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"Polka Dot" is an enchanting three-bedroom "doll-house" cottage, 
built in the 1930's and newly remodeled in 2006 to retain its 
nostalgic appeal while enhancing its modern amenities. Nestled in a 
neighborhood of vintage summer camps, "Polka Dot" is just A Block 
From The Beach on one of the most charming lanes in the village of 
Caroga Lake.

From its Screened Front Porch illuminated with Chinese lanterns, to 
its Back Yard Lawn with picnic table and Adirondack chairs circling 
a fire pit, "Polka Dot" is the perfect choice for a casual, relaxed 
family vacation.

Up to six guests can be accommodated in Three Cozy Bedrooms. For an 
additional fee, Polka Dot can accommodate 8, with the inclusion 
of “Little Sister,” a separate queen-bedroom sleeping cottage across 
the lawn.

The lofty, pyramid-shaped Cathedral Ceiling that is shared by the 
living room and two of the bedrooms is topped with a 60" ceiling fan 
and a glittering disco ball. These two bedrooms have original 
beadboard walls that stop short of the vaulted ceiling - a design 
that allows cooling breezes from the ceiling fan to circulate. Cross-
ventilation in these bedrooms has been enhanced by the addition of 
charming interior windows built into the walls they share with the 
living room.  These casement windows are glazed with mirror instead 
of glass, affording privacy and a "doubled" sense of space when the 
windows are closed, and a view of the living room fireplace (as well 
as a filtered peak at the lake through trees) when they're open.

One of these bedrooms has an antique iron Queen Bed; the other has 
an antique iron Full Bed. The third bedroom has Twin-Size Bunk-Beds, 
custom-built with architectural salvage porch posts. The bunk room 
has a ceiling fan, a small dresser and its own TV with VCR.

Across the lawn, Little Sister is a charming, stand-alone bedroom 
with a queen vintage metal bed. An antique French washstand with 
bowl and pitcher, wall hooks, a deliciously blurry vintage mirror, 
and a drop-leaf desk and chair complete the furnishings. A small 
closet houses a mini-fridge and coffee maker, with antique china 
service for two. Enjoy morning coffee in bed while gazing out the 
multi-light windows and the genuine brass porthole window at leafy 
vistas, or lounging in Adirondack chairs on Little Sister’s sunny 
veranda.

All of the bedrooms have reading lights and bedside shelves or 
tables. Antique Audubon prints hang on the walls. As is customary 
with camps of this vintage, the bedrooms are quite small and storage 
space is minimal, with no closets - clothes are hung on wall hooks 
or stored in baskets under the bed. The beds have new, firm 
mattresses, feather pillows, fleece blankets, down duvets, and 
vintage coverlets. You provide sheets, pillowcases, and towels.

In the Living Room, two large, comfortable sofas, custom upholstered 
in a soft floral pattern, offer generous seating along with vintage 
wicker. A cream enameled Jotul Gas Fireplace provides ambiance and 
warms the cottage for the pleasant, quiet, cooler spring and autumn 
seasons. Oil paintings of water scenes and a colorful 
abstract "polka dot" poster from the nearby Saratoga Performing Arts 
Center decorate the creamy wood-paneled walls. Entertainment 
includes TV with basic cable, VCR and DVD, CD player, and a 
selection of CD's, videos, and classic board games.

The peaked ceiling of the Glass And Screen-Windowed Porch is a gala 
of brightly colored brocade lanterns, inspired by the luminous 
spectacle of "Illumination Night" at the Oak Bluffs "Campground" on 
Martha's Vineyard. The lanterns glow against the peach exterior wall 
of the cottage and add their luster to the living room's disco ball, 
sweetly lighting the entire cottage. The porch is furnished with 
vintage wicker, including a painted chaise comfortably upholstered 
with thick cushions, and a diminutive twig table for placing a drink 
or book. Four red tulip chairs surround a tole-painted table perfect 
for playing cards and games.

The fully remodeled Eat-In Kitchen has cream-colored cabinetry with 
vintage green bakelite handles, topped with rosy-red brushed Formica 
counters banded in silver for a retro look. The matching 42" round 
pedestal dining table is surrounded by three classic aluminum "mess 
hall" chairs and three stools with bright floral cushions, beneath a 
picture window looking out beyond the back porch to a level lawn and 
woods. Open shelving flanks a window above the kitchen cabinets, 
displaying cheery vintage dinnerware.

