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Moose River House B&B is the starting point for a tour of Okara Lakes and the Architecture of H. Van Buren Magonigle presented by Adirondack Architectural Heritage on Saturday, July 31st.

Call for Reservations: 518-834-9328

In 1920, Lyon and Horace de Camp, and Fred Reusswig, incorporators of Ga-Wan- Ka, purchased 17,000 acres of timberland with the intention of developing Thendara and the lands around Old Forge into a resort. The tract designated for development included First and Second Lakes of the Fulton Chain, Rondaxe and West Mountain Lake, Lotus and Nameless Lakes, Deer Land and Okara Lakes and twenty-two miles of frontage on the Moose River.

New York architect H. Van Buren Magonigle (1867-1935) was hired to design the buildings. Influenced by Japanese architecture-he designed the American Embassy in Tokyo- his recommendation for Okara was Japanese-style cottages and buildings with the characteristic irimoya roof and bright yellow and red trim.

Only camps designed by Magonigle or those with his approval were permitted in Ga-Wan-Ka. A few models were built, and sold quickly; additional cottages were then added to the site. After the deaths of Lyon and then Horace in 1954, the de Camp holdings were sold at auction. The tour begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The fee is $35 for AARCH and Adirondack Museum members and $45 for non-members.

The Laurel Tree - flower shop & gifts

Indoor House Plants, Tropical House Plants, Dish Gardens
Herbs, Flowering Hanging Baskets and Fresh Flowers

140 Forge Street Thendara, NY

Give a gift from the Laurel Tree!

Elegant New Banquet Facilities Now Available

Download the PDF

Under new ownership since October 2002,

Stuart de Camp is the great grandson of Julia Lyon and William Scott.

Built for Julia Lyon by her husband William Scott de Camp ("Who Was Who In America") around 1896 as a small hotel. The Moose River House was originally only accessible by boat. People were brought to the Inn by Julia's tiny sidewheeler steamboat named "FAWN" which docked at the Moose River House landing. Her steamboat traveled up and down the Moose River at a time when the river also served as a tributary to the historic New York State Erie Canal. Much of the building's details, including the front porch are original - Victorian in style. Similar to its sister building the "Thendara Town Hall".

Enjoy author Charles Herr's article The deCamp Steamer "Fawn"

The May/June 2008 issue of Adrondack Life Magazine features an article about Thendara's History by author Mary Thill.
The article's photograph was captured by Forest Proper.

Download the PDF file here.

Stuart deCamp

Jimmy Ortiz