A visit to Santanoni

[daytime dave]

Over the last weekend, I visited camp Santanoni with the girlfriend. We rode our new hybrid bikes into the main camp.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/53095.html

I linked the NYS DEC site because you can camp there. It was five miles in. No cars past the parking lot, except the ranger and the State inmates that came to work on some of the overgrown grass along the road, and then the huge State dump truck that went down with a load. Mere mortals like us had to walk in, bike in, ride your own horse, or make arrangements to ride the horse drawn wagon in.

A mile in was the remains of the farm that sustained the great camp.

Along the way there was some nice scenery.

[daytime dave]

Then we arrive at the great camp. It was very impressive to remember that 120 years ago, this was one persons destination.

My girlfriends mother and her family lived at the camp for a time. Her father received permission to log the site for a while. Her aunt rode a horse onto the big porch and her grandfather was furious. They stayed in the caretakers house.

It was a nice time and it was free. Open to all, all year long. It was very interesting. We met a couple from NYC who were big fans of the place. They tent camp there for a week. They have done it for years. They were interested in my girlfriends connection to the place. Then I told them my grandmother was the niece of the second owners. Even my girlfriend didn't know that. (Before you think it, if they still owned it, I wouldn't have gotten an invitation to any parties there.)

It was nice to see a glimpse of how the other half lived. The bike ride was nice.

[Deadwood Dutch]

Thank you very much for the tour and the interesting story and photos. I always like to see what is left of what was a place like that. It makes for a great day with the bike.

[PT7]

Very nice pictures, Dave, and especially so the scenic views. Looks like a great hiking area.

It was also a most interesting historical site/sight depicting, as you said, "how the other half lived." The simple stat in the camp info that impressed me was that this get-away from city life comprised over 12,900 acres when it was in use. Reminds me a little of the fictional Ponderosa. Thanks for taking us on the tour.

[CT_Shooter]

Great tour, Dave. Totally enjoyed the stories and the pics.

[RanchRoper]

Great pics. Cool place. Thanks.

[RetiredSeabee]

Thanks for giving us the tour. Looks like a place to add to the growing list of destinations I need to see.

[Whaler]

Thanks for the post and pics.

[Sir Henry]

Thanks for the picture tour. I love places like this.