There are houses on the lake. And then there are places like this, places that hold a family’s laughter, its stories, and its legacy. For generations this three-bedroom, one-bath cottage, originally built in 1929 with exterior renovations completed in 2016, has been more than a home; it’s been a sanctuary, a storyteller, and a witness to life lived deeply by the water’s edge.
From the dock, where mornings begin with coffee and the promise of a new day, to the firepit where evenings end with s’mores and fireflies, every corner of this property hums with memory. It’s where children first learned to swim, where grandkids climbed bedroom walls giggling, and where every fish caught (and every story told about it) was cherished. The lake itself has been a constant companion, its storms rushing across the water, its waves rolling over the creek bed, its calm surface reflecting shooting stars on summer nights.
Set on 1.66 acres of partially wooded land, the camp offers both retreat and connection. A front porch for sitting welcomes conversation and quiet reflection, while a back porch overlooking the acres opens to a tapestry of trees, sky, and the gentle rhythm of Borodino Brook along the northern edge. In the front yard, a giant bell has rung for generations, signaling to family and guests alike that it’s time for dinner.
At the shoreline, 60 feet of pristine Skaneateles Lake frontage unfolds, anchored by a new seasonal dock with built-in front row seats to one of the purest lakes in the country. Morning coffee here feels sacred; evenings stretch into starlight as the water mirrors back the night sky.
The surroundings offer more than scenery; they offer renewal. Here, days unfold in rhythm with nature, deer quietly stepping into the ravine, eagles soaring overhead, and the soft music of water tumbling over rocks. The family often says the lake heals everything, and after one quiet morning on the porch, or one golden evening watching the sun set behind the hills, you begin to believe it.
This home has also been a place of tradition. Of ringing the bell for the Judge Ben Wiles Dinner Cruise, of pancake breakfasts in Borodino, of the mailboat delivering packages filled with smiles at the end of the dock. It’s where neighbors gather, where stories are passed down, and where simple joys, clean air, a clothesline snapping in the breeze, the satisfaction of a freshly caught fish or finishing a great book, feel like luxures.
What this family treasures most is not only the beauty of the camp, but the lifestyle it offers. It is a place that grounds you, restores you, and reminds you that the best parts of life are often the simplest: coffee on the dock, laughter echoing off the water, and nights spent stargazing with the people you love most. It's where chaos finds its calm, where the world stops spinning, but you feel most alive, and where healing comes naturally.
Now, for the first time in decades, this legacy is ready to be shared with someone new. For those who long not just for a lakefront house, but for a life steeped in memory, beauty, and connection, this camp offers a rare and magical chance to begin your own story.
