Ausable Acres · Jay, NY
The Lodge
Room for the whole family, and quiet enough that you'll actually relax. Wild Ausable Lodge sleeps 12 across four bedrooms, with a den built for game nights, a kitchen built for big dinners, and a hot tub and sauna for after the trail. It sits deep in a private community in Jay, where the loudest thing you'll hear is the wildlife. Close enough to Whiteface for a ski day, far enough that nobody's rushing you home.
Our story
Ashley grew up coming to the Adirondacks. Summers with her family, the kind of weeks that stay with you. When we went looking for a place of our own, we started where everyone starts, Lake Placid and Keene, and the more we looked the more it felt like we were chasing a version of the Adirondacks that had already moved on.
Then we drove into Ausable Acres. Quiet roads, trees in every direction, trails you could walk for an hour without meeting anyone. Ashley said it felt like the Adirondacks she grew up with. We weren't even looking in Jay. We just fell for it.
We bought the lodge so we could be here more, and we open it up so other families can have the same thing. A real Adirondack place to come back to, year after year.
Ausable Acres community
What's included with your stay
Guests get full access to the private community amenities that come with the lodge. Not a paid add-on, not crowded, and just minutes from the door.
Private trails
Clark Mountain starts at the end of the driveway. Hike in, hike out. More trails and the Lake Eaton loop are a few minutes away, and you likely won't pass another person on any of them. In winter the same routes are snowshoe terrain, with cross country skiing on the flatter community trails nearby.
Private fly fishing
A stretch of the Ausable River reserved for the community, set aside for fly fishing, a short drive from the lodge. Bring your rod and a New York State fishing license. Anyone 16 or older needs one to fish anywhere on the Ausable, this stretch included.
Tennis & pickleball
Community courts a short drive from the lodge. Bring your own rackets and balls.
The lake
Walk the loop around Lake Eaton, use the playground and the volleyball court, and watch for deer, beaver, and waterfowl along the way.
Room by room
The space
Four bedrooms, two and a half baths, and 3,000 square feet across three floors.
Open living room
A vaulted, light-filled gathering space with a gas fireplace, deep sofas, and a Smart TV. Built for long card games and slow Sunday mornings.
Chef's kitchen
Fully stocked with everything you'd cook with at home: gas range, an outdoor grill, a large island seating three, air fryer, and crockpot. Coffee however you make it, with a drip maker, single-serve, pour over, and an electric kettle. A pantry of staples to start you off. Three stools at the island for whoever's on prep duty.
Dining for twelve
A long farmhouse table that seats ten, with folding chairs and the island stools to bring it to twelve and then some. Long dinners are what this room is for.
Primary suite
Log king bed, lofted ceilings, Smart TV, and a private ensuite with a soaking tub and walk-in shower. The quiet end of the lodge.
The Snow Room
Two queen beds with new memory foam mattresses, upstairs. Works for two couples, a family of four, or the teenagers who want their own space.
The Tree Room
Two more queens with new memory foam mattresses, upstairs with treetop views out the window. Same setup as the Snow Room, so nobody draws the short straw.
First Floor King
Stairs-free bedroom with a king bed, new memory foam mattress, Smart TV, and a roomy closet. Ideal for grandparents or anyone who wants an early night.
The Den
Downstairs is the hangout floor, a game room and media center in one. Ping pong, foosball, a card table for six, a big TV with Xbox, and Sonos speakers throughout. It's where the night ends up, whether that's a tournament or a movie. There's also a desk and fast wifi if you need to get an hour of work done before everyone else wakes up.
Outdoor patio
Adirondack chairs, a gas fire pit on the deck, six-person hot tub, and a barrel sauna with a glass door to the forest. A wood fire pit waits further back for stargazing.
Sauna and hot tub
A barrel sauna and six-person hot tub sit just off the deck, tucked into the trees for a warm-up after skiing, hiking, or a long day on the river.
The setting
Quiet woods, mountain town minutes away
The lodge sits inside Ausable Acres, a private wooded community in Jay, NY. The community amenities, the trails, courts, lake access, and the private fly fishing stretch on the Ausable, are reserved for owners and their guests, so having them to yourself is part of the treat. Clark Mountain starts at the end of the driveway; more hiking and biking trails are a few minutes away.
You're 18 minutes from Whiteface Mountain for skiing, the gondola, and the auto road to the summit. Downtown Lake Placid is about 28 minutes, with the Olympic Center, Mirror Lake, and Main Street. Keene and Keene Valley are close by too, your gateway to the High Peaks.
There are some great off the beaten path restaurants within nine to twelve minutes of the lodge. We'll point you to them, along with everything else, with a custom Google Map of all our favorite spots, so the whole area is easy to find from day one.
Good to know
The honest version
No fine print, no surprises at check-in.
Self check-in
Smart lock, anytime after 4 PM. Checkout by 10 AM.
Up to 12 guests
Family-sized groups welcome. No parties, events, or extra overnight guests.
Great for kids
The Den downstairs, board games, and a pack and play. Two-queen rooms mean kids can share without anyone on a top bunk.
No pets, sorry
We cannot allow any pets. We hope you understand.
Free parking
Driveway fits 4 vehicles. Plowed in winter, with a heated two-car garage.
Cleaning fee
Flat $200 cleaning covers a professional turnover.
Strictly no smoking
Inside or outside. We have allergies in the family. Thank you for respecting it.
Quiet hours
After 10 PM out of respect for neighbors. The Adirondacks are best enjoyed quietly anyway.
Year-round comfort
In-floor heating throughout, including the bathrooms, split-unit AC in every bedroom and the living room, and a heated garage for snowy arrivals.
Fast wifi everywhere
A 1 GB fiber line straight to the lodge with four wireless access points, so you're connected in every room. Easy to work a long weekend and still get away.
What guests say
A Guest Favorite on Airbnb, top 10% of homes for ratings, reviews, and reliability.
Three generations, ages 13 to 82, all staying together. There was space for everyone to relax and gather without being on top of each other. I worried it would feel far from Whiteface, but the ride over is a quick 20 minutes.
A 5+ experience from start to finish. The home is beautiful and thoughtfully designed. Bedding, towels, and decor all felt high-end. The heated garage during a snowstorm was a game changer. The game room was like having a private arcade.
A perfect retreat. The hot tub was ready on arrival and we loved the sauna. Favorite day trips: Ausable Chasm and the Olympic Center. Everything is within a 30-minute drive. Ashley was incredibly responsive. Highly recommend.
Our second ski season here and it did not disappoint. Three sisters and our families, kids 11 to 31. The game room downstairs is where they all end up, and everyone loves the hot tub and sauna after a day of skiing. Close enough to the mountain to make first chair.
I booked this home to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. The minute you walk in you can feel the attention to detail in every room. The kitchen is awesome for cooking large meals, the game room is better than the pictures, and every bed was comfortable. We're already coordinating schedules to return.
Beautiful secluded area with lots of wildlife around us. The house was fully equipped. The basement with all the games was ideal with two little ones in tow. The hot tub was clean and hot, and Ashley recommended a restaurant nearby with an amazing view. We plan on going back.
Frequently asked
The questions guests ask most
Straight answers, no fine print.