Highlights: The Point

•Lovely setting on 10 acres overlooking Saranac Lake

•The hotel, once a private home, enjoys a rich history.

•Each of the 11 guest rooms is individually designed

•Black-tie dining on Wednesday and Saturday evenings

•No menus – the family-style lunches and dinners are pre-selected by the talented chef

Amenities: The Point

• 11 rooms, 1 story. Pets accepted. No children allowed. Check-in 3-6 pm, check-out 11 am. Restaurant, bar. Beach. Tennis. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Point

There are no signs directing you to The Point, but once you’ve arrived, you’ll know you’re in the right place. Located on 10 acres overlooking Lake Saranac in upstate New York, this glorious country hideaway is the former home of William Avery Rockefeller. The Point revives the spirit of the great camps of the late 1800s, when wealthy city dwellers came to the Adirondacks to “rusticate.” This cluster of log cabins nestled amid towering pine and fur trees defines sophisticated country living. Light years away from the average log cabin, this hotel pampers its guests with fine dining and creature comforts.

Guests come to The Point to leave the city behind without forsaking life’s little luxuries. The lack of check-in and check-out times makes visitors feel more like guests at a weekend home, rather than a hotel. The Point is strictly an adults-only paradise (anyone younger than 18 is not permitted), and its convivial atmosphere is ideal for couples or singles who enjoy meeting new friends while traveling. Due to its remote Adirondacks location, its lack of telephones, and its serene spirit, The Point is a better choice for travelers seeking an escape from the business world, rather than those who need to keep in touch with the office.

Fine dining is a hallmark of this hotel, and guests are treated to wonderful meals throughout their stay. The chef, who trained under London’s Albert Roux, showcases his talents with a variety of seasonally-based dishes. All meals are served family style in a dinner party atmosphere. While there are no menus presented at any meal at The Point, all guests are assured of finding something to their liking. Additionally, jacket and tie is required for dinner each night, and black tie is suggested on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.

(+) Unique guest house experience with a rustic elegance

Guest Services: The Point

The Point’s elegant service makes everyone feel at home. Unlike many other Five-Star hotels, The Point does not offer a host of unique services and amenities. Instead, its charm lies in its warm and generous spirit. Guests do not feel like they are staying in a hotel, rather they feel like they are visiting a friend’s weekend house. The Point is small, and many of the staff wear several hats, but this only adds to the hotel’s unique personality. The staff is very hands-on and seemed to truly care about my well-being. They do an excellent job of personalizing each encounter -- even from the first phone call I made for reservations, I knew this would be an unforgettable experience.

I appreciated the generous canvas bag and bottle of wine awaiting my arrival, and I especially enjoyed the wake-up call – in lieu of a jarring telephone call, the staff gently knocked at my door with a fresh pot of coffee. Another example of The Point’s unique approach is its lack of a set check-in/check-out time. Whenever you arrive at this inviting resort, you’ll be warmly welcomed. While there is no specific check-out time, the resort does ask that you leave around the same time as your arrival. The Point’s seamless departure service, friendly goodbye, and basket of goodies or boxed lunch, will definitely leave you wanting to come back soon.

(+) Staff has a warm, generous spirit and hands-on approach

Guest Rooms: The Point

The Point’s 11 guest rooms are spread among four buildings. Each guest room is individually decorated with a rustic, elegant décor complete with Adirondack furniture and antiques. All of the rooms have lake views and massive stone fireplaces, as well as custom-made beds.

The Mohawk Room, once Rockefeller’s master bedroom, is located in the Main Lodge and offers guests privacy and seclusion with proximity to the Great Hall. The bathroom retains its original fixtures, adding to the historic element. Other rooms in the Main Lodge include the Iroquois room, originally built for Rockefeller’s daughter and still bearing a rustic femininity with floral patterned bedding and wing chairs, and Morningside, a spacious sun-filled guest room with cathedral ceilings. The Algonquin is also in the Main Lodge and was the camp’s original library.

