Five Towns ~ One Goal
Founding Supervisors of the 5 Towns
Supervisors Left to Right: Brain Wells – Indian Lake, George Canon – Town of Newcomb, Sue Montgomery Corey – Town of Minerva, Ronald Moore – Town of North Hudson, Clark Seaman – Town of Long Lake, and William Farber – Hamilton County Chairman of Board
UPPER HUDSON RECREATION HUB
The Upper Hudson Recreation Hub, also known as the 5 Towns, consists of the Adirondack towns of Indian Lake, Long Lake, Newcomb, North Hudson and Minerva. This alliance was created several years ago following the state acquisition of several large tracts of lands within these communities’ borders. The 5 town supervisors wanted to combine efforts to market and promote our unique geographic surroundings that are truly exceptional, making this area a one-of-a-kind vacation destination.
See what our region has to offer and visit each town’s website for additional information regarding events, attractions, restaurants, lodging and so much more. There is something to do here year-round and once you visit us, we’re confident you’ll want to return year after year.
Clay Aresenault – Supervisor, Town of Long Lake
Discover the unspoiled playground of the north, boasting friendly folks, affordable accommodations, family activities and unsurpassed Adirondack beauty. Centrally located in the Adirondacks, combine Long Lake and Raquette Lake into powerhouse of two small towns as a four season destination and you’ve got the access to some of the most incredibly sought after outdoor recreation experiences available including hiking, paddling, boating, fishing and so much more.
Make Long Lake your Adirondack Vacation headquarters. It’s the best Adirondack vacation you’ve ever been on, with an easygoing pace, unsurpassed beauty and views and experiences that transcend and bring along profound connection to self and sense of place. Leave your troubles behind as you unwind, and relax while inviting the restorative powers of the mountains and lakes to rejuvenate you from the inside out.
Visit for a night and stay for a week, before you know it, you’ll be making new discoveries and making memories to last a lifetime. Traditional lodging ranges from lakeside cottages, cabins, motels and hotels with the personal touch, that you will feel right at home no time. If it’s the great outdoors you seek, there is ample camping, campsites, and hidden spots available, awaiting discovery. All you need to do is ask and we can deliver you an itinerary to suit any level of comfort.
Adirondack Vacation Rentals, and Adirondack cottages are nestled along our lake shores and are all within an hop and a skip of area attractions making this the destination of your year-round vacation. Experience all that the Adirondacks has to offer is at your fingertips as Long Lake is positioned in the middle of it all. Travel short scenic drives to Old Forge and Lake Placid and our five town region with stops along the way, including the Adirondack Experience, the Museum on Blue Mountain lake and the globally recognized and revered, Wild Center boasting it’s one-ofa kind wild walk and interactive natural exhibits. Discover your connection to what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Your Adirondack story starts here.
Long Lake, a widening in the 140 mile long Raquette River, flows north for fourteen miles. W.H.H. Murray, a frequent visitor in the late 1800’s once said, “if you desire to see some of the finest scenery imagine, pass up the Raquette to Long Lake and when, some two miles up the lake, turn your face toward the north, and you will behold what is worth the entire journey to see.”
Lakes, unspoiled forest, mountains, adventure, beaches, waterways, so much to explore and do, family vacations and reunions, coupled with the romance of wilderness makes Long Lake and Raquette Lake the ideal affordable destination to recreate, relax, play, hike and get away from it all. The great outdoors, quiet, solitude and family fun are all here at the birthplace of the American vacation.
Robin DeLoria – Supervisor, Town of Newcomb
Newcomb is a small, historic town with wide open wilderness spaces and experiences waiting to happen. We are a great place to live or play in the brisk clean air in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Park. We have a rich history of miners, loggers, frontiersmen, and famous guides. Many families have remained and built livelihoods here for almost two centuries.
Amenities are superb clean air, awesome views, and outdoor activities for each season and level of adventure. Noise free, pollution free, minimal traffic, lots of wilderness trails, lakes, rivers, abundant wildlife, and even the High Peaks Golf Course in the midst of it all. The Great Camp Santanoni is where the wealthy Pruyn Family of Albany came to relax and show their friends how to enjoy the Adirondacks in the early 1900s. We also have the Newcomb Historical Museum to showcase and educate you on everything regarding Newcomb’s rich history.
We have a fantastic school rich with International friends. The corridor boasts its diversity with the flags and names of students who have attended and remain forever-friends. Newcomb Central School offers a great program for advancing students to graduate High School with a two-year jump on their college education.
So, come on up to “Experience Newcomb” and stay for a while. You’ll create memories of adventures your family will long to repeat.
