Experience Vanderkmap, Upstate New York’s most secluded Wilderness Retreat

| BY JJ ESSEX

New York. What are the first things that come to mind when you read those words? For some, they might evoke thoughts of Broadway performances and towering skyscrapers, while others might think about bustling city streets and fast-talking business tycoons. Few would associate the ethos of New York with peaceful forests and breathtaking scenery. But far past the crowded streets of Manhattan and beyond the limits of the city there is a state that is rarely shared in popular media, one rich with wildlife and natural wonders.

There is of course the beauty of Niagara Falls and the Adirondack Mountains. Those who love to immerse themselves in the oranges and reds of autumn can visit the picturesque landscapes of the Hudson River Valley. Even die-hard hiking enthusiasts can get their fix traversing the Catskills’ many trails and vistas. New York is home to countless special places to explore. Unfortunately, nearly all of the places I’ve just listed suffer from one major issue— overcrowding.

Over the last few years, the closely guarded secret of New York’s hidden beauty has made its way out into the world, and it feels as if every inch of the state is crawling now with inexperienced backcountry tourists who are ruining the serenity of the nature they’ve traveled so far to see. No place seems undisturbed. Well, that’s not entirely true. There are still small pockets of land where you can roam freely through the woods without encountering another soul. And there is one place in particular that you should consider visiting if you want to escape your daily life and seclude yourself within the natural world, Vanderkamp.

Nestled deep within the heart of Oswego County’s towering forests, just four hours from the heart of Manhattan, you’ll find what may be the only nature experience of its kind in North America. That’s because it comes from the minds of a group of entrepreneurs who know a thing or two about building unique experiences. Troy Evans and Joe Sisko are the founders of Syracuse’s wildly popular social living and working project, Common-space, and

along with their newest partner, Dan Cramer, they’re taking the lessons they’ve learned in building one of the country’s most successful socially designed apartments and shared office spaces to transform how we vacation in nature. “When we first started discussing the idea of Vanderkamp we wanted to provide a space where people could escape the busy routines of their daily lives and connect with the natural world around them,” Sisko told Upscale Living Magazine, “but the project soon became a way to foster human connection. We wanted to remove some of the distractions of modern life so that our guests could get lost in the beauty of this place and reconnect with nature, with themselves, and with those they would share their experience with.”

Getting lost in the vast beauty of Vanderkmap isn’t difficult. The nature retreat provides an incredible amount of space for its guests. To put its size into perspective, Vanderkamp offers 850 acres of pristine wilderness anchored around a 50-acre lake. That is seven acres larger than New York City’s Central Park. But where Central Park serves a population of eight million, Vanderkamp serves just twenty-four guests at any one time. Along with its nine miles of hiking trails, it is unlikely that you’ll ever run into any other guests as you explore the grounds throughout your stay.

Of course, Vanderkamp isn’t the same sort of luxury you would find waiting for you at The Mark Hotel, it offers something far more valuable — a chance to slow down and spend time with those you most love. The three founders have been hard at work developing a series of intimate experiences for their guests, and they’ve just finished their latest lodge—the Boathouse. Modern, clean, and surprisingly spacious, the Boathouse sits just at the water’s edge of Lake Vanderkamp and is the perfect spot to begin your restorative reconnection with nature, yourself, and your loved ones. It sleeps four guests, is bathed in an abundance of natural light, and really hints at why Vanderkamp stands out among other nature-based destinations in New York.

Vanderkamp recreates that feeling of simplicity that came with living in the analog age. As founder Troy Evans says, “Vanderkmap has a feeling, we all felt it the moment we stepped on the property. Its vast remoteness and old trees create this sense of calmness and wonder. There aren’t many places left like this where you can truly seclude yourself anymore, especially in the Northeast.” When you step foot into the forest you really do sense that connection to nature. It

breaks down the unconscious pull of modern life and the urgency to do things disappears, leaving your mind free to finally be in the moment.

“The real joy of the Boathouse or any other experience here,” Dan Cramer explained, “is in listening to the crackling of the flames of a fireplace as you prepare dinner for your loved ones, enjoying the early morning rows with your child across the misty waters of the lake, or walking with the faint hint dew as you and your partner explore the forest after a fresh rain. Moments like those are what make staying with us so enchanting and memorable—because when you’re in them, you’re nowhere else.”

Vanderkamp will also soon feature more novel lodge experiences. Langston Lodge, an exceed ingly secluded setting designed to sleep two and make for the perfect lover’s getaway, and Wollehben Cabin, Vanderkamp’s first authentic log cabin experience. If you’re looking for the ultimate escape for a large group you should consider Frank Soule Lodge. This recently renovated seven-bedroom lake home sleeps sixteen guests and was the former home of Syracuse naturalist and business magnate Frank C. Soule. But you should reserve your stay soon, Frank Soule Lodge is already fully booked for the summer of 2022 and fall is filling up fast. The Boathouse booking just recently opened but is expected to fill up quickly. Visit vanderkampny. com for more booking information.