Environment DEC
From the August 2006 issue
Governor Announces Opening of Scaroon Manor Day Use Area
Governor George E. Pataki recently announced the opening of Scaroon Manor Day Use Area. Open to the public since July 8, Scaroon will provide additional recreational opportunities for residents and visitors along the western shore of Schroon Lake in the Adirondacks. The day use area is the first new recreational facility constructed in the Adirondack Forest Preserve since 1977.
A Strong Outdoor Heritage
"New York State has made significant investments to enhance recreational opportunities for individuals and families, and this new day use area will allow them to enjoy a beautiful area along the shores of Schroon Lake," Governor Pataki said. "This facility builds on New York's strong outdoor heritage, which is evident throughout the Adirondacks, and will help to inspire a new generation of stewards dedicated to preserving the culture and natural beauty of the region."
DEC Regional Director Stu Buchanan, Town of Chester Supervisor Fred Monroe, Town of Schroon Supervisor Cathy Moses, Senator Elizabeth Little, DEC Commissioner Denise Sheehan, Representative for Assemblywomen Teresa Sayward, Mike Miller; DEC Director of Operations Mike Turley, Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman William Thomas
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan said, "DEC is proud to lead the cooperative effort to develop this new interpretive, recreation facility. This is another example of Governor Pataki's unprecedented commitment to protecting open spaces and providing residents and visitors with access to enjoy them."
Layout of the New Facility
Scaroon Manor comprises 241 acres in the towns of Chester, Warren County, and Schroon, Essex County, including 1,200 feet of shoreline on Taylor's Point on the western shore of Schroon Lake. The day use area, which complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, contains a beach, swimming area, large parking lot, bathhouse and 58 picnic sites located in the pavilion and surrounding areas. It will be operated by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The parking lot contains ample parking for all users of the Scaroon Manor Day Use Area, with designated parking spaces for persons with disabilities.
Interpretive kiosks throughout the
property provide information about
the original Scaroon Manor and
local history
The site features a 120-foot long beach and 10,000 square-foot swimming area that can accommodate hundreds of bathers. The lawn area immediately adjacent to the beach provides additional space for recreation or relaxation. The beach bathhouse has changing areas, flush toilets and sinks, all of which are accessible to persons with disabilities. The picnic pavilion contains 20 picnic tables and 38 additional picnic sites are located in three areas close to the beach. Half of the picnic sites in each area are also accessible to people with disabilities.
Buildings Respect Site's Past
Scaroon Manor is of particular interest to the local communities because of its history as a resort and its importance to local cultural heritage. The "Friends of Scaroon Manor" group was organized to promote the goal of maintaining the original architecture of the facility as a means of keeping the area's heritage alive. DEC has worked with this group and local officials to design and construct interpretive kiosks that provide information about the former resort and other local history. The bathhouse is designed using an architectural style similar to that of the Taylor House Hotel, one of the original buildings on the site.
More to Come
In the next phase of the project, DEC plans to clean up the outdoor amphitheater, which has much of the original stone and concrete work intact, and use it for campfire programs. Other work will include the construction of a campground with 60 campsites, comfort stations, and other related facilities. Hiking trails and an interpretive center for preservation of Adirondack cultural history also will be created, along with the development of 15 primitive campsites at Camp Cayuga.