Chris Clark – Supervisor, Town of North Hudson
A Hub In The Eastern Adirondacks
The Town of North Hudson is carved out of rugged Adirondack forest. Its mountainous, unspoiled terrain is home to cold sparkling streams and crystal-clear freshwater ponds and lakes. The former theme park, Frontier Town, located in North Hudson is undergoing a transformation into a true Gateway to the Adirondacks.
This remote region supports everything an outdoor enthusiast could ask for, including abundant opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, biking, cross country skiing and horseback riding. An established network of groomed snowmobile trails offers a unique chance to experience the beauty of winter in the backwoods.
Tour a historic Adirondack Great Camp dating from 1800’s. Drive along the scenic Blue Ridge Road and take in the unspoiled beauty of monumental natural vistas. North Hudson is a treasure trove of secluded natural resources and tranquility.
Vision for a New Gateway to the Adirondacks
The goal of this project is to establish benchmark vision for a new gateway hub to the Adirondacks that will promote a world-class recreational experience and increase the economic vitality of the “5 Towns” including North Hudson, Newcomb, Indian Lake, Long Lake, and Minerva. The gateway project will ensure that the proposed uses, programs and services improve access to the regions recreational amenities and support the growth of local communities and the region. This new “Gateway to the Adirondacks at the Upper Hudson Recreation Hub will be developed in a manner that creates a dynamic and attractive destination that links local and regional resources and is easily accessible from the Northway, nearby Towns, villages and hamlets.
Steve McNally – Supervisor, Town of Minerva
ESTABLISHED MARCH 17, 1817
Minerva can be called a nature-lover’s paradise, with more than half of the town having been labeled state land. Minerva is a true Adirondack town centrally located and tucked between the mountains. The town is named after Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. Minerva is a quiet little town with wonderful family activities such as swimming at Minerva Lake, picnicking at Donnelly Beach, camping at the new campgrounds, hiking on Moxam Mountain, fishing at Minerva Dam, biking, snowmobiling and cross country skiing.
The town is located in the southwest corner of the county. By road it is 40 miles (64 km) north-northwest of Queensbury, New York, 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Burlington, Vermont, 88 miles (142 km) south of Plattsburgh, 93 miles (150 km) north of Albany, and 147 miles (237 km) south of Montreal, Quebec.
The town was first settled around 1804 in the southeast part of Minerva, which has remained the center of the town’s population. The town was formed from part of the Town of Schroon in 1817. Part of Minerva was part of the Town of Newcomb until 1828. In 1870, Minerva was increased with territory taken from the Town of Schroon.
Brian E. Wells – Supervisor, Town of Indian Lake
Those seeking the quintessential Adirondack community – a place to visit, a place to live, or a place to open a business – will love the Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake and Sabael area. Surrounded by numerous lakes, ponds, streams, and mountains our community takes pride in its heritage and traditions. You can see that spirit reflected in volunteerism, commitment to education, and an array of community services, facilities, and activities.
The Town of Indian Lake was established in 1858. The town, located in Hamilton County with a population of approximately 1,400, lies within the six-million acre Adirondack Park. Essex County and Warren County border its east. In the village center, the east-west State Highway 28 meets the north-south Highway 30. The Hudson River forms part of the eastern town line. And, believe it or not, there are no traffic lights in town!
• The Indian Lake Museum in the hamlet of Indian Lake contains displays and artifacts relating to the historic Indian population.
• The Indian Lake Theater Community Stage & Screen, the original 1938 theater reopened in 2008, provides entertaining movies, operas, live performances, and more for year round residents and visitors.
• Adirondack Experience, The Musuem on Blue Mountain Lake tells the story of the people who lived, worked, and played in the region.
• The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts (The Arts Center) at Blue Mountain Lake provides cultural events, workshops, and plays throughout the year.
• The Indian Lake Library provides books, DVDs, audios, and access to the Internet.
Cool Fact: The Lake itself was the inspiration for the 1960s hit single INDIAN LAKE by The Cowsills. (The writer spent vacation time at what used to be Beeches Cottages on Indian Lake.)
The 5 Towns in keeping with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s directive of developing transformational projects that use a regional approach have partnered with the Department of Environmental Conservation to promote sustainable economic growth in our towns. Roost – the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is leading our efforts to promote the Upper Hudson Recreation Hub (aka. the 5 Towns) and our south-eastern partner the Town of School Lake in the Adirondack Hub Region.
Although each of our communities has their own individual characteristics, this project promotes a recreation strategy that ties each town to one another with a single idea. The proximity of the 5 towns connected to one another in the Center of the Adirondack Park enables a unique and marketable opportunity. The connectivity between the towns is what will make our vision a success story and a world class destination for all recreational user groups. We are continuing to look forward to working with DEC on this recreation strategy. More to come…..