Experience the Heart of Lake George: The Story of Shepard Park
If you've ever enjoyed a summer concert by the lake, or watched fireworks light up the night sky in Lake George Village, chances are you've spent time in Shepard Park. This vibrant public space is more than a park - it's a local tradition and hub for community events all year long.
Who Was Edward Morse Shepard?
Shepard Park was the vision of Edward Morse Shepard, a man whose love for the Lake George area turned into a lasting legacy. After visiting the region at just 13 years old, Shepard was captivated.
Years later, after a successful law and political career in New York, he returned to build a summer home on Millionaires’ Row - now known as The Erlowest. More on that in a moment! Then, at the urging of local residents, he purchased the property where the old Lake House Hotel stood until 1906; he purchased it in 1910, and this would become Shepard Park.
But first, he created that summer home of his dreams.
Funding the Inn at Erlowest in Lake George
Situated along "Millionaires' Row," an area featuring other expensive lakeside homes, the new Erlowest was completed in 1898 (then, the Inn at Erlowest).
As described by the Erlowest's website, the name of the stone mansion was inspired by the hometown of Shepard's parents, Westerlo. Upon its completion, Erlowest was used as a summer home by Shepard and a place where he would entertain many influential guests, including banker/philanthropist George Foster Peabody and Spencer & Katrina Trask, both of whom would end up owning their own summer homes on the lake.
One of the building's most characteristic features is the symbol of Alpha Delti Phi from Shepard's City College fraternity; a carving of the fraternity's shield is located above the entrance and visible in the stained glass windows.
The Creation of Shepard Park
Back to the Shepard Park property - rather than rebuild the hotel that had sat there before, Shepard envisioned a public park that would be accessible to everyone. Although he passed away due to pneumonia at Erlowest in 1911, Shepard's friends sought to move forward with his grand park project.
Led by the project's two largest donors, Peabody and the Trask Family, fundraising to purchase the property and then transform it into a park was soon underway in Lake George. In 1912, the Lake George community hosted Pageant Week to attract visitors to the area, as well as other fundraisers.
The Lake George Examiner noted in a February 2017 article that in October 1912, around $11,200 had been raised. $10,000 was spent to buy the former Lake House hotel property, and then the rest went toward developing the park.
By September 1917, an open-air forum (outdoor stage) was added, and two Grecian columns were built on either side. On one of the columns read "In memory of Edward M. Shepard," and the park became known as Shepard Park.
Shepard Park Today
The open-air forum remained until the mid 1950s when it began to deteriorate. After it was removed, the park stayed open to the public, and it wasn't until 1990 that a new amphitheater was constructed thanks to private donations. Some of the other modern features include the MacDonald Pier at Shepard Park Beach and the Centennial Fountain by the street entrance.
During the 2016 Lite Up the Village event in Lake George, the village mayor announced plans for a fundraising project to pay for improvements at Shepard Park, including upgrades on the stage and better seating.
By June 2017, as a result of multiple local fundraisers and donations, the village had received enough funds to move forward with the park improvement project.
In 2024, a fire caused by an electrical issue destroyed the Shepard Park amphitheater, and a temporary stage was built, with plans to put a more permanent structure in place.
Today, Shepard Park is a place where people from all over visit and can feel like a part of the community. It's not only the home of the free concerts all summer long, but has a small playground, walking paths, and a beach.
Shepard Park is front and center during the Lake George Winter Carnival, not to mention the New Year's Day Polar Plunge, Lite Up the Village, and more, making this park a year-round destination. Don't miss the gorgeous foliage in the fall!
See what's happening at the park »
Find even more fun things to do in the village »
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Sources:
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9903EFDF1531E233A2575AC2A9619C946096D6CF
- http://www.theinnaterlowest.com/about-1/about-the-inn.htm
- http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2016/02/edward-m-shepard-and-the-making-of-a-peoples-park.html
- http://www.lakegeorgeexaminer.com/fundraising-lake-george-shepard-park-project-underway/