All New Appliances include a recessed full-size refrigerator, 
stainless steel double sink, gas range, microwave, and small 
appliances including toaster oven, blender, mixer, coffee maker, and 
coffee grinder. A water cooler provides delicious local spring water 
fro drinking. The kitchen is fully equipped with new stainless and 
vintage enameled pots and pans, cast iron skillets, sharp knives, 
reproduction "bakelite" cutlery, serving platters, baking pans, and 
handy gadgets. A spectacular retro "starburst" chandelier hangs over 
the dining table; custom pendant lights with antique shades light 
the kitchen counter. The ceiling fan sports a vintage red-striped 
milk-glass "schoolhouse" light. A dresser topped with maple chopping 
block provides extra counter space and storage.

The remodeled Bathroom has a full tub with shower. The sink is 
amusingly skirted with a "tutu" from the New York City Ballet's 
summer season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center; the shower 
curtain is an ornamental retro print of water-skiing "bathing 
beauties".

The wood-paneled walls and ceilings throughout the cottage are 
painted creamy white; the wooden floors are glossy sage green. 
Lighting is on dimmer switches; all new electrical includes WI-FI 
High Speed Internet Access for your laptop computer.

The cottage is surrounded by a perennial flower border. The rear of 
the cottage opens onto a Back Porch with a generous yard and a 
wooded view beyond. There's a Picnic Table for enjoying meals cooked 
on the stainless steel Gas Grill. Adirondack chairs surround a 
natural stone ring Fire Circle for stories and S'mores. There's a 
croquet set for playing on the level lawn. A driveway 
separating "Polka Dot" from its nearest neighbor offers parking for 
a maximum of three vehicles.

Water access, beach, kayak (additional fee), canoe (additional fee), 
fireplace, outdoor grill, equipped kitchen, screen porch, telephone, 
television, VCR, DVD player, standard cable, stereo, CD player, high 
speed internet access (wired and wireless).

Our neighborhood association Beach is steps away. It's shallow with 
a sandy bottom, great for kids. It's an easy place to launch our 
Kayaks (available for an additional fee), and the lake is stocked 
for fishing enthusiasts. It's the perfect spot for watching the 
gorgeous sunsets on West Caroga Lake. The beach is next to 
Sherman's, a former amusement park built in the 1920's that boasts a 
landmark carousel and Ferris wheel, that now offers food, drinks, 
and live music on summer weekends, 4th of July fireworks, and an ice 
cream stand.

"Polka Dot' is located in a Friendly Neighborhood within strolling 
distance of restaurant, pubs, and just about everything else you'd 
need. Within minutes walk there's a post office, laundromat, general 
store, coffee shop, gas, ATM, video rentals, and two chapels. The 
Caroga Lake Museum and Nick Stoner Golf Course are a short drive. 
All the conveniences of a small city are available within 15 minutes 
in the historic cities of Gloversville and Johnstown.

Nature trails to hidden lakes and mountaintop vistas, antique malls, 
motocross rallies, golf, thoroughbred horse-racing, world-class 
ballet, classical and pop music venues, caverns and spas, historical 
sites and art museums, the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Adirondack 
Museum, the National Museums of Racing and of Dance, and Great 
Escape Theme Park, are all within easy distance. It's about an hour 
to Saratoga Springs, Lake George, Cooperstown and Albany; about four 
hours to New York, Boston, Montreal, and Niagara Falls.

“Polka Dot” accommodates a maximum of 6 guests (8 with the 
additional rental of "Little Sister") at all times. Families or 
friends vacationing together might consider renting “Polka Dot” in  
conjunction with its next-door neighbor, “Summertime” , which 
accommodates 6 guests in 2 bedrooms.

Sorry, no pets and no smoking. “Polka Dot” has a NO SHOES policy: 
bring slippers or flip-flops for indoor use.

Visit our website for an extensive photo album, guest book and 
regional tourism information.

