Well, Well, Wells House

Fans of the long shuttered Wells House in Pottersville rejoiced last year at the news that a buyer had been found.

The restaurant, bar and hotel had been vacant for years, after the Champlain National Bank foreclosed on the property. The bank let the liquor license lapse, so whoever purchased the property would have to apply to the state to have a new license issued.

Enter the Beadnell Family, who own and operate more than a dozen businesses in the North Country. The shining jewel of their empire is the Ridin’ Hy Ranch and Resort on Sherman Lake. The family also has a mobile home park and multiple real estate investments.

“The idea was for the Beadnells to get back the liquor license and re-open the property as a bar,” said Heide Lane, from Gallo Realty, in Chestertown, the current listing agent.

“They did get their liquor license, but decided they had too many projects going, so they put it back on the market” 

The current listing price is $299,000, but that does not include the liquor license.

“The license is in the Beadnell’s name. Whoever buys the property would have to get their own license,” Heide said.

You can check out the listing here. In the meantime, if you know of an entrepreneurial chef, who wants to walk into a fully equipped kitchen and bar with ten picture perfect hotel rooms for guests, share this story.

Own Your Slice Of Schroon Lake Heaven

This week’s featured real estate listing is from Realtor Brooke Clark, of Equitas Realty.

A Custom, sprawling, private, luxury... you won't want to miss this one. Over 4500 feet, gourmet kitchen, Stainless Steel  appliances, outdoor wood burning heating system.

Sip coffee while you drink in the sun on the porch outside your bedroom. Watch the snow fall from your jacuzzi tub, jump onto the trails that surround the house on foot, 4 wheeler or snowmobile. Only minutes from the town dock for launch, the beach, all amenities including restaurants, yoga, and a cinema. A quick hour to Saratoga, Gore and Lake Placid.

Get all of the listing details, here.

Schroon’s Mini Accommodation Building Boom

Photos Courtesy Adirondack Lakes Cabins

Witherbee's owners Bill and Patty Christian have recently completed three Adirondack style cabins, which sit up the hill from their Carriage House restaurant and bar. When we caught up with Bill recently, he said he was extremely pleased with how the cabins -- he built -- turned out.

As part of their effort to be more "Green" the Adirondack Lakes Cabins were constructed from lumber from their own trees harvested on their property. Mead Lumber in Queensbury did the milling. That cut down on any shipping, thus reducing the carbon foot print.

The cabins also feature energy efficient lighting, appliances, windows, heating and cooling, televisions and Serta mattresses.  

From Patty:  “We want to be sure the ‘Adirondack Atmosphere’ we all love is here for generations to come”.

Coming up Thursday on Schroon Laker, we will have the behind the scenes story on the transformation of the old Yellow Coach Motel.

Rejoice: The Wells House Is Back In Business...Summer 2017 Update: See Below:

Summer 2017 Update: The Wells House remains closed with no signs it will reopen anytime soon. Schroon Laker has learned the owners have ceased work on the renovation. We will continue to monitor future developments.

The Wells House in Pottersville --  the restaurant, bar and ten room hotel that has been shuttered since April of 2011 – has new owners.

Schroon Laker has learned that the closing of the deal took place Friday morning. The landmark building was foreclosed on in 2012,  and has been listed by the bank with Friedman Realty ever since. Schroon Laker has learned that the contract contains a clause for the new owners to apply for a liquor license.

Joel Friedman, from Friedman Realty, said he had no idea what the new owners plans were, but when asked if it would open as a restaurant and or a hotel, he replied “Hopefully.”

“What this area needs is more beds for tourism,” Joel told Schroon Laker.

Once opened, the return of another eatery for folks in Horicon, Chester, South Schroon and the town of Adirondack will be surely welcomed.

The Wells House has experienced several incarnations since its doors were first opened in 1885: from featuring lavish accommodations and comestibles for travelers from New York City who over nighted there after a long train and horse and carriage ride in the heyday of Schroon inthe early 1900s, to literally being a biker bar  -- where a Harley was parked on the bar – The Wells House has apparently seen it all.

In the last decade the building has undergone two extensive renovations. You can read a terrific history of The Wells House and her glory days, written by Joe Steiniger on his North Country Rambler blog, here.