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History

History

Where it All Began

Step back in time to a grander era when R&R was defined by gracious hospitality and genteel elegance. When uniformed valets greeted every guest by name, old world charm was the height of sophistication. When city folk escaped to the lakeshore and countryside for fresh air and luxurious pampering. Welcome to The Otesaga Resort Hotel, a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America and a National Register for Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. With a magnificent Federal-style facade and imposing front portico supported by 30-foot columns, the stately resort exudes magnificence and grace.

Take a Tour Through The Years

A Legendary Beginning

A Legendary Beginning

Exterior entrance view of The Otesaga Resort in the early 1900's, boasting its iconic grand front entrance and landmark facade.

A Timeless Vision

  • 1807
    The Village of Otsego's name was changed to the Village of Cooperstown to reflect the name of its founder, William Cooper. To this day, Cooperstown is one of only 12 villages in the state of New York.
  • 1826
    James Fenimore Cooper, son of William Cooper, publishes The Last of the Mohicans, one of his many famous novels. Little did the younger Cooper know it would be considered an American literary masterpiece nearly 200 years later.
  • 1786
    William Cooper, an American merchant, establishes the Village of Otsego after purchasing a 10,000-acre plot of land from Colonel George Croghan the year prior.
  • 1851
    Edward Cabot Clark, an American lawyer and businessman, founds the lucrative Singer Sewing Machine Company. He resides in Cooperstown, where his sons, Edward and Stephen Clark, grow up to join the family development business that builds The Otesaga and other notable projects, including The Dakota in Manhattan.
  • 1908
    Construction of a lakeside luxury resort in Cooperstown, envisioned by the Clark brothers, begins. They appoint well-known New York architect Percy Griffin to design the hotel.
  • 1909
    The Otesaga Resort Hotel officially opens on Monday, July 12, 1909. The resort is named for the Iroquois word meaning, "A Place of Meetings." Among its many innovative marvels are massive 30-foot columns, 400 wrap-around windows, a refrigerator filled with 30 tons of ice, central heating, and telephones in each guest room.
  • 1909
    Once the hotel opens and with the growing popularity of golf, the Clark brothers hire golf course designer Devereux Emmet to design Leatherstocking Golf Course on property. It continues to be consistently named one of the best golf courses on the East Coast.
  • 1920
    During the offseason from 1920 to 1954, The Otesaga was home to the Knox School of Girls with over 150 students living at the resort from October through May of each year.
  • 1927
    Located adjacent to the resort is the home of Henry Phinney, son of a newspaper publisher, who sells his stately home to the Clark brothers. A few years later, the Clark brothers convert the home into a four-bedroom inn, The Cooper Inn, a sister property to The Otesaga.
  • 1939
    The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, just an eight-minute walk from The Otesaga, officially opens. It was founded by Stephen Clark, who also founded other prominent attractions in Cooperstown, including the Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers' Museum, both of which still operate today.
  • 1976
    For the first and only time in history, the Hall of Fame's induction ceremony was held inside - in the ballroom of The Otesaga - due to inclement weather. More than 500 people and 23 Hall of Famers were crammed into the resort's ballroom.
A Timeless Vision
Joining Historic Hotels of America

Joining Historic Hotels of America

  • 1994
    The Otesaga joins the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, which accepts only the finest historic hotels in the country.
  • 2002
    The resort undergoes extensive renovations to continue offering the most luxuriously furnished and comfortable guest rooms.
  • 2009
    The Otesaga celebrates its 100th Anniversary!
  • 2013
    The resort adds its popular Fire Bar, which overlooks Lake Otsego.

The Otesaga Today

  • 2014

    The resort undergoes thoughtful renovation to its lobby and 132 guestrooms, spearheaded by Manhattan-based Jeff Lincoln Interiors, Inc. and The W Group.
  • 2015

    The Otesaga adds Hawkeye Spa, offering massage and facial treatments and featuring Naturopathica products.
  • 2017

    The Hawkeye Bar & Grill undergoes a major renovation expanding its footprint and views of the lake.
  • 2019

    The Lobby Bar is converted into 1909, a destination steakhouse offering the finest cuts of meats, fresh seafood, and salads.
The Otesaga Today
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