Fort Ann’s tiny downtown and rural homes on Lake George’s eastern side
At the edge of Adirondack Park and George Lake, Fort Ann blends rural and lakefront living, with access to outdoor recreation both on land and on the water. “You’re in close proximity to the lake, and if you’re looking for something that’s a couple of acres or where you’re able to have farm animals, like horses or cows, you’re able to do that in Fort Ann because there’s no zoning,” says Jennifer Ball, a licensed associate real estate broker at Hunt ERA who grew up nearby and has sold homes here for 20 years. She says many people buy second homes in Fort Ann, though there are still plenty of year-round residents. “If you’re looking to get privacy and beautiful scenic views, it’s definitely the place you want to be,” Ball says. Although it’s mostly rural, Fort Ann has a small downtown with a few essentials. It’s also only 11 miles from Queensbury and 12 miles from Glens Falls, so entertainment is never far away.
Boating on Lake George and Hadlock Pond, hiking up Buck Mountain
People head to Lake George for boating, jet skiing, kayaking and fishing. Its best-known swimming beach, Million Dollar Beach, is about 16 miles from Fort Ann’s little downtown, which means it’s even closer than that for many residents. Lake George isn’t the only place for swimming and water-based activities, though. Hadlock Pond is large enough to allow powerboats and jet skis. The smaller Copeland Pond only allows motorized boats with very low horsepower, making it a tranquil space for kayaking, swimming and fishing.
Hiking and horseback riding are also big here. “There’s a really nice walking trail that’s for walking, biking and running that goes along the Champlain Canal,” Ball says, adding that people also fish along the canal. Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob has a trail that leads to a waterfall, though it can dry up or thin to a trickle at the height of summer. Buck Mountain Trailhead’s steep incline leads to the mountain’s summit; hiking boots with good tread are vital for the hike, but the payoff of the view is worth it for many.
Closer to Fort Ann’s downtown, Fort Ann Youth Commission Athletic Fields hosts local games on its softball fields and soccer field. Golden Goal Sports Park’s fields are often used for soccer, lacrosse and flag football games and tournaments. It’s not a public park, so using the space comes with a fee, but it also has cabins to host sports camps. Nearby, ADK MX is a motorcross track with racing for all skill levels.
Potential acreage and lakefront homes
Many of Fort Ann’s ranch-style houses, hi ranches and colonials are stretched along narrow country lanes or gravel roads. Houses are closer together near the little town center, but most homes here have nearly an acre or more of land; some even have acreage into the double digits with space for livestock or farming. Between this and its lakefront homes, Fort Ann has an incredibly wide range of home prices. Major fixer-uppers in need of complete renovations occasionally sell for $80,000, though most houses that need updating start closer to $190,000. Inland homes with acreage typically max out at around $440,000, but occasionally climb as high as $1.1 million. Homes around Hadlock Pond or Copeland Pond can climb up to $540,000, while huge houses on the water of Lake George cost between $1 million and $6 million.
A quaint downtown with essentials and a brewery, driving for groceries
George Street has a few essentials, including a post office, library, bank and church. Residents start the day at Dunkin or head to Battle Hill Brewing Company for craft beer, killer pretzel bites and occasional trivia nights. “There’s a Fort Ann Super Stop there that’s pretty notorious for pickup-takeout food that’s very good,” Ball says. The stop offers anything from sandwiches and fries to meatloaf. Dollar General and Cumberland Farms have a few essentials, but for most groceries, residents drive about 8 miles south to Hannaford in Hudson Falls or 11 miles north to Green Mountain Food Services in Whitehall.
Fort Ann’s small district has a 10-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio
Niche gives the Fort Ann Central School District a C-plus. The district’s two schools have separate Niche listings and websites, but they’re in the same building, which Google dubs Fort Ann Central School. Separately, though, Fort Ann Elementary School earns a B-minus and Fort Ann Junior/Senior High School earns a C. The high school offers robotics, yearbook and ski clubs.
Route 4, state roads and country lanes
U.S. Route 4 runs right through Fort Ann, leading southwest to Hudson Falls and north to Whitehall. State Route 22 and state Route 149 serve as the major thoroughfares heading east and west, but most other roads in this car-dependent town are narrow country lanes without painted lines. The nearest hospital is Glen Falls Hospital, which is about 12 miles away. Albany International Airport is 61 miles away, a drive that takes about an hour and 10 minutes.
Outdoor movie nights, nearby Whitehall Sasquatch Festival
Fort Ann occasionally hosts summertime events like outdoor family movie nights. Residents often head to Whitehall for its Sasquatch Festival to enjoy sasquatch calling contests, costume contests and plenty of beer.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
