A 1905 Cottage on a Private Island in the Adirondacks with a Two-Storey Boathouse
Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 4
Interior: 6,094 ft² / 566 m² listed living area Lot: 3.33 acres / 1.35 hectares
Amenities: Curved 3,000 ft² porch, 16 stone pillars, post-and-beam construction, two-story stone fireplace, clerestory windows, two-story boathouse with guest accommodation, 3 covered boat slips, approximately 2,600 feet of shoreline, private lagoon, coves, gazebo and lake and mountain views.
On a private island on Lake George, often called the “Queen of American Lakes,” a summer cottage built in 1905 is offered for sale for the first time in more than 60 years. Set in New York’s Adirondacks, 14 Mile Island was once a hotel destination visited by lake steamships before becoming a private retreat. It has belonged to the same family since 1960.
The estate occupies approximately 3.33 acres (1.35 hectares), with 2,600 feet of shoreline and views across the lake toward the surrounding mountains. It is offered for $8,500,000 through Crystal Staepel and Elaine Lawrence of Sherwood Group.
Designed by New York architect John W. Ingle, the cottage has a curved 3,000 ft² porch overlooking the water and windows positioned to capture moonlight. A separate two-story boathouse contains guest accommodation above 3 covered boat slips, with its restoration recognised by Adirondack Architectural Heritage in 2019.
A cottage designed around the island
When William Beardsley commissioned the cottage, Ingle spent time camping on the island to study its light and landscape before completing his plans. The design responded to those observations, bringing daylight, fresh air and moonlight into the great room through high clerestory windows.
Inside, custom post-and-beam construction and a two-story stone fireplace give the house its character. The listed living area is approximately 6,094 ft² (566 m²), with 4 bathrooms.
The curved southern porch provides another 3,000 ft² (279 m²) of covered outdoor space. Supported by 16 pillars made from Shelving Rock stone, it was deliberately offset from the house to allow more light into the interiors. Its scale makes it one of the cottage’s defining features, with room to sit, dine and gather overlooking the lake.
From a lakeside hotel to a family retreat
Long before the present cottage was built, the island welcomed visitors arriving by boat. New York State sold it to William Smith in 1857, together with five other islands. A sportsmen’s lodge grew into a hotel that could accommodate more than 40 guests, and by 1890 the Delaware and Hudson Company had built a steamship pier on its eastern shore.
The island became a private retreat in 1905, when Beardsley commissioned the summer residence. The Finley family purchased the property from the Beardsleys in 1960 and has cared for it across several generations.
Its name reaches further back. In a July 1777 journal entry, British artillery officer Lieutenant James Hadden recorded the island as being 14 miles from Fort George, at the southern end of the lake. According to Adirondack Architectural Heritage, the distance was closer to 12 miles, but the name remained.
An award-winning boathouse
The two-story boathouse combines 3 covered boat slips with a 2-bedroom guest apartment upstairs. It gives visitors a separate place to stay beside the water.
Restoration began in 2010 after ice damage caused the building to twist on its supports. Under Laura Finley’s ownership, the work included structural repairs, a cedar-shingle roof and the restoration of the apartment’s original layout.
Original floors were uncovered and refinished, French doors were reconditioned, and existing hardware was preserved. The apartment’s covered porch, balconies, flower boxes and railings were also restored. Adirondack Architectural Heritage recognised the project with a preservation award in 2019.
Lake George and the Adirondacks
The island sits near Bolton Landing, a resort community on Lake George’s western shore, with shops, restaurants and the historic Sagamore Resort a short boat ride away.
Its position marks the southern entrance to the Narrows, a stretch of the lake where islands sit between forested mountain slopes. Views from the estate extend toward Dome Island, Tongue Mountain and Black Mountain, while a private lagoon, coves and a gazebo offer different places to enjoy the shoreline.
For an owner arriving from New York City, the drive to the Lake George area takes approximately four hours, followed by the boat journey to the island. The setting offers privacy on the water while keeping the amenities of Bolton Landing within reach.
Photography credited to Adirondack Real Estate Photography.