Beauty, peace and proximity
Providence is a rural community of farms, horse pastures and country roads about 20 miles west of Saratoga Springs. More than half of Providence falls within Adirondack Park, and its northwest corner touches the Great Sacandaga Lake. “The lake is a big draw for the area,” says Katharine Knox Pelletier, associate broker with Sterling Real Estate Group. “This is quiet, country living, but you’re close enough to small towns to enjoy the best of both worlds.” The towns of Broadalbin, Galway and Amsterdam are between 5 and 15 miles away, with stores, eateries and other services, like libraries, that meet the area’s needs. “Many lake properties are seasonal homes,” says Realtor Colleen Ioele-DeCristofaro with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. “People come to fish or boat, and year-round residents enjoy snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.” Whatever the reason, Providence attracts with its natural beauty, peaceful environment and central location. “We’re only three hours from New York, Montreal and Buffalo,” Ioele-DeCristofaro says. Albany is only an hour away, and the area received a crime score of 1, the safest, from CAP index.
Seasonal and year-round homes
While many of the listings in Providence are plots of land, ranch-style houses, colonials and Cape Cods are the most common home styles. Though rural, these properties look suburban, with large lawns and simple landscaping. Seasonal buyers will also find cabin, camp-style and Adirondack-style homes throughout the community, some manufactured and others wood-framed and rustic. “The town of Providence is zoned for 3-acre properties,” Knox Pelletier says. “Most are 3 to 5 acres or higher, which gives homeowners lots of space and privacy.” Properties close to the Great Sacandaga Lake tend to have smaller lot sizes. New construction in the area is also subject to Adirondack Park Association requirements, which dictate that homes must blend naturally with the environment. Buyers can expect to pay from $60,000 to $750,000 for a property in Providence. Plots of land can run between $30,000 and $100,000, depending on size and location.
From nature preserves to drive-ins
The LeVine Nature Preserve and the Hennig Preserve together form the largest outdoor recreational areas in Providence. LeVine features a 3-mile trail system with two bustling creeks, stone walls and multiple cedar holes. The trails are pet-friendly and can be used for walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. At Hennig, hikers can enjoy 10 miles of trails, good for all the same activities. The Hyzer Creek Disc Golf Course is nearby. This popular free disc golf course only closes during heavy snow and has 18 holes through varying terrain. Along Great Sacandaga Lake, Providence Town Beach offers ample parking, a rocky sand coastline and picnic tables for waterfront meals. At Fish House Fish and Game Club, members can practice their archery, pistol, steel shooting and trap skills. Ten miles south near Broadalbin, movie buffs can catch the latest blockbuster at Ozoner 29, a drive-in movie theater with two screens open Friday and Saturday nights seasonally.
Ring of Fire and other lake events
On the Sunday before Labor Day, people light bonfires along the lakeshore to mark the unofficial end of summer. Local businesses often put on special events to celebrate to evening. Participants can see fires and fireworks along the horizon from almost any vantage point on the lake. The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce also sponsors the annual Walleye Challenge, an ice fishing tournament in February limited to 2,000 entrants that awards cash prizes for the heaviest fish and other door prizes.
Shop and eat along Route 29
Most local businesses and restaurants near Providence are along State Route 29, such as Waterwheel Village, a country store that’s served the community since 1923, and Project 29 Pub and Filling Station, housed in a converted barn, featuring 20 craft beers, daily specials and trivia nights. In nearby Broadalbin, the Adirondack Country Market sells bulk groceries and food supplies, and Lakeside Tavern and Marina on the waterfront offers an outdoor pavilion with an island bar. Saratoga Springs is just a 20-mile drive east for more shopping and dining options.
Schools that serve Providence
The Galway Central School District serves many of the area’s students. At Joseph Henry Elementary, a PK-5 school that received a B from Niche, students benefit from an 8-to-1 student-teacher ratio. At Galway Junior/Senior High, a 6-12 school with a C rating, students can explore their interests with extracurriculars, such as the Science Club, Impressions Literary Magazine and the Galway Robotics Club.
State Routes 29 and 147
Providence’s rural layout makes it heavily car-dependent. State Routes 29 and 147 are nearby and connect drivers to the neighboring towns of Broadalbin, Galway and Saratoga Springs or to Albany, a 45-mile drive south.
Farms, stables and flood risk
Visitors can pick their own blueberries at Eagles View Farm and Out of the Blue Berry Farm, off Route 29. Chocolate Horse Stable is a small family-run business nearby, and Cross Timbers Ranch offers horse boarding, training and lessons on 140 acres. Veined with brooks, creeks and lakes, Providence is prone to flooding. While most structures have been carefully built outside of flood zones, flood insurance may be needed otherwise.
