We stay in the Old Forge area each fall (or more frequently sometimes) , and seemingly in a different property each time. This house was definitely a 'fan favorite'! There are 8 of us and we all had more than enough room, beds were great, kitchen was great, etc. The kids are already asking if we can go back for a longer stay the next time. Thank you!

This home is astoundingly beautiful. The decor is perfect for the location. The kitchen has everything you need for meal preparation. Having two living areas gave people choices of a quiet place to read, watch television, or play games. We had an amazing time bonding with each other and this home made this very easy.

The house was great. The host responded immediately to any questions. Kitchen was very well equipped!! Watched the deer every morning right off the deck. Would definitely book again. Thank you Tony for sharing your beautiful home!!

5 adults and 2 dogs enjoyed a wonderful week at this place. They had everything you needed. The deck was wonderful for our dogs! I can’t stress enough how beautifully maintained this place was. Plenty of kitchen supplies and Tony was very quick at replying to any questions I had. Lots of room for quiet if needed as well as nice areas for playing games or gathering around tv or even the fire pit. We took many bike rides and hikes in the area. A+ for house and location.

This is the second time my family has rented this home, seven years later. It was in the same great condition as last time! We had a big group of adults, grandparents, an old Labrador, and young kids. The house is conveniently located, close to town and attractions. The kitchen was fully stocked for cooking and appliances were top notch. I can’t wait to stay here again and again.

Very clean house with beautiful finishes.

Beautiful house and quiet setting. Would highly recommend.

Wonderful property. Highly recommend to anyone.

This is an incredibly attractive property, built in the Adirondack style. Lots of room, with all the amenities needed. Wonderful hosts who have thought of everything you might need. Love the wrap around deck!

Great house in fun location. The kids absolutely loved the bunk beds and rooms. Lots of space for the family and easy walk into town or quick drive.

We cannot say enough- The house-Beautiful, The amenities- More than you will need, The location- Peaceful and Serene. Thank you Tony and Bonnie for allowing us to share your home. The WOW factor is off the charts- from cleanliness to a kitchen that needs nothing - notes on the operation of televisions and fireplace - Just a perfect long weekend of fun and relaxation

Beautiful home, beautiful furnishings, beautiful setting! This home is stocked with EVERYTHING you need to enjoy your stay in Old Forge. And plenty of room, too! We enjoyed hiking, biking, boating and just relaxing with our family. Tony and Bonnie were great to work with. It was the perfect getaway!

You will not be disappointed with a stay at Tony’s First Lake Retreat chalet! We had privacy and space for all of our large extended family to gather, eat, play cards, enjoy refreshments and relax in the Adirondack air. We spent an entire week together on the very large deck with plenty of table space and chairs, inside on the comfy couches, at the fire pit, at the dining room table and cooking together in the chef’s kitchen. We had private bed and bath space for everyone and were pleasantly surprised to find a single pullout for our preschooler to have her own bed with us in the upstairs master bedroom. We took advantage of the private beach a number of days (it is a short 5 minute drive away) and went into town frequently to shop and explore (be sure to go to the Candy Cottage often!). We’ve been coming to Old Forge for decades on day trips, as we all grew up one county away, but have never stayed for a vacation here. It was an unforgettable week with many amazing family memories and fun. The house is beautiful, large, very clean, and has everything you will need to keep everyone comfortable. We cooked huge meals in the kitchen and on the grill almost every night and there is a utensil, serving dish, or pot/pan for any type of cuisine! We highly recommend this property for large groups. Close to town (5 minute drive to DiOrio’s IGA), but in a very quiet location on a dead end road. Tony is a fantastic owner to work with. He took the time to speak with us a number of times prior to our trip to answer our questions and discuss any possible changes due to COVID-19. We had zero problems with our stay and he was extremely accommodating and helpful. Thank you, Tony! We would not hesitate to return to the First Lake Retreat! *Our only insider tips would be to plan for as few vehicles as possible - the driveway is a little steep and tight in spots, but we managed with no problem even with several vehicles. Also, the beach parking is first come - first served and the lot was full each day we were there. You may need to plan to carpool from the house with your group or scout-out the lot before making a big group trip to the water. Once you’re there it’s a perfect beach to swim and relax or boat from the dock!

The House is top-notch and has a lot of room for everyone and is on the trail. Do not plan on having more than one truck and 2 place trailer in the driveway. We had to back down the dead-end road to unload, due to no place to turn around. Parking at Water Saffari was great and did not have any problems leaving our truck and trailers there, but make plans ahead of time for unloading. It's a process. Overall a great time in a very nice house.

A few of my girlfriends & I rented and loved this home away from home! A peaceful setting and just a beautiful home with all the amenities & more.

