North Elba has mountain scenery and athletic legacy
Set in the Adirondack Mountains and around many lakes of New York’s North Country, North Elba is a sprawling town that most notably encompasses the village of Lake Placid and part of Saranac Lake. North Elba, and in particular Lake Placid, is known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, and this area attracts visitors year-round thanks to its ample recreational and athletic venues and outdoor spaces. “Most people think of Lake Placid when they think of North Elba. It’s a tourist town. There’s about 2,500 year-round locals. It quadruples with tourism,” says Diana Friedlander, native to Lake Placid and agent at Engel & Völkers Lake Placid Real Estate.
Luxury vacation homes and smaller year-round properties
Most homes sold in North Elba are within the village of Lake Placid and the eastern side of Saranac Lake. Many of the properties around Lake Placid are only accessible by boat, meaning they generally cannot be reached when the lake freezes over in winter. Friedlander notes that many homeowners have bubblers, or de-icers, around their docks to melt ice during the winter to prevent damage. These summer properties tend to be on the higher end of the price range, with private camps on the water ranging from $800,000 to several million dollars. “When I was young, you could cross-country ski or snowmobile across the lake, but now that everyone has bubblers, it’s too dangerous to do that. Two summers ago, one person did buy a boat that goes over ice and water, though,” Friedlander says. Smaller cabins, ramblers, traditional homes and cottages sell for between $200,000 and $800,000 around Lake Mirror, Saranac Lake and downtown Lake Placid, which are generally accessible year-round by car. Some of these properties also have water views, while others are tucked away along quiet mountain roads or on wooded lots. Rules vary by village, but short-term rentals and timeshares are also common here.
Extensive outdoor recreation, including winter sports
The Olympic Center's renovated athletic facilities are open to the public and offer indoor ice skating rinks and arenas, as well as an outdoor speed skating oval. Nearby Mount Van Hoevenberg has the former Olympic bobsled and luge runs and cross-country ski trails. “A lot of people who grew up here tried stuff normal people wouldn’t, like ski jumps or the luge. Everyone who lives here probably tried it at one point,” Friedlander says. “Most kids in grade school either figure skate or ski on the weekends.”
There are plenty of outdoor activities to do during warmer months, too. Trailheads through the Adirondacks dot the area, and the community’s many lakes allow for fishing, kayaking and paddling. The Adirondack Rail Trail connects the area’s “tri-lakes,” Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, across 34 miles of mountain biking and hiking. The public Lake Placid Golf Club has 45 holes with panoramic mountain views. Among other athletic events, the Ironman Lake Placid triathlon welcomes thousands of participants each July to take on the course that includes swimming in Mirror Lake and biking and running through the village and surrounding mountains.
Main Street has locally owned businesses
Lake Placid’s Main Street, next to Mirror Lake, has dozens of shops and restaurants, and some homes are within walking distance of downtown. Shoppers can pick up their latest read at The Bookstore Plus, T-shirts and gifts at Critters, and toys at Imagination Station. For lunch, families can look out at the water and enjoy burgers and fries at Smoke Signals, or pick up sandwiches and a sweet snack at Big Mountain Deli & Crêperie. Also downtown, the Palace Theater plays movies in its circa-1926 venue. Locals can run errands at the Hannaford and Marshalls just down the road off Saranac Avenue. The village of Saranac Lake also has a downtown with locally owned businesses.
Hands-on learning in Saranac Lake or Lake Placid schools
Students in the area may attend either the Saranac Lake Central School District, which earns a B from Niche, or the Lake Placid Central School District, which gets a B. Students in Lake Placid schools typically begin at Lake Placid Elementary School, which has a B and teaches kindergarten through grade five. The school has hands-on opportunities for students, including a Farm to School program with gardens and a chicken coop. Children continue to C-plus-rated Lake Placid Middle/High School. There are private education options in the area as well, such as the A-plus-rated Northwood School, a boarding school serving ninth through 12th grades.
Getting around the region from North Elba
North Elba is located about 70 miles south of the Canadian border, 110 miles from Montreal and 50 miles southwest of Plattsburgh, New York. Drivers take state Route 86 from North Elba to connect with other interstates across the region. The Adirondack Regional Airport, just outside North Elba, offers service to and from John F. Kennedy and Boston Logan International airports. For medical care, the Adirondack Medical Center is nearby in Saranac Lake.
Written By
Faith Wakefield
