The EDC is shining a spotlight on the diverse assets of our region by listing what we consider the top 5 best things about living in Warren County communities. In this installment, we are covering the gateway to the Adirondacks: Warrensburg, New York.
Centrally located in Warren County, New York, the town of Warrensburg is a thriving community poised for economic growth. Warrensburg is about eight miles north of downtown Lake George and is flanked by the Hudson River on its western edge.
We are going to break down our top 5 reasons why Warrensburg is not only a great place to visit, but a wonderful area to relocate to.
Community
Warrensburg is a tight-knit community that supports one other and welcomes those with the goals to help their town grow and thrive. This is a town where everyone knows your name. The many community events throughout the year offer opportunities to connect both on a personal and professional level. Warrensburg is a town that prides itself on hard work and entrepreneurship while honoring its vibrant history and rich natural resources.
The town of Warrensburg is a safe place to live and work, with a population of 3,985. Living in Warrensburg offers residents a suburban-rural mixed feel. There are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and many opportunities for outdoor recreation which has caused young professionals to flock to the area in recent years. Most residents here own their own homes and the median home value is $146,800.
Warrensburg Central School District is a public school district with 749 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1. The student attendance rate stands at 94% and the majority of students are testing at proficiency or above.
History
Warrensburg was first settled by westerners in 1786 by a group of settlers led by William Bond and was known as “The Bridge.” This name was perhaps due to the crossing of the Schroon constructed early on to access the central Adirondacks. Bond established residency on Lot Number 1 near what became known as Bond’s Pond, currently, Echo Lake. The establishment of Warrensburg as a town (named after early settler James Warren) can be traced back to April 4, 1813, when community leaders held the first official town meeting.
Many businesses in Warrensburg are located in beautifully restored historic buildings. Examples of such businesses are The Bond 1786 and Lizzie Keays/River Street Athletic Club.
The Bond 1786, formerly the Merrill-Magee House, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was recently re-opened by local developer Ash Anand. The historic Merrill Magee House has been a draw to the area since 1839. The property’s longest resident was Grace Magee, who was devoted to maintaining the house and grounds until her passing at the age of 91. Grace’s wealth came from her grandfather, Stephen Griffin, who owned extensive lumber mills, timberlands, and a tannery, in the Adirondacks. The house, pool, and gardens were purchased in 1981 by Ken and Florence Carrington, who converted the private home into a traditional country inn and restaurant.
Today, The Bond 1786 is home to a contemporary restaurant/pub and a classic yet modern 10 room inn, open year-round. Their chefs source locally grown ingredients to offer guests the most cutting-edge culinary experience in the area. The inn accommodations are spacious, with fireplaces in each room. The Bond 1786 is surrounded by beautiful gardens and picturesque views of the Adirondack mountains.
Lizzie Keays Restaurant and the River Street Athletic Club are housed in the historic Empire Shirt Factory. Built and established in 1879 by Louis Weinman and Louis W. Emerson employed about 100 people and manufactured about 300,000 shirts per year. In 1891 J. P. Baumann & Son bought into the company, expanded the operation, hired over 700 extra hands, and started producing lady’s shirtwaists. By 1896 they were producing 6,000 shirtwaists and 2,400 robes daily.
Today, the building at 89 River Street houses the popular Lizzie Keays Restaurant owned and operated by the Grace family, as well as the River Street Athletic Club, an affordable, state-of-the-art fitness center.
The Warrensburg Museum of Local History is a rich resource to learn about the vast history of the region and how it still impacts residents today. “The story is told chronologically and includes artifacts, photographs, and text. Exhibits include government, education, churches, commerce, and entertainment. Water-powered industries made it an economic powerhouse by the end of the nineteenth century, employing up to 2,000 men and women in the manufacture of lumber, clothing, building components, and related products.”
Geographic Location
Warrensburg is known as the gateway to the Adirondacks and once you experience its natural beauty, you’ll understand why. This year-round community is nestled on the banks of the Schroon and Hudson Rivers right at the base of the sprawling 6 million acre Adirondack Park and just north of the bustling tourist town of Lake George.
Another perk is that it is only a few hours’ drive to New York City or Montreal. For important meetings or projects, you can commute to and from these major metropolises with ease, and still raise your family away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The town’s location at the base of the mountains creates 4 distinct seasons of weather that make it the perfect spot for outdoor recreation. No matter what time of year you find yourself here, there is an activity to do outside. Warrensburg offers hiking trails that are perfect for fall leaf-peeping, a public beach to enjoy in the summertime, canoe access to the nearby rivers & ponds to catch trout in the spring, in addition to cross-country ski, and snowmobile trails that come to life each winter.
Golf Resort
Warrensburg is home to a premier 18-hole, 6,161 yard, par 70 golf course located on the banks of the Hudson River. Cronin’s Golf Resort is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the Adirondack and Lake George regions for over 75 years. Their perfectly maintained course is surrounded by the majestic Adirondack Mountains with a beautiful view of the Hudson River.
Cronin’s Golf Resort offers charming and comfortable accommodations that provide the perfect Adirondack-style lodging. Stay in a one-bedroom motel unit, which is a great option for single overnight stays, or choose one of their cozy multiple-bedroom cottages.
If you are looking for a healthy way to de-stress after a long day’s work golf provides moderately intense physical activity, such as walking, carrying your bag, and swinging. Studies have shown that these physical activities increase your heart rate and blood flow, which results in a healthy heart, enhanced brain stimulation, and improved balance.
Special Events
While the town offers a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year (including the Riverfront Farmer’s Market pictured at right), arguably, the event that put Warrensburg on the map is their annual fall town-wide garage sale. This isn’t your grandma’s garage sale! This event has the title of being the world’s largest garage sale and contains over 500 vendors! This expansive event attracts thousands of locals and visitors from around the country to browse antiques, hard-to-find items, vintage, and new toys, clothing, handmade crafts, dollar items, and so much more. As they say at the World’s Largest Garage Sale, “if you can’t find it, it doesn’t exist!”
The town-wide garage sale is free to attend, offers free parking, and provides a free park and ride shuttle service to the Main Street shopping area. This event is a unique combination of a flea market, craft fair, food fest, and bargain hunter’s dream. It’s truly one of the North Country’s favorite events!
While the fall in Warrensburg belongs to the garage sale, the summer is home to two nights of family-friendly entertainment. Every summer for over 55 years, the Warrensburg Volunteer Firefighters put on the Smokeaters Jamboree. This super popular community event features a carnival, a variety of rides, games of chance, an auction, karaoke, a fireworks display, delicious food, live music, and so much more!
Another popular event in the summer is the Warrensburg Bike Rally. Motorcycle enthusiasts will love these 10 days of riding through the quaint communities and spectacular scenery of the Adirondack Mountains. The winding roads will bring you past pristine lakes and ponds and along mountain passes that rival the most exhilarating roads in the country.
There’s something for everyone at the Warrensburg Bike Rally, from great deals on motorcycle gear and equipment from some of the finest vendors in the country, food vendors, and more. Better yet – admission and parking are free!
All-in-all the town of Warrensburg, New York is a safe, beautiful, and ever-growing place to live and work. We’ve just touched on all the things that make Warrensburg great. We hope you’ll come and see for yourself!
