interior design and operations. Roedel engaged Boston-based Korn Design to guide the overall vision and create a brand strategy for the re-launch of the iconic hotel. Governor of New York State Andrew Cuomo also played an instrumental role in bringing the hotel to life, awarding a $5 million redevelopment grant to Hotel Saranac.

The hotel - the sole survivor of 13 luxurious properties that dotted Saranac Lake in the 1920s - includes 82 reimagined guest rooms in its main building, and 20 more suites in Compass Point, an adjacent complex that will open in early 2018. Each Compass Point suite has been uniquely designed to match the architectural detailing of the building. These larger, more private sanctuaries are perfect for families, social groups and events.

Hotel Saranac’s legacy echoes throughout guestrooms, all reimagined with regional heritage in mind. RSJ Associates of Wilton, N.H. spearheaded the interior design with the goal of giving the guestrooms a modern touch while still maintaining the feel of the “Great Gastby” era of sophistication and elegance. Dark-wood architectural furniture, deep blue rugs, crisp white linens, and rich textures, in color palettes of deep reds and rich oranges, marry cherished history and polished modernity. Each guestroom features original, retro-inspired travel posters specially commissioned for the hotel, incorporating native symbols from the region.

The hotel’s famed Great Hall, one of the most original public areas of the hotel, dominates the second floor with its Palazzo-inspired design. Influenced by the 14th Century Davanzati Palace in Florence, ornately painted grand beams spotlight icons from the region, including geese, hare and fish. The Great Hall will feature an intimate fireplace setting and The Great Hall bar, offering cocktails with nods to the Adirondacks as well as speakeasies from the 1920s, a tribute to when the hotel originally opened. The adjacent terrace will offer a spacious and stylish veranda overlooking Main Street.

For more information on Hotel Saranac or to book a reservation for arrival December 29 or beyond, please visit www.hotelsaranac.com or call 518-891-6900. Rates start at $179/night.

About Hotel Saranac

Hotel Saranac will re-open this fall and re-emerge as the social hub of Saranac Lake - a spirited sanctuary that will serve as the ideal modern basecamp for an Adirondacks exploration. The landmark hotel will feature 102 smartly designed guest rooms and suites; Campfire Adirondack Bar & Grill, a sophisticated yet inviting restaurant and bar; Ampersand Salon and Spa, a sanctuary that embraces the spirit of the mountains; an inspired variety of indoor and outdoor meeting space; and a wealth of camp-like experiences begging to be explored, from swimming and biking to kayaking and skiing. www.hotelsaranac.com

About Roedel Companies

Located in Wilton, Roedel Companies has 45 years of experience developing, constructing, managing and designing hotels for its own account and third parties through its subsidiaries RGH Hospitality and ROK Builders. Roedel Companies offers but is not limited to hotel development, construction, pre-opening and management. In addition, Roedel Companies owns and operates nationally branded hotels primarily in the select service segments throughout the eastern United States. Their properties include the Hilton Garden Inn Manchester and a growing portfolio of nationally branded, select service hotels including other Hilton Garden Inns, Hampton Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express & Suites and La Quinta Inns & Suites. Roedel Companies recently added a 122-room full service Holiday Inn in Mount Kisco to their portfolio. The organization along with Riverbridge North, LLC is also seeking approval to build a new Homewood Suites by Hilton in Berlin/Marlborough, MA. www.roedelcompanies.com

About Curio Collection by HiltonTM

Curio Collection by HiltonTM (curiocollection.com), launched in 2014, is a global portfolio of more than 35 remarkable, upper upscale hotels and resorts handpicked for their unique character and personality. Curio Collection properties appeal to travelers seeking one-of-a-kind discoveries and authentic experiences, all backed by Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and its award-winning Hilton Honors program. Read the latest Curio Collection stories at news.curiocollection.com, discover Curio Collection destinations through Cities by Curio itineraries at citiesbycurio.com and connect with the collection on facebook.com/curiocollection, instagram.com/curiocollection and twitter.com/curiocollection.

About Korn Design

Founded in 1992, Korn Design is an award-winning brand strategy and design firm based in Boston. Headed by Principal Denise Korn and Partner/Creative Director Javier Cortés, Korn Design works with clients who are courageous, passionate, and driven to shift the paradigm by valuing their brand as a critical asset. Korn provides expert consultation in hospitality, restaurant, luxury-lifestyle, and culture for top-of-class developers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and institutional leaders. For more information, please visit www.korndesign.com

Article originally from Hotel Executive.