Lake George Village

The gateway to Lake George from the south witnessed a wilderness battle, a devastating siege and two military campaign seasons before the place ever got a name. After the Revolutionary War, Caldwell grew up on the western shore because the remains of Fort William Henry and Fort George occupied the sloping ground at the head of the Lake.

The place where British forces launched their bateaux to attack New France soon experienced a more peaceful invasion. Travelers making the switch from stagecoach to steamboat at Caldwell fell in love with the stunning view down the Lake. Some wrote about the scenery while others sketched and painted the dramatic prospect. By the middle of the 19th century, Caldwell had become a destination in itself. Grand hotels catered to guests who came for months at a time and needed a fleet of small craft to keep them entertained.

Vacation styles changed dramatically by the middle of the 20th century when Americans put the Great Depression and a world war behind them and embraced the family vacation. Caldwell changed its style in response, even changing its name to Lake George Village. Theme parks catering to children added to the mix of sporting diversions available on and around Million Dollar Beach. These days, young people – and the young at heart — flock to the Boardwalk to enjoy the bustling activity in a place they affectionately call “LGV.”

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