New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
THE HOTEL CHAMPLiIN.
Many attractions Of q Region of
Lake and Mountain.

When the train. after climbing the hills from
Albany ana Saratoga. and picking its way over
the Delaware & Hudson tracks, along the edge
Of the rugged cliffs bordering the picturesque
shore of Lake Chamrlain. finally TO a
stop a few miles south Of Plattsburg, and the
announcer calls Bluff Point. Hotel Champlain,'
no person bent upon seeing the beauties Of the
AdirondacHs, no person in search of perfect quiet
and rest, surrounded by every modern convent
ence, should fail 10 alight
To those who have visited the big hotel crown
ing the bluff. from which that wonderful view
OF Lake Champlain and the mountains is to be
had. admonition of this sort is necessary.
Hotel Champlain is their objective point this
summer, as I'm many summers past. but there are
many to whom the joys OF life at the big hotel
the finest in the whole Adirondack region, viii
come this year the opening Of book.
revelation Of the fun possibilities of life in the
mountains. Since its opening. in 1880, the fame
of the Hotel Champlain has spread. and each
year its patronage has steadily increased until
now, al the opening Of another season, the indi-
cations that. with accommodations for about
seven hundred guests. the house viii be crowded
practically every day Of the summer. The house
opened last week and already number Of guests
have arrived L. l. Brown the manager. and
his staff of assistants hard at work getting
the details OF the mana cement Of the big hotel
back into the usual systematic condition. Sev-
eraI important changes and improvements. both
inside and out of The house have been made. all
calculated to add TO the comfort of guests.
None but a blind man can fail 10 recognize the
beauty of Hotel Champlans surroundings Even
the railroad station (for the hotel has its own
separate station) is attractive. Unlike most
mountain railroad stations. il is not merely a
temporary waiting place, but is a solid sub
stantial structure of and brick. artistic in
f- ,,,igc of ,.air
lawn. broken here and there by beds OF Towering
plants The station is just a suggestion OF the
beauties at the hotel. From the tracks fine
macadam road swings away through an impos
ing stone walled entrance, and winds in a grace
ful curve up the side of the bluff 10 the hotel
The whole summit has, by years of work on the
part of the hotel management, been converted
into veritabe garden. great lawn through
which the drive sweeps up TO the hotel entrance,
and everywhere flowers and ornamental shrub
berry the whole encircled by towering forests
through which shady walks and drives lose
themselves in the distance, ana beyond, the hotei
stretched restfully along the very edge OF the
bluff its big bulk outlined in harmonious colors
against the blue of the sky-the whole goes for
the making Of picture most pleasing 10 the
eye of the tired traveller
Yet attractive as is the setting of the grounds
and hotel itself. the picture pales before that
to be had from the hotel tower. In the fore
ground the trees on the grounds. two hundred
feet below the top of the blun, dwindle 10 pigny
size and on side far the eye can see
the waters of Lake Champain glisten in the
distance. with the Vermont SnOreS ana the hlsn-
est peaks OF the Green Mountain range visible
on clear days. Cumberland Point reaches out
into the lake side OF the bluff, and half
waV out Crab Island Grand Island ana Y Nalcour
Island range themselves across in front OF the
blum. as II protect its heavily wooded shores
from wind and wave. Most of the islands named
played a more or less active part in the stirring
times connected with the early history OF this
country on Crab Island were buried a number
OF Continental American and British dead. ana
steps have already been taken 20 erect a SUIT
able mem Orial there In the shallow water just
OF the northern end OF Valcour Island the Royal
Savage. Benedict Arnolds flagship, was sunk by
the British in 1916. and all that remains Of her
can still be seen. the water is so clear at that
point Relics from the old ship have been In
great demand and an attempt made some
time ago by SPECTATORS 10 raise her and cut
her up into souvenirs The federal government
promptly put a stop 10 the enterprise.
on the piazza Of the hotel there is another
interesting relic Of the olden days This is a
'skagg iron" or the rudder support OF the Brit
fish ship Conhance captured by the American
Commodore McDonough. in the battle OF Platts-
burg on September IL. lsl4. on the west side
Of the house fine view or the Adirondacks ano
al the intervening country is TO be had. Mount
whiteface and other big peaks are easily To-
Gated In fact, the view. covering as II does
circle stretching away over mountain and lake
two hundred miles in diameter is one equalleo
by few II any in this country.
The whole hotel tract includes about five hun
dred acres OF wooded and open land. Through
the wooded portion many pretty walks and
drives have been laid out One OF the most
attrscri,-e OF these Is the Green Drive" encir-
cling the blum This, though II Is road cut
through the woods has not been dug out and
one can ride for miles over the turf enjoying
the charm Of the woods
In addition 10 the main hotel there are at
champlain large annex and six cottages. which
are reserved for families. One OF these is occu-
pied each year by Robert Olyphant. former
president Of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad
Among others who occupy cottages at Cham
plain are Judge Darling. II. q. Runkel and E
j. Barney, OF New York. and d. o. Wickhanl. OF
Cleveland. The late Judge Beach. of New York.
spent several summers IN OF the Chanplain
cottages.
The hotel has long been q favorite vacation
place Tor some Of the nations best known men.
Preridept Mckinley visited II in 1896 and again