Adirondack Architectural Styles

Alpine majesty

There may be no better example of pioneering ingenuity combined with aesthetic practicality than the majestic wood-and-stone structures of the Adirondack architectural style. The style, named after the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York, where it first gained popularity during the late 1800s, quickly spread to other mountainous regions, especially Colorado, California, and the Pacific northwest.

Swiss influence
The creator of the Adirondack, or Great Camp style, was William West Durant. While studying in Europe, the young Durant became attracted to the rugged design of the mountain lodges in the Swiss Alps. After returning to the United States, he soon realized that the marriage of alpine styling with sturdy stone-and-log frontier construction would make for perfect lodging, especially for wealthy New York vacationers seeking a back-to-nature experience.

FDR's favorite
Characterized by natural stone foundations, fitted log construction, and large vaulted roofs, these structures were environmentally attractive, as well as structurally able to withstand the harshest mountain conditions. Thanks to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was a frequent visitor to the Adirondacks, and whose fondness for the rustic style of these buildings was no secret, Great Camp architecture became the model for national park and ski lodges across the United States. One of the most famous is The Inn at Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park.