Great responsive owners and property manager. Easy communication

I just got home from a week at this property and had a great time good location in a quiet neighborhood not even 10 minutes to old forge and a little more than that to Inlet The house had plenty of room for our group and dogs and was well stocked with everything you need

Our only regret was not too much was open for the summer the week we were there. (June 14 - 21) Seems everything was opening the following week. House was perfect for our party of 8.

We had a wonderful time in this lovely place! Plenty of room for the 7 adults in our group, very well stocked with all the equipment we needed, and beautifully decorated. Owners and property manager were very easy to work with.

The property was very clean and spacious. Located about a mile from town , very convenient . There were 10 of us and we were all very comfortable.

Rented this large home, conveniently located minutes a way from old Forge for the Old Forge Marathon. The house was perfect. Exactly as pictured. We had 9 people in our party and found the space to be more than comfortable for all of us. The kitchen was well equipped. Would definitely rent again!

Well equipped, clean home. Owners were very prompt with responses to questions and very accommodating. Decor was super cute and well done. You really felt at home. It is a very quiet surrounded by woods. Comfortable beds.

We had a lovely stay and enjoyed our time in the Adirondacks! Very comfortable space to call home for the week. We enjoyed bonfires, the sound of loons from the nearby lake, and the large deck, especially.

The house is beautiful. All the rooms were comfortable. Even the upstairs room was good with the ceiling fan going and sometimes the floor fan as well during that week of extreme heat. The balcony was a great place to hang out in the mornings and evenings. The kitchen was well equipped, had no trouble making good meals. and the laundry was good too. We hiked almost every day at a different mountain followed by swimming at Arrowhead Park.

House had everything and all the amenities you could need or ask for with a great location just out of town! Couldn’t have been happier!

We had a wonderful weekend at this home. It was very clean and welcoming. Our kids, 5 and 7, enjoyed it as well, especially the bunk beds. There is plenty of space, the kitchen is fully equipped, and again, the cleanliness was impressive. It was close to everything as well but still in the woods so you felt away from everything. Thank you for sharing your home with us! It was a much needed weekend away!

We spent the Christmas period at this beautiful property. The pictures online really do not do it justice. We had 4 members of our family and there was more than enough room for everyone. The home is spacious and beautifully decorated. All we wanted was Snow and to ride Snomobiles and our wish was granted. The snomobile trail is literally just outside the front door. We could not have asked for more. It was a wonderful Christmas. F Taylor

From the moment we walked into the home, we knew we were in for a fantastic holiday week. The house was exactly as shown in the pictures. The rooms were spacious and the home immaculate. Through no fault of the owners whatsoever our dreams of a white Christmas were dashed by the unseasonably warm weather. That did not stop us from checking out neighboring towns (Utica, Lake Placid, Warrensburg), cooking some wonderful meals in the chef-style kitchen, grilling steaks (in December??), and relaxing with good books and wine. The surrounding area was beautiful, with great views of lakes and mountains. Although we did not need our snow shoes this time, we can't wait to go back and explore the trails! This was our first ever house rental, and First Lake Retreat sets a high bar for the future by having met every expectation we had!

Our family had such a wonderful time at this lovely home. We went hiking and saw some Amazing views! We even did some walking around the town of old forge and close to the house and also down to the lake with my granddaughter in her stroller. I enjoyed rocking on the deck with her and visiting with everyone as our son grilled some delicious food out there through out our stay. All of us had so many laughs around the fire pit every night, and one evening just before dark my son and son-in-law saw a black bear which made their trip complete! This place felt like my home away from home. Open, clean and inviting that's for sure. Such a great time had by all and no one wanted to leave. I'd definitely recommend this place to others. Thanks Tony for sharing and everything. Mrs. P.

My family spent a week in this beautiful home and right away it exceeded our expectations! The house was bright, spacious and spotless. The kitchen was fully stocked with any cooking/ serving pieces you could ever need. The wrap around porch was great for the little ones to play on and not have to worry about stairs. The bedrooms were all very comfortable as well- I wouldn't change a thing. We took in many nearby attractions and my husband enjoyed his morning runs around the neighborhood. My family was in love with this house- it was the perfect backdrop to our vacation. Hope to come back again!

My family had a great time snowmobiling in the Old Forge area and using your retreat as our basecamp. Nicely set up for a large family to enjoy some down time. We had a great time and found the chalet to be as described and the communication with the owners was first rate. Parking with a large snowmobile trailer would be difficult, but with 2 place was O.K. Right on the trail with easy access to trails towards Old Forge and to First Lake to go up the chain towards Eagle Bay & Inlet. Hope to go again next year. Highly recommended!