Thousand Island Park, New York

A remarkable survival of a nineteenth-century village, largely unchanged for more than a century, Thousand Island Park retains a rich collection of charming cottages. More than a museum village, however, the Park is a lively community, affording many activities for families.

Thousand Islands Park developed as a religious camp meeting ground before advent of automobiles, when Wellesley Island was accessible only by water. Lots were small, suitable for tents. This was, and still is, largely a pedestrian community where all are within easy walking distance of the common facilites--dock, beach, playground, corner soda fountain. Today electric golf carts are often used, but strolling is a pleasure, as the front porch provides social interaction.

A robust preservation movement at the Park has contributed to a remarkable renaissance. Most historic buildings have been restored and are beautifully maintained. A stroll through the quiet lanes takes one back to another time.

The Park is not merely a serene place for oldsters on veranda rocking chairs, but is a vibrant place for youngsters--truly a family resort for all generations.

A remarkable survival of a nineteenth-century village, largely unchanged for more than a century, Thousand Island Park retains a rich collection of charming cottages. More than a museum village, however, the Park is a lively community, affording many activities for families.

Thousand Islands Park developed as a religious camp meeting ground before advent of automobiles, when Wellesley Island was accessible only by water. Lots were small, suitable for tents. This was, and still is, largely a pedestrian community where all are within easy walking distance of the common facilites--dock, beach, playground, corner soda fountain.

Today electric golf carts are often used, but strolling is a pleasure, as the front porch provides social interaction.A robust preservation movement