Spend three days making acoustic music at Great Camp Sagamore on Raquette Lake with instructors Oona Grady, James Gascoyne, and the Millstone Rounders. Small-group workshops, communal meals, and evening jams combine history, place, and hands-on learning.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
3–4 days
Fitness Level
Light; minimal physical exertion required but expect to stand or sit and play for extended periods.
Wildlife
History
Great Camp Sagamore reflects early twentieth-century Adirondack ‘Great Camp’ architecture and remains a well-preserved example of that era.
Conservation
The property emphasizes low-impact visitation; follow quiet hours, pack out waste, and stay on designated paths to protect shoreline habitat.
Great Camp Sagamore
Great Camp Sagamore is a historic Adirondack retreat on Raquette Lake, New York, celebrated for its preserved late-19th-century architecture and curated cultural programming. Built in 1897 for the Vanderbilt family, the camp comprises 27 historic buildings set on a lakeside estate within Adirondack Park. Visitors find guided history tours, interpretive hikes, paddles from the 1897 boathouse, and seasonal public events that highlight the camp’s architecture, engineering, and natural setting.
Program offerings include weekend commuter workshops and immersive retreats: a couples’ retreat and Imago-based communication workshop; nature-inspired art workshops led by instructor Terri Fraser; and beginner fly fishing weekends taught by instructor Cari Ray. Educational talks and history lectures are presented by historian Connor Williams, covering topics like presidential elections and the origins of the Great Camps and William West Durant’s architectural legacy.
On-water experiences feature a 1.5-hour guided paddle that interprets the landscape and built environment, while land programs range from full-day engineering history hikes to volunteer work weekends. The camp also hosts a free summer concert series supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, with performances in June through August.
Great Camp Sagamore balances historic preservation with public access, offering family-friendly tours with optional lakeside buffet lunches and commuter pass options for daytime participation. As a registered historic site within the Adirondack Park, the camp provides authentic, well-documented programming led by experienced instructors and historians, making it a reliable destination for history, arts, nature, and outdoor learning.
Public programs emphasize conservation, stewardship, and visitor education today.
Location
Raquette Lake, NY
Heart of Adirondack Park
Established
1897
Constructed for the Vanderbilt family
Historic Buildings
27
Preserved Adirondack structures on-site
Experiences
11 tours & events
Workshops, hikes, paddles, concerts
Reserve a tour, register for workshops, or explore commuter pass options to experience history and nature.
Bring your instrument
This is an acoustic, participatory retreat—pack your primary instrument plus a small tuner and spare strings.
Plan arrival timing
Arrive in time for dinner on day one; program runs through the final evening so schedule travel after dinner.
Use quiet hours
Respect late-night quiet to protect wildlife and preserve evening music sessions for everyone.
Try a paddle between sessions
Short paddles on Raquette Lake are relaxing and reset your ear between workshops.
Acoustic instrument (guitar, banjo, fiddle, voice)
Primary tool for participation in workshops and jam circles.
Spare strings and small toolkit
Quick repairs ensure you keep playing through the retreat.
Warm layers and rain shell
Evenings on the lake can be chilly and weather changes quickly.
fall
Notebook and pen
Capture chord charts, arrangements, and instructor notes.