LOCALadk Magazine

24 Winter 2017 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk 90 YE ARS OF HISTORY At the heart of the restoration of Hotel Saranac is its his- tor y. The hotel celebrated its 90th anniversar y this summer, standing alone as the last of the grand hotels that once pop- ulated Saranac Lake during a time when people came from around the countr y to be treated for tuberculosis. When medicine to treat tuberculosis was discovered, peo- ple no longer flocked to the village's cure cottages. The grand hotels started to close and this trend only increased when car travel replaced the trains. Hotel Saranac, however, sur vived. The hotel has had several different incarnations, most no- tably as a training center for the hospitality school of Paul Smith's College, but it fell into disrepair after PSC sold it in 2006. Roedel Companies acquired the property in December 2013 and was awarded a $5 million grant to return the hotel to its former glor y. Working with Historic Saranac Lake Ex- ecutive Director Amy Catania and historic preser vation con- sultant Kimberly Alvarez of Landmark Consulting, the resto- ration of the hotel has been meticulous. An early step in preser ving the original architectural char- acter of the building was removing the ivor y paint that was used in the late 20th centur y to cover the original limestone detail on the exterior. In many ways, it was a symbolic act sig- naling that this once proud building was coming back to life. Salyers says Roedel Companies never rushed the project – insisting, instead, that each step be done right. By restor- ing the unique features of the hotel, such as the tile flooring along the first floor arcade, the hotel earned the distinction of being named to the Historic Hotels of America. Hotel Saranac also became part of the Curio Collection by Hilton: distinctive upscale and luxur y hotels hand-picked for travelers seeking local discover y and unique experiences. The Curio brand allows the hotel to be powered by Hilton's robust reser vation system, while still maintaining its inde- pendence. Roedel Companies remains the sole owner and operator of Hotel Saranac. A NEW CHAPTER STARTING Putting their own spin on histor y in the 21st centur y is what Roedel Companies has painstakingly tried to do with Hotel Saranac. Korn Design, a Boston-based brand strategy and design firm that specializes in the hospitality industr y, was brought in to help establish brand guidelines. Korn has done similar work for South Florida's Diplomat Beach Resort, the Hotel Commonwealth in Boston, and The Mayflower in Washington, D.C ., among others. The Hotel Saranac's website (www.hotelsaranac.com) greets visitors with the slogan `An Iconic American Play- ground' that touts "where stunning natural beauty meets the most remarkable `micropolitan' center." In many ways, that was the vision of architects William H. Scopes and Maurice Feustmann when they designed Hotel Saranac to be a New York City-style hotel in the heart of the village. The red brick building rises above the town from its perch at the intersec- tion of Academy and Main, dominating the village landscape. The arcade, with its retail shops, restaurants, and baker y, made Hotel Saranac the social hub of the village and that's what Roedel Companies wanted to bring back when it re- stored the arcade. The Hotel Saranac experience aims to be a continuous ex- ploration that revolves around the sights and smells of the Adirondacks. In that vein, Roedel Companies's partnered with W TS international, a consulting firm, to create Amper- sand Salon and Spa, which takes its name from the nearby mountain. The salon and spa incorporate indigenous Ad- irondack ingredients – pine, birch, maple – into its signature scents and treatments. "It's spectacular," said Spa Director Jamie Costa. "The natural daylight on the top floor is per- fect for the salon, while the lower level, where the treatment rooms are, is more quiet and tranquil." The guest rooms, completely remodeled by RSJ Associ- ates, are also designed with exploration in mind. They are modern, but pay homage to the region and the histor y of the hotel through colors, textures, and art. "Because there is not a standard room size, the rooms are designed to all be unique and memorable in their own right," says Rooms Direc- tor Anna Richardson. That mix of reborn, restored, and reimagined is never more evident than in the Great Hall Bar on the second floor. Inspired by the 14th centur y Palazzo Davanzati, the Great Hall will once again ser ve as the lobby of the hotel. It will be where hotel visitors mingle over cocktails crafted by mix- ologists dressed in a style that Food and Beverage Opera- tions Manager Peter Snell describes as "prohibition meets hipster." Snell, along with other staff members, has deep roots in the area. He, too, worked at the Hotel Saranac as a PSC stu- dent and calls it an honor to be part of this grand re-opening. The restoration of the beams that span the Great Hall Bar and their intricate designs was a painstaking endeavor, as was the restoration of the adjacent Grand Ballroom and Oak Room. " When people come here to book their wedding, re- union, or whatever special occasion it is, we want them to be wowed," Bordonaro said. So, four years after it purchased Hotel Saranac on a quest to restore the grand hotel to what Fred Roedel calls its "Gild- ed Age glor y," Roedel Companies is ready to add another chapter to the hotel's storied histor y. Just in time for its 90th anniversar y, Hotel Saranac is poised to enter a new chapter. Excitement has been palpable – and downtown development evident – since the iconic Hotel Saranac has promised its re- turn. Welcome

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