FAQ

YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AWFULLY SMALL IN THE PICTURES, WHY IS THAT?

It is difficult to get a picture of the house that shows its full size. It was designed and built around 1980 with the goal of keeping it energy efficient. One of these design features is being built into the hill, so the road side is almost entirely underground. Thus, there are only a coupe of small windows on the north side. The only side of the house fully above ground faces the lake, and as this is on a hill it is hard to get a picture that shows the whole house really well.

Click the Floor Plan image below to see a Large Scale Plan:

ARE YOUR RATES NEGOTIABLE?

Sometimes, yes. Our posted rates are market value for what similar waterfront properties rent for. We are often happy to negotiate, though, especially for extended stays and the off-season. Rates for a year ahead of time (summer booking made the preceding Autumn, for instance) are fairly firm, however.

YOUR RATES SEEM HIGH.  WHY DO I SEE OTHER HOUSES RENTING FOR LESS?

There are a lot of factors in comparing properties. When you compare this property with others keep in mind that not all waterfront properties are the same. Many houses are listed as waterfront, but there is often poor swimming or boat access directly from the house.  Others may not have actual lakefront but may instead be on a stream or a marshy area adjoining a lake.   There are almost 400 feet of wooded shoreline with our house (396 to be exact), and while the location is on a peninsula with other houses, we are on a double lot which provides a nice buffer from neighboring properties. The location of our lots is also about the best of all the houses out here. The southern exposure keeps the house sunny and well lit all day, and the design of the house keeps the light and view accessible from almost every room..

ARE THERE BOATS INCLUDED IN THE RENTAL?

Yes. There are three full size canoes, one single person canoe and a kayak by the dock. Paddles are also stored on site, as are boat cushions. Some PFD’s, or life jackets, are be available for adults, but please bring your own for any children. As all children are so different in size it is impossible for us to keep on hand appropriate life jackets for children. Also, please keep in mind that when boating you are required to have one flotation devise on board for every passenger. This can be a life jacket or cushion, but the State doe patrol the lakes in the Adirondacks and boaters have been cited for not having flotation devices. This is equally applicable to kayaks, canoes, sailboats and powerboats.

DO YOU HAVE A MOTORBOAT?

No. But you may rent one at any of the local marinas on Lake Flower or Lower Saranac Lake and drive the boat via the Saranac River directly to our dock. You may also tow your own here and launch it down the road at the private community boat ramp. There is room by our house to park a boat trailer after you have launched. We recommend putting it in the small parking space up behind the kitchen of the house. While we are only a hundred yards or so from the navigable channel of he river, and people boat here all the time, Oseetah is a shallow lake and still has the occasional submerged stump from when the lake was flooded a hundred years ago.

CAN I WATERSKI ON YOUR LAKE?

No. You should not do so. Oseetah Lake is not a good choice for water skiing. The shallowness offers dangers to the skier, and while you can navigate motorboats outside of the bouyed channel the shallowness make maneuverability tricky.

CAN I WINDSURF OR SAIL?

Yes. People do so all the time here. Keep in mind though, as with motor boats, that Oseetah Lake is generally shallow and larger centerboards and tiller can easily run aground.

WHERE DOES THE NAME OSEETAH LAKE COME FROM ANYWAY? WHAT IS AN OSEETAH?

In the Huron language Oseetah means “Water Lily”.  As the lake is shallow and has many areas where water lilies thrive, it was officially renamed Oseetah when the Lake Flower dam was expanded in 1904, and that name was in general use and used on maps by 1910 or 1912 at least.  Many people around here still refer to the lake as Miller Pond, the name of the smaller lake that was present prior to the flooding, and when we were growing up in the area in the 60′s and 70′s most people called it that when heading upriver from town.  In those days (the 60′s and early 70′s) the peninsula where this house is located was fully undeveloped and still a virtual island.  It was not until the current dirt road was put in, crossing a large swampy area via an artificial causeway, that year-round homes were built on the main body of the lake (although private driveways had been in place prior to that via the Kiwassa side of the lake).

Another small pond, Averill Pond, was also subsumed into Oseetah Lake, although that name is lost except on old maps.

A legend, told in English and in verse, is quoted in full and reproduced online in this 1909 BOOK.

WHAT LAKES CAN I GET TO BY BOATING FROM YOUR HOUSE?

Lake Flower is a short trip down the river.  This 300 acre lake is in the heart of Saranac Lake Village, and there is a public area there where you can dock and walk to town.  Many people also enjoy taking a canoe trip to town to get ice cream at Mountain Mist Custard right on the shore.

Kiwassa Lake is another beautiful lake with a lot of summer and full time homes accessible by a short channel.  It lies to the west of Oseetah.  Although it iles between Oseetah and Lower Saranac it is not on the same river so it is a separate channel than the one leading to the locks and Lower Saranac.

Lower Saranac Lake can be reached by traveling upriver through the state locks, and then boating through First and Second Ponds.  This is a deep water lake and almost all state land.  Camping is by permit only on this lake, although the many islands are free for use by day boaters.  Bluff Island is a particular favorite.

Middle Saranac Lake, or Round Lake, is accessible via another set of locks upriver of Lower Saranac Lake.  You can easily boat there and back in a day via motor boat, and if you leave early enough you can canoe there and back over the course of a full long day.   Many people enjoy getting dropped off with canoes at the South Creek Launch on State Route 30 towards Tupper Lake and boating all the way back to our dock.  There is one nice long sand beach on Middle Saranac that connects to to a trail leading all the way to the top of Ampersand Mountain.

Weller Pond is a small, 192-acre pond north of Middle Saranac Lake.

I REALLY LIKE YOUR HOUSE AND  PROPERTY.  IS IT FOR SALE?

Not officially, but please see THIS page.  While it is not listed with an agent yet, we would be happy to sell to someone who really loves the house and location.   As we do not get to use the house as much as we used to, it would be nice to see it pass to someone who would use and appreciate it.

We are not itching or overly eager to sell, and we anticipate being able to use and enjoy it ourselves as well as rent it, so we are not looking to bargain or entertain offers below our asking price.