Central-ADK gateway. The Fulton Chain starts here. The Snowmobile Capital — 900+ miles of groomed C-trails radiate north and east.
Old Forge sits at the western entrance to the Park, sixty miles north of Utica, at the southern terminus of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. The eight-lake chain — First through Eighth Lake, connected by short carries — is the central paddle of the western Adirondacks, the route the early-twentieth-century guides ran for the Adirondack League Club out-of-towners, and a credible weeklong canoe trip that ends at Raquette Lake.
The village is a working family-vacation town. Enchanted Forest / Water Safari, the regional waterpark, has run since 1956 and is the largest single visitor draw in the western Park. McCauley Mountain, the small ski area on the village's south side, runs in winter. The Strand Theatre on Main Street is a working independent cinema. Old Forge Hardware — a four-story emporium with the largest-by-square-footage hardware-and-everything-else inventory north of Albany — is, accurately, a destination of its own.
What Old Forge does that no other Adirondack region matches is family-vacation density. The waterpark, the lakes, the ice cream stands, the train rides, the mini-golf, the hardware store: all within walking distance, all built for kids, all running on a long summer season. It is the antithesis of the High Peaks region's austere wilderness aesthetic, and it has its own decades-long visitor loyalty. People come back here for generations.
Fulton Chain
open
Water Safari opens
late May
Meet The Artist Reception - Members’ Showcase: Almost a Quitter by Lolli Buran
Jun 26
The Fulton Chain of Lakes
Eight lakes · the classic western paddle
McCauley Mountain
The village ski hill, since 1948
Enchanted Forest / Water Safari
Family waterpark since 1956
Old Forge Hardware
Four-story emporium · destination retail
The Strand Theatre
Working independent cinema on Main
39 directory entries across 5 chapters · 38 pinned on the map · 8 upcoming events · 4 Field Guides cover this region
Old Forge coffee shop with a gift-shop side.
Tamarack Cafe in downtown Inlet serves a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, from traditional favorites and specialty bowls to c…
Lakeside restaurant on Fourth Lake with a private-event lodge.
New York's largest paddle craft dealer and complete backcountry outfitter
Hardware store that grew into a small department store worth browsing
Where Adirondack necessities and thoughtful gifts meet decades of community service.
Every published proprietor in the region, plotted on the map and filterable below.
Family-friendly alpine ski area at Old Forge with classic Adirondack-village skiing — chairlift to the summit and views of the Fulton Chain.
Website under development
A Great Camp-style lodge on Big Moose Lake in Eagle Bay, with 19 housekeeping cottages and Main Lodge apartments and rooms. Open May through October, with kids' programming and weekly campfires from late June to Labor Day.
For nearly three decades, Inlet Department Store has been a cornerstone for Adirondack residents and visitors, offering an extensive selection of hardware, outdoor gear, and unique gifts.
Moose River Farm provides guided llama treks and farm tours, offering visitors a chance to connect with friendly animals amidst the Adirondack landscape.
Step into Adirondack charm, reimagined. At Adirondack Lodge, rustic knotty-pine details meet modern comfort, creating a year-round base for snowmobile rides, lakeside picnics, and sweeping mountain views just outside your window. Each of…
Adirondack Mountain Sports provides snowmobile rentals from their Old Forge location at 121 Forge St, near the train station. Rentals are available daily, with a two-day minimum on weekends for Friday-Sunday rates.
Adirondack Railbike Adventures offers unique railbike tours in the Adirondack Mountains. Riders can explore scenic routes from Old Forge (Thendara) and Tupper Lake, experiencing natural beauty and spectacular views on railbikes made in New…
Adirondack Woodcraft Camp is an established overnight summer camp for boys and girls aged 6-17, located in Old Forge, New York. It offers a traditional camp experience with a focus on outdoor leadership and wilderness skills.
Bird's Marine provides marine sales, service, and storage in the Adirondacks, featuring new and used boats, motors, gear, trailers, and parts. They are open seven days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
A coffee shop on Route 28 in Old Forge selling drinks, Adirondack-themed apparel, handcrafted mugs, and shipped coffee subscriptions. Order drinks for pickup or shop the gift line online.
Calypso's Cove is a family fun park in Old Forge, NY, located next to Enchanted Forest Water Safari. It features attractions like go-karts, mini-golf, arcade games, and a ropes course with a zipline, offering afternoon and evening entertai…
Daikers is an Adirondack pitstop in Old Forge, NY, offering seasonal and local dining with a deck overlooking Fourth Lake. Their caring and committed staff ensure a fantastic experience for guests.
