Spas

Adirondack Indulgence

Escape to exceptional serenity at Mirror Lake Inn. BY KIMBERLY KROL INLANDER

All Aglow:

Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa

PHOTO: © MIRROR LAKE INN RESORT & SPA

MIRROR LAKE INN RESORT & SPA 77 Mirror Lake Drive Lake Placid, NY 12946 tel 518 523 2544 mirrorlakeinn.com A s a peak pandemic bride and groom, my husband and I decided to spend our anniversaries, as much as we can, traveling somewhere new together rather than exchanging presents. The pandemic certainly taught us all something about not waiting, the importance of experiences and time spent, and to not value material items over those precious moments.

To commemorate this year, we selected Lake Placid, New York. It was a new-to-both-of-us destination, it offered the tranquility of being near water, and it was drivable, as we wanted to roadtrip this past summer rather than fly. We’re quite glad we chose the Adirondacks region for many reasons — speeding down an Olympic bobsled run, hiking a mountain, cruising amazing scenic drives, exploring hidden pond fishing — but chief among them was discovering Mirror Lake Inn. Walking up to its gorgeous façade on stunning Mirror Lake immediately made us say “Ahhh” and relax instantaneously.

I promise I will get to the spa, but even if your time at Mirror Lake Inn does not include a visit there, you’ll find plenty to love. The accommodations, all boasting lakefront views, vary, but throughout the property you’ll find historic, grand accommodations featuring all the modern amenities demanded by today’s travelers. The grounds are beautiful, with picturesque wildflowers and verdant green foliage during our August visit. We dined at both The Cottage and The View, each offering an entirely different vibe but both top-notch and boasting vistas as delectable as the cuisine. An enviable location puts you just off Lake Placid’s Main Street but within easy walking distance, and guests enjoy a number of included amenities like tennis courts and a private beach with complimentary boats and watercraft. More than 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space proves ideal for hosting everything from corporate retreats to family reunions.

Another thing to love about the resort: It’s been family-owned since 1924, which likely explains why guests feel like family right away. In 1976 Ed Weibrecht was a New Jersey executive and an avid skier in the Lake Placid region. He left behind his corporate life to manage the Inn under former owner Mrs. Wikoff. If his skills met her approval, he would become the new owner, a transition that took place within a year, and Mirror Lake Inn has been AAA Four Diamond-rated for more than three decades.

And while the city and Adirondack region is renowned overall for its Olympic history and legacy, the Weibrecht family brings its own Olympic glory to the Inn. Andrew Weibrecht, son of current owners Ed and Lisa, is a two-time Olympic medalist in alpine ski racing. Guests can admire his bronze medal in the super-G in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and his super-G silver from the 2014 Games in Sochi behind the reception desk.

The on-site, award-winning spa is definitely a draw. If the position on the lake, the gorgeous grounds and the decadent accommodations aren’t enough, guests reach the epitome of Zen when they enter the spa, boasting a full-service salon for hair and nails, state-of-the-art salt therapy and a Salt Room, a Dry Float European Soft Pack, a 60-foot indoor lap pool, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a fitness center, private yoga, personal training sessions and a plentiful treatment menu.

Among some of the more unique offerings on the spa menu: The Adirondack Maple Sugar Body Scrub, using local maple sugar for a full-body exfoliation; a CBD Healing Pedicure; Pure Placid Cleansing Ritual, which allows spa-goers to choose a custom-blended scent inspired by the Adirondacks; a Vichy Shower Scrub; the Mirror Lake Inn Seaweed Body Wrap using the European Soft Pack; a Thai Herbal Ball Massage; Reiki; a Bamboo-Fusion Massage … and that’s just a smattering.

On the schedule for us on the last morning of our stay was a 50minute Swedish Couples Massage — the perfect send-off from Lake Placid, especially apt after a strenuous hike the previous day. Changing separately in the generously appointed locker rooms, we each met our therapist and headed to the treatment room. We prefer different pressure levels, and our therapists met each of our individual needs and targeted our extra-sore areas. At one point I heard Scott yelp a bit as his therapist worked really hard to remove a knot from his calf. While it might have caught him off guard in the moment, he commented later how much better his muscles felt after the massage.

Sadly, the massage’s end also signaled the end of our time at Mirror Lake Inn, but we left satisfied and with ear-to-ear smiles.

Scrolling on Facebook during my stay, I noticed a picture that looked identical to one I had just taken. Digging further, I found a former co-worker and her husband had just left Mirror Lake Inn the day before we arrived. I’ve since recommended the resort to another former colleague who enjoyed a superb lunch with friends at The Cottage. And now I’m spreading the word here about Mirror Lake Inn. It certainly deserves the accolades and word of mouth. Even though the secret’s out about Mirror Lake Inn, it still felt like our own little slice of heaven.

Take a Dip:

Spa Jacuzzi (top) and indoor pool (bottom)

PHOTOS: © MIRROR LAKE INN RESORT & SPA