Our History
The site’s origins date back to 1865 when two pioneering hoteliers, Dr. G.R. Martine (financier and brother-in-law) and John Holland, spotted the property. Nestled at the base of Blue Mountain with a sunset view of the lake’s three-mile length and a gently sloping beach on which to enjoy it, the site was an ideal location for a health resort. (Today, this site is located on the hillside of Cedar Lane, known as the Blue Mountain Lake HOA). Holland’s Blue Mountain Lake House (Holland House) opened in 1875 and was destroyed by fire in 1886. Following the opening of the second Blue Mountain Lake Hotel in 1887, several guests built cottages on plots leased by John Holland. The Blue Mountain Lake Hotel Company was organized, and Holland was given an interest.
In July 1904, the hotel burned and they decided not to rebuild terminating arrangements with Holland. Immediately a small temporary restaurant was built down the hill on today’s site. Camp owners found successor, Edgar Craven (Ned) Potter (1870-1932) to carry on and provide meals. Edgar and wife, Katherine Treadwell Potter (1874-1915) were housed in a building left of the temporary restaurant to oversee the operation. Several small boat houses which lined the lakefront and housed guides were converted to guest cabins by Mr. Potter. In 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Potter added to their family and welcomed the birth of their daughter, Doris Potter.
Years later, around 1920, Edgar Potter acquired the property with owners, Richard Storrs Jr., and Alfred Thacher. That year, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone spent the night at Potter’s Hotel in efforts to trace the location of The Edison Plant which used to furnish power to the Prospect House.
In the late 1920s the emergency dining room was torn down and rebuilt, naming the new attached buildings, as Potter’s and Potter’s Dining Hall. A large garage was also built with rooms above. Upon Mr. Potter’s death in 1932, his daughter, Doris Potter continued her father’s legacy along with her husband, H.C. (Hank) Petteys as owners operating the hotel with shareholders, Storrs, Jr., and Thacher. Around 1935 an annex was added to the framed house was called the Potter’s Colony Hotel. A massive fire in 1936 destroyed the new buildings and a portion of the garage.
After the fire, Doris Potter and Hank Petteys rebuilt the lodge/dining room and added a small pub with Architect, Robert Graham, A Swiss Chalet look was added to the building. The Potter Camp, Inc. re-opened their doors to guests. In 1939, Potter lineage continued with the addition of a daughter, Polly (Fagan).
Summer guests in 1941, included honeymooners, Dr. Charles and Emily Sahler of Rochester, N.Y. The Sahlers’ were one of many guests who signed the walls of The Elbow Room. They would start a family tradition returning as yearly guests with their 4 children, Charles (Tad), Sandy, Larry, and Pete. Chief of Surgery, Dr. Sahler was well known to treat and stitch up a few guests for cuts and scrapes. During his 2 week stay, he would happily take guests or staff members for a ride in his 1946 Chriscraft utility boat named “The Tandy”.
The operation of The Potter Camp, Inc. continued with Doris Potter (1907--1975), her third husband, Edward Griffin (1905-1988) and the birth of a daughter, Laura.
In the late 1990s, the owners of The Potter Camp, Inc., Laura and Bing Faxon decided to sell parcels of land for new housing on sites where cottages once stood. The parcel of land where the main dining lodge, three cabins, and three buildings were acquired in October 2003 by Dr. Sahler’s son and family.
Today, “Potters Resort” is privately owned by The Sahlers’. They are committed to maintaining the charm that guests have enjoyed for generations.