Family Excursions 

Fun family excursions include Adirondack Animal Land, Eagle Mills 
cider mill with gemstone mining & “Dino Dig,” mining for 
Herkimer “Diamonds,” Great Escape and Magic Forest theme parks in 
Lake George, Howe Caverns and Secret Caverns, drive-in movies, 
bowling, roller skating & go-karts, miniature golf, and a trip to 
the Stinky Art Company in Northville. 
 
Spa Treatments
Enjoy a spa day at the mineral springs in Saratoga. We recommend 
great massage therapists in Amsterdam. 
 
Historical Sites & Museums 

The region abounds in museums and historical sites. Caroga Lake has 
its own history museum. Gloversville is home to the Fulton County 
Museum. Johnstown is the home of Sir William Johnson, head of Indian 
Affairs during the French and Indian War, and the first-wave 
feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Amsterdam has the Walter Elwood 
Museum of the Mohawk Valley. The National Shrine of the North 
American Martyrs in Auriesville and the Kateri Tekakwitha birthplace 
in Fonda are historic and religious pilgrimage sites. Native 
American museums include the Noteworthy Indian Museum in Amsterdam 
and the Iroquois Indian Museum near Howe Caverns. The Erie Canal is 
just south of us along the Mohawk River. Covered bridges in the 
Adirondacks include three in our area. 

The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake is widely acknowledged 
as best of class; it has recently been joined by the new Wild Center 
Adirondack natural history museum in Tupper Lake. Saratoga has a 
children’s museum. Cooperstown has the fascinating Farmers’ Museum & 
not-to-be-missed Baseball Hall of Fame; the Northeast Classic Car 
Museum is nearby in Norwich. Schenectady offers a walking tour of 
the Stockade, one of the oldest and best preserved neighborhoods in 
the United States, dating from 16th century Dutch colonial 
settlement. America’s first Shaker settlement is in Albany. The 
Schenectady Museum & Planetarium specializes in science & 
technology. 

Music & Theater 

Sherman’s, a 1920’s vintage former amusement park with a charming 
carousel and Ferris wheel, hosts live music most summer weekends. 
Harry’s Place, a 3 minute walk from “Sunset” on Pleasant Lake, 
offers acoustic music (as well as delicious food and drink) on 
weekends year-round. Summer band-shell concerts are held in 
Johnstown and Sharon Springs. Saratoga Springs’ Performing Arts 
Center (SPAC) hosts the New York City Ballet in July, the 
Philadelphia Orchestra in August, headliner concerts and a jazz 
festival. Cafe Lena in Saratoga Springs is a famous acoustical music 
venue. Saratoga and Cooperstown host renowned summer opera seasons. 
The Pepsi Arena in Albany has headliner concerts. 

Johnstown and Gloversville have community theaters. There’s a comedy 
club in Gloversville. In Schenectady, Proctor’s Theater’s year-round 
programming includes national touring companies of Broadway hits. In 
Albany, the Egg hosts a variety of performing arts events. 

Antiques & Art

Antiquing is popular, with several shops in the area and antiques 
malls in nearby Dolgeville and Little Falls. Gloversville has 
Saturday night auctions. Eagle Mills hosts a crafts fair in 
September. Many communities, including Caroga Lake, hold annual town-
wide garage sales. 

The state capital at Albany is home to the New York State Museum 
(natural & cultural history exhibits) as well as great art 
collections by the Hudson River School of landscapes and the New 
York School of modern art. Regional fine art collections worth 
visiting include American folk art, Hudson River School and Native 
American collections at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, 
American and European Masters at the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls 
and the Munson-Williams-Proctor Museum in Utica, and 21 Winslow 
Homer paintings at the Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery. 

July & August, $1,600 per week, from 6:00 p.m. Sunday to 11:00 a.m. 
the following Sunday
May, June, September, & October: $1,200 per week or $250 per night 
with a 2 night minimum.
With “Little Sister” (separate sleeping cottage) add $100/week or 
$25/night.
See "Last Minute Specials" or inquire for special fall foliage or 
spring season "getaway" rates.
Kayak and Canoe Rentals: $25 each per day, $100 each per week or 
$250 per week for 2 kayaks and a canoe.