Mountainous Jay has outdoor amenities
Jay, 17 miles from Lake Placid, is a rural mountain town in the Adirondacks. Rolling green hills define the landscape, and the Au Sable River flows through the community. Its remote location attracts outdoor enthusiasts who value nature over convenience. “One of the big things I would say is it’s more remote. A good chunk of people who move here want to be out of the daily buzz of life,” says Chase Jermano, a broker with Tina Leonard Real Estate. Jermano has been working in the industry for eight years. “You don’t go there to have amenities; you go there to get away from things. The outdoors are your amenities.”
Hiking, skiing and swimming in the Adirondacks
The Pattno & Gale Memorial Park, known as The Grove, has sports fields and courts for soccer and basketball. The park also has a playground and covered picnic areas along Grove Street. In the center of Jay, spanning the Au Sable River, is the Historic Jay Covered Bridge. “They have the Jay covered bridge, the last historic covered bridge in the Adirondacks,” says Jermano. “It’s only foot traffic now, and there are big parking lots on both ends, and you can walk on it. It’s a good spot to sit and swim and chill underneath it in the summer.” The Au Sable River is also a popular fly fishing spot. Trails wind through the landscape, such as the Jay Mountain Trailhead, which leads to the scenic Blueberry lookout on Jay Mountain. The Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort, 8 miles away, has a range of trails for different ski levels and offers lessons. Nearby, Lake Placid offers public beaches at Mirror Lake along with boating, fishing and other lakeside activities.
A-frame and chalet-style homes set in the mountains
Jay is mountainous and covered in patchworks of farmland and dense forest. Most homes are built closer together in the flatter parts of Jay, such as along state Routes 9N and 86 and near Au Sable Forks. Most homes near popular roadways have access to public water and have a septic tank. Those farther out among the mountains may have a private water source and a septic tank. “In this portion of the Adirondacks, you’ll see log cabins,” says Jermano. “One thing about Jay that is different from the typical Adirondack market is that they have A-frames and chalets. They were popular in the late '80s and early '90s." He said the chalets were inspired by similar homes in the Alpine region. National and Dutch Colonial are also common styles. Homes range from $160,000 to $675,000. Jermano says buyers looking at property along the Au Sable River need to be aware of flooding. The area has a restaurant called the Ice Jam Inn and, he says, it's an appropriate name. "In the spring, ice will get stuck by that bridge, and other parts of the river will start flooding.”
Traveling to work, recreation on Routes 86 and 9N
Jermano says many people who live in the area work remotely, are retired or commute up to about an hour to work. “So, you have Whiteface Mountain. They're a big employer for that area, Lake Placid and Plattsburgh.” Using Route 86, the Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort is 8 miles away, and Lake Placid is 17 miles away. State Route 9N leads 34 miles to Plattsburgh. The Plattsburgh International Airport is 29 miles away, and the Adirondack Medical Center is 18 miles away. Most houses of worship, such as Church of the Holy Name and St. James Episcopal Church, are near Au Sable Forks.
From fresh-roasted coffee to global cuisine
“The Adirondack Mountain Coffee Café has the best breakfast and coffee in the Adirondack Mountains,” says Jermano. “The food is out of this world.” The coffee beans are roasted in-house. Ice Jam Inn is nearby and has a restaurant that serves bar food and American fare. “The Ice Jam is a very popular spot for dinner; you need reservations, otherwise don’t even try,” says Jermano. Along Route 9N, Sugar House Creamery sells cheese, raw milk, beef and fresh produce from other farms. “The NewVida Preserve, it's got a little restaurant and hiking trails; it’s a big resort,” says Jermano. Summit & Spice in NewVida has a seasonal menu that focuses on global flavors. Tops Friendly Markets sells groceries near Au Stable Forks.
AuSable Valley Central School District earns a B-minus
The AuSable Valley Central School District serves the area and gets a B-minus from Niche. AuSable Forks Elementary also gets a B-minus. AuSable Valley Middle receives a C. AuSable Valley High gets a B. The school district provides a prekindergarten program at AuSable Forks and Keeseville Elementary.
Arts and performances at Upper Jay Art Center, Wells Memorial Library
The Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge, supported by the New York State Council of the Arts, hosts live performances such as plays, bands and poetry readings. The Wells Memorial Library hosts year-round events such as poetry jams, art exhibits and educational speakers.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