Located in Old Forge, Enchanted Forest Water Safari offers a blend of water park experiences and traditional theme park attractions. Visitors can access various slides, pools, and dry rides.
Frankie's Taste of Italy is Old Forge's original Italian restaurant — 24 years on Route 28, fresh pasta brought in from Boston's North End, a serious menu of pasta, chicken, veal, and seafood, and one of New York State's largest selections of rare premium Kentucky bourbons. Homemade gelato and bread pudding.
Fulton House Cottages offers family-friendly accommodations in the Adirondack Mountains, providing a serene lakefront setting for creating lasting memories.
Airy quarters, some with balconies, in a relaxed lakeside retreat offering a private beach & dining.
21 trails for all levels of skiers at this family mountain with a scenic lift open in summer & fall.
Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company is New York's largest dealer of canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards, and a complete Adirondack outfitter with locations in Old Forge, NY.
Mountainside Smokehouse & Grill offers delicious smoked meats, homemade BBQ sauces and desserts, with smoking done on-premise using apple wood. They also provide catering and meeting space.
NORRIDGEWOCK LODGE, an oasis in the Adirondack Mountains. Our lakeside resort is the perfect remote vacation in the wilderness of the Beaver River. Book online!
Old Forge Brewing Company, established in 2008, is a brewpub committed to crafting quality beer and food while prioritizing local ingredients and community support. They offer a diverse menu, a range of craft beers, and host regular events.
A year-round campground on Route 28 in Old Forge in the Water Safari Resort family, with deluxe cabins, cottages, RV sites, and tent sites. Stay-and-Play packages for Water Safari.
Old Forge Hardware & Furniture Co. offers a diverse shopping experience in Old Forge, NY, featuring hardware, gourmet foods, a bookstore, Adirondack treasures, and clothing.
Palmer Point offers pontoon boat rentals and charming cottages in Old Forge, NY, perfect for enjoying Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks.
Slickers Adirondack Tavern, established in 1984, offers a classic tavern experience with a focus on quality ingredients. They are well-known for their signature French Dip Sandwich.
Tamarack Cafe in downtown Inlet serves a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, from traditional favorites and specialty bowls to creative salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The cafe also features an 18-hole mini-golf course.
The Ilion Little Theatre has entertained residents of the Mohawk Valley every year since 1924, beginning as a private club performing in the attic of one of its founders. In 1927, the group purchased the former carriage house and stables o…
The Lean-To is our casual lakeside restaurant, open to guests and the public. It offers a full-service bar and a craft beer menu, along with a food menu inspired by local ingredients and regional influences.
The Steak House is a family-owned and operated restaurant since 1971, offering a classic Adirondack dining experience with handcrafted steaks, quality meats, seafood, homemade dishes, and a cocktail lounge.
Located at 5520 state route 28 in Eagle Bay, NY.
A rustic resort with log-cottages featuring porches with lake views, plus 3 included meals a day.
Thendara Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 Donald Ross-Designed Championship Golf Course in Thendara, NY, known for its Adirondack setting and a history of hosting famous golfers. It features a restaurant, golf shop, and options for tee time…
Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack is a family-friendly restaurant offering homemade traditional and thin-crust pizzas, signature Whiskey Wings, steamers, and "Raquette Cheesesteaks". They feature a full bar with microbrews, high-definition…
A working diner on Route 28 in Old Forge running for 25-plus years, with breakfast and lunch most days and a Friday fish fry until 8 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
Homey rooms & suites with balconies, plus an indoor pool, free breakfast & a deck with lake views.
A YMCA overnight camp on Darts Lake Road in Eagle Bay, operated by the YMCA of Greater Rochester. Day camp, overnight camp, and partial-day summer programs for kids.
A trip designed for the whole family — toddlers to teens — that everyone will actually enjoy. Family resorts, beaches, easy hikes, rainy-day saves, and a sortable atlas of every kid-friendly thing in the Park.
Brook trout streams that have been here since the glaciers, lake trout in two hundred feet of cold water, smallmouth on every shoreline — and a sortable atlas of every major water in the Park.
Every swimmable body of water in the Park — public beaches, state campground beaches, swimming holes, waterfalls, and the small ponds nobody writes about. From Million Dollar Beach to Moffitt.
