Covewood Lodge
Why it's listed
Covewood Lodge is a summer camp complex on the south shore of Big Moose Lake in New York's Adirondack Park. Its centerpiece is a T-shaped log main lodge from 1923, with a two-story verandah on tree-trunk supports and stone fireplaces inside. Around it stand ten historic cottages and outbuildings, including an ice house, staff quarters, a woodshed and a gardener's cottage, mostly from the 1920s. Eleven buildings contribute to the property's character and two are non-contributing. Earl Covey, a wilderness guide and camp builder, bought the roughly 50 acres in 1921 and began with a small cottage that housed his family during construction. The first summer boarders arrived in 1924. Buildings use bark-covered planks, stripped limbs and fieldstone gathered on site, and most of the land remains wooded. It was listed for recreation and architecture because it is a largely intact example of its type. Of about ten similar lodges once around the lake, it is the only surviving group still operating as a seasonal retreat.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is an intact, representative example of an Adirondack rustic summer cottage complex, built of natural materials gathered on site and left in a largely natural landscape. It is the oldest and only surviving group of about ten lodges once around Big Moose Lake that still operates as a seasonal retreat. It is listed for its recreation history and its rustic architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04000435, listed May 12, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 120 Covewood Lodge Rd., Big Moose |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | May 12, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000435 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Earl Covey |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century: Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operates as a seasonal summer retreat, renting rooms and cottages to summer guests. |
| Acreage | 50 |
| Within district | New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.81686, -74.85185 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04000435.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5179312
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.