Two multimillion-dollar estates in the Adirondacks are scheduled for auction this fall, marking opportunities for buyers interested in historic properties and large tracts of land in upstate New York.
The sales will be conducted by Platinum Luxury Auctions, a Miami-based firm specializing in high-end real estate transactions.
The first property, Camp Iroquois in Saranac Lake, was built in 1906 by John Tod, a coal and iron dealer and the son of Ohio Governor David Tod.
Originally constructed as a Great Camp — summer retreats popular among wealthy industrialists during the Gilded Age — the 4,000-square-foot estate sits on 8.6 wooded acres. The estate remained in the Tod family until the early 1980s, later changing hands through an auction in 2020 for $2.4 million.
Currently listed for $4.25 million, the property includes 13 structures, including a dining hall, six sleeping cabins, and a boathouse directly on the lake.
Recreational features include a Har-Tru tennis and pickleball court, gardens, a camp workshop, and a four-car garage.
“It’s also extremely convenient to the heart of Saranac Lake and all of its amenities and features a boathouse directly on the lake,” said Trayor Lesnock, president of Platinum Luxury Auctions, in an email.
The auction for Camp Iroquois is scheduled for September 23, and it will be sold without reserve, meaning it will transfer to the highest bidder regardless of price.
The second property, located in Bloomingdale in the town of St. Armand, spans 295 acres across three subdividable parcels.
The land features two lakes, a brook, hiking trails, and mountain views. Residential structures include a 1,700-square-foot home built in 1838, a guest cabin from 1955, and a log cottage completed in 2019.
Additional amenities include a garage, workshop, woodshed, and whole-home generator. Lesnock described the site as unique, saying, “Put simply, we have not encountered a property in all of our experience in upstate NY that is such a pristine example of the beautiful, natural lands in the Adirondacks region.”
According to Times Union, the Bloomingdale compound will be auctioned on October 9, with a minimum bid of $2.3 million.
Platinum Luxury Auctions emphasizes efficiency in its sales approach. “The process creates efficiency for a transaction that is often highly inefficient,” said Lesnock.
The firm typically conducts live auctions on-site, with bidders present to participate in real-time. Remote bidding options are also available.
Lesnock explained that while active bidding usually lasts 10 to 15 minutes, the entire process, including check-in and paperwork, takes about two hours. Closings are generally finalized within 30 days.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, the auctions highlight broader market trends around heritage properties and land-rich estates.
While these listings fall into the luxury category, they underscore the growing appeal of experiential, nature-based real estate.
Lessons from such transactions, including demand for secluded properties with strong recreational components, may offer insight into evolving consumer preferences relevant to campgrounds, glamping operators, and other outdoor hospitality businesses.