The Sentinel, Lookout, and Trappers rooms are in the Eagle’s Nest building, while the guesthouse, adjacent to the Main Lodge, houses three charming rooms with picturesque views, crackling fireplaces, and inviting beds.

The Boathouse room, built over the lake, is one of the most unique private rooms and has a special appeal. Its romantic four-poster bed, nautical flags, and lake setting make it feel like a luxurious houseboat.

My room was originally Rockefeller’s photography studio, and I was told that the bathroom’s large slate sinks were part of his original darkroom. The room managed to feel luxurious without becoming ostentatious. The overstuffed couches were loaded with fluffy pillows, creating a comfortable ambience. A table sized for two for meals or cards was a nice touch, and the large walk-in closet and spacious bathroom were just two more welcome additions. I also adored my four-poster bed piled high with a featherbed and a soft comforter. The rooms are such wonderful havens that it would be tempting to never leave them.

(+) Spacious, well-planned, rustically elegant guestrooms are peaceful dens

Facilities & Activities: The Point

Pack all the books that you’ve been meaning to read when visiting The Point. Its lovely restful pace, lake views, and Adirondack chairs call to book lovers. Aside from snoozing under the towering pines and catching up on the latest best sellers, The Point lures active travelers with an array of sports and activities. The hotel maintains a fleet of boats, from kayaks and canoes to sailboats and small outboards. Fishing is particularly good in this region, and personal guides are available through the hotel.

Hiking, either on the resort’s property or at nearby Ampersand Mountain, is rewarding, especially when toting along one of the hotel’s fabulous picnics. Other summer activities include waterskiing, horseback riding, tennis, lake swimming, badminton, volleyball, backyard croquet, and sunset cocktail cruises.

Golfers may play a round at the Saranac Inn, just four miles from The Point. The autumn months lures hunters, as well as those who simply enjoy the brilliant colors of the area’s foliage. During the colder months, enjoy the outdoors while ice-skating, ice fishing, cross-county skiing, and snowshoeing, and the hotel even offers ice barbecues.

Downhill skiing at Whiteface Mountain, the East Coast’s highest vertical, is just under an hour away. Of course, The Point’s cozy atmosphere also lends itself to lazy winter afternoons spent snuggling by the fire and curling up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

(+) Outdoor activities and restful pursuits are plentiful

Dining & Lounge: The Point

Meals at The Point are especially memorable. This hotel is well-known for its fine dining, and the experience goes beyond the gourmet food to include a convivial dinner party atmosphere where guests are encouraged to mingle and make new friends. The chef plans and prepares each meal up to one week ahead of time, and his selections for lunch and dinner are sure to wow guests.

A continental breakfast consisting of freshly-squeezed orange juice and warm-from-the-oven muffins is served in the privacy of your own room, while a cooked breakfast of omelettes, venison sausage, and raspberry pancakes is made to order in the Great Hall.

Lunch, with delectable choices such as homemade sausage, grilled shrimp, and fruit tarts, is served family-style every day at 1 pm, while those who plan an excursion are packed a scrumptious picnic basket for gourmet on the go. The Point even packs a box lunch for guests upon departure. Dinner is an elegant affair, with guests required to don a jacket and tie (black-tie suggested on Wednesdays and Saturdays).

I enjoyed The Point’s unique “en famille” dining atmosphere and found the other guests interesting and entertaining, though it wouldn’t appeal to those wanting to dine alone or enjoy an intimate meal with their partner. The chef’s delightful surprises at each meal were notable.

(+) Creative gourmet cuisine planned and prepared by a talented chef
(-) Group dining atmosphere might not appeal to all travelers

Business Services: The Point

The Point does not cater to business travelers. Instead of encouraging its guests to conduct business, this relaxed hotel wants its visitors to unwind and leave the world behind. The lack of telephones in guest rooms and its remote location are some of the distinctive aspects of the hotel that do not make it an appropriate choice for a business traveler.