A delightful destination
On a beautiful, cool, Fall day in October, I hopped in the car and took a ride from Lake Pleasant up Route 30 to Indian Lake. While most of the foliage is gone by this time of year, the drive north was still beautiful. Whiskey Brooke Falls was clearly visible right from the roadside without all of the leaves impeding the view. The mountain tops were covered in a foggy haze, but the sun was still trying pretty hard to peek through! I love an aimless, wandering drive, but today I had a destination in mind – The Cabins at Chimney Mountain.
When I arrived in Indian Lake, I took a right onto Big Brook Road and followed that to the very end, about 8 miles total. The road is paved until the last 1.5 miles, where it turns into a well maintained dirt road. I headed to the "Main House" which sits in the open field, overlooking Kings Flow, where I met up with Davanna Marks. She and her husband Tim became the new owners of The Cabins at Chimney Mountain in June of 2023.
The first thing I asked Davanna when we sat down to talk was "What made you decide that this was where you wanted to be?" As a lifelong resident of the area myself, I know and appreciate all of the benefits of living here, working here, and raising my family here, but I do know that being in a rural area certainly comes with its challenges. So, Davanna gave me a little bit of her life story and background.
Davanna and her husband Tim both attended Clarkson University. Davanna went on to work in the biopharmaceutical field, and Tim went on to play professional hockey. In order to pay the bills and pay back student loans, they began to invest in properties, specifically multi-family homes with the intent of utilizing them as long term rentals. From there, they ended up buying a small farm with some acreage and pigs. Davanna and Tim have two young boys and it was very important to them to raise their kids with chores and tasks that would teach them responsiblity.
Davanna was eventually given the opportunity to become the head of operations for the company she was working for at the time, but it required a move to Boston. The family moved and lived in Boston for two years, but living in the city proved very difficult for Tim and the boys. Feeling fulfilled by the two years she spent in her position, the time was right to search for a home in the Adirondacks. Davanna and Tim owned a home in Inlet that they used as an Airbnb, and realized that operating short term rentals might be the direction they wanted to go moving forward. The couple wanted to be in the mountains, near a lake, and somewhere that Tim could fish and hunt! It was also important to them to have a small town community where they could raise their kids. When The Cabins at Chimney Mountain came on the market, they knew that was exactly where they wanted to be. The buying process was a long and complex one, but in June of 2023, Davanna, Tim, their two kids, and two dogs could finally call it home!
The Cabins at Chimney Mountain were previously owned by the Bet Family. They operated the cabins as a secluded vacation retreat for nearly forty years. There are nine total cabins, each with an indoor fireplace, a fully equipped kitchen and space for the whole family. There is also access to Kings Flow, an almost private lake, that you can enjoy from the provided canoes, row boats or kayaks. Seven private trailheads also lead directly from the property, including the trail to Chimney Mountain itself. If you're lucky, Chloe or Chase (The Marks' Golden Retrievers) might just join you on your hike to the peak!
Since the Marks family took over, they have slowly been making upgrades that they knew both the Bets had hoped to do and that their guests were looking for in a vacation spot. They have added outdoor firepits with firewood available on site, and picnic tables at every cabin. Each cabin now has Wi-Fi, and three of the cabins are outfitted with a hardwire line, perfect for those looking to do a little work remotely. The cabins are now pet friendly, so you won't have to leave your furry friends at home. They also added a small camp store with some basic necessities such as toiletries, sunblock, bug spray and more. You can even pick up a souvenir t-shirt! Davanna has also worked hard to update their website, move all of their booking online, and created a presence on Airbnb.
Big plans for the future of the cabins are also in progress. There is a hope to install a playground for kids in the near future. They are also working on a branded coffee that will be available for purchase. Moving forward, they are hoping to host weddings, retreats for women, sound therapy workshops and more!
If you are looking for a location for a small quiet getaway, or a family reunion, The Cabins at Chimney Mountain might be the perfect place for you! Accommodations range from one bedroom / one bathroom cabins to five bedroom / two bathrooms cabins, and all of the units together can sleep up to sixty five people! Check out this awesome property which is open year round and make your reservations ASAP as they are quickly filling up. And make sure you check out all the other awesome stuff to do in Indian Lake!
