Lake George has lakefront living, pristine nature and a busy downtown
The town of Lake George surrounds the southern end of the massive lake that gave it its name. With 50 miles of shoreline, the lake is famous throughout the Adirondack Park and beyond for its clear waters. “Everybody refers to Lake George as 'the Queen of American Lakes,'” says Jennifer Ball, a licensed associate real estate broker at Hunt ERA who has lived in Lake George her whole life and has sold homes here for 20 years. “They’re drawn here for its natural beauty; the lake is pristine and clean. Also we’re surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains. It’s a very peaceful place to be, but there’s also tons of things to do all the time. It’s the best place ever.” Lake George draws year-round residents, summer residents and short-term vacationers, so life in the town shifts with the seasons. “In summer, Lake George is bustling,” Ball says, recalling a busy Main Street, packed marinas and event-packed weekends. Fall brings a slightly slower pace despite an influx of leaf peepers, and winter and spring tend to be calmer.
Lake George has a tight-knit, nature-loving community. “There’s a lot of pride in the lake, too. So people who live here really love the lake and are determined to keep the lake and the Adirondacks clean and pristine, so everybody takes care of their homes and their environment and the area,” Ball says. “When you live in Lake George, you just embrace the whole lifestyle. Everything’s about the lake, the mountains, the community.”
Swimming and boating on Lake George, hiking and Fort William Henry
The water is the center of life here. “The lake is beautiful, so if you enjoy swimming, boating, being in the sun, water skiing, paddleboarding, it’s just the greatest place to be,” Ball says, adding that people can rent docks for the season. The lake allows anything from kayaks to jet skis and powerboats, and swimming beaches like Million Dollar Beach and Shepard Park Beach have lifeguards. Adirondack Park’s huge swaths of forest are full of hiking trails that often lead to sweeping views of the lake and mountains. Lake George Battlefield State Park offers paved walking trails and rides on horse-drawn carriages, while Charles R. Wood Park has a skate park and playground across from Around the World Miniature Golf. Lake George also has a popular dog park. Fort William Henry was built in 1755 and offers tours and reenactments. And though life slows down in the winter, there’s still plenty to do. “When the lake does freeze, we have ice fishing,” Ball says. “There’s tons of skiing at Gore and West Mountain. And snowmobiling.”
Homes usually start at just under $400,000
Most of Lake George’s colonials, New Traditionals and Adirondack-style cabins sit on well under an acre with carefully manicured yards, but a handful have acreage. Inland fixer-uppers occasionally drop to $220,000, but most homes start closer to $380,000 and max out at $1 million. Lakefront homes with private docks or houses with deeded waterfront access typically cost between $1.3 million and $6 million.
Weekend activities, festivals and the Lake George Winter Carnival
Lake George is always brimming with activity. “The town has tons of events planned out all the time, which is awesome,” Ball says. “It keeps people really engaged. It’s definitely a festive energy.” Bigger events include Americade, a motorcycle rally with 50,000 attendees, a huge Fourth of July fireworks show and the Adirondack Wine and Food Festival. Year-round residents look forward to the Winter Carnival, which spans four weekends in February and features a chili cookoff, outhouse races and a polar plunge.
Abundant restaurants and shops in downtown Lake George
Restaurants and shops line U.S. Route 9. The Lagoon is one of many busy lakefront spots known for its lobster rolls and live music. Lake George Beach Club is open exclusively on the weekends, but it’s even more well-known for its live entertainment. Ball says many leave downtown for The Log Jam Restaurant. “It’s a little log cabin restaurant that’s awesome,” she says. “People love to go there in the summertime and in the wintertime because it’s got this cute little fireplace, and it’s just this cozy place to have a meal.” Locally owned boutiques reign downtown, while The Outlets at Lake George have retailers like Old Navy and Michael Kors under 5 miles away. Price Chopper sells groceries.
Extracurriculars at Lake George Junior/Senior High
The Lake George Central School District earns an A-minus from Niche. The small district consists of just two schools and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 8-to-1. Children attend Lake George Elementary School, which also has an A-minus, from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. They then move to Lake George Junior/Senior High School, which has a B and offers extracurriculars like mock trial, multi-media and robotics clubs.
Easy access to Route 9 and I-87 make commutes easy
Route 9, Interstate 87 and state Route 9N pass through Lake George, providing easy access to other towns. Glens Falls offers even more amenities, including the Glens Falls Hospital, about 11 miles away. Albany International Airport is about 54 miles away.
Flooding is a known risk in downtown Lake George
Heavy rain can cause flooding and has caused damage to roads, businesses and homes in the past.
Sometimes sparked by heavy rain, past flooding has damaged roads, businesses and homes.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
