Preservation Projects

Wakonda Lodge

Wiawaka’s heritage is a colorful blend of art and history. Today, its legacy continues to honor the “spirit of women” true to its translated namesake. Each summer, hundreds of women discover or return to capture the respite, relaxation and personal enrichment that is at the core of Wiawaka tradition. The Wakonda Lodge Restoration Fund restores a beloved historical landmark and ensures an equally important future for new generations to enjoy.

HISTORY

Katrina and Spencer Trask built their first artists retreat in 1905, lakefront at Wiawaka. It included remodeled Victorian cottages and a new 16-room, two-story “dormitory” named Wakonda, designed and decorated in true Adirondack lodge style. They later deeded the property to their good friend, Wiawaka founder Mary Fuller, for a dollar and a bouquet of garden flowers. Here she would continue her personal project, bringing “the factory girls” to the lake for needed respite from long shifts in the nearby textile mills.

The Trasks went on to found Yaddo in Saratoga Springs – among America's most respected artist retreats. Miss Fuller realized her dream for Wiawaka, enlisting the help of other socially progressive benefactresses to raise funds to support its activities and scholarship endowment.

THE VISION CONTINUES

Wiawaka continues its century-old tradition of bringing together women of diverse backgrounds, means and needs. Guests visit for a day or a week – for a special health, healing or arts program, or simply to relax with friends or family. Surrounded by 60 magnificent acres, with 1500 feet of picturesque Lake George shoreline, Wiawaka is an inspirational backdrop for writing workshops, family reunions, multi-generational holiday traditions, and an increasing number of weddings.

WHY YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Wakonda, once the center of any Wiawaka stay, has suffered seasons of disrepair. The building was closed to visitors more than 10 years ago. And with its absence came the loss of a beloved, uniquely Wakonda experience, with its two-story screened porches just steps from the serenity of Lake George.

A matching grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation helped stabilize and save the building in 2006. Now $300,000 must be raised to continue the project that will restore Wakonda to its original character, with necessary modern amenities to reopen it as a guesthouse and small gathering center.

Young artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe were registered guests in the early years at Wakonda. Lesser known are the names of thousands of factory women who enjoyed a holiday week for little or no cost. Their signatures live in Wiawaka’s volumes of guest registries; their photos and sense of presence abound.

YOUR SUPPORT will help honor their legacies, preserve an important historical landmark, and perpetuate the Wiawaka tradition.

The Wakonda Restoration Fund will help:

·         Increase Wiawaka’s guest rooms by 25 percent

·         Update electrics

·         Modernize bathrooms

·         Ensure continued structural integrity

·         Furnish restored guest rooms

·         Add an additional small gathering space for workshops and programs

·         Create intimate lakefront amphitheater with landscaped outdoor seating

          Preserve two-story screened porches and lake view balconies

          Preserve historical Lake George waterfront

HOW TO HELP

YOUR SUPPORT of the Wakonda Restoration Fund is greatly appreciated. There are many ways you can help, including participating in our fund raising efforts. We look forward to discussing these opportunities with you, and other ways you can support the restoration of Wakonda, as Wiawaka continues its traditions – history still in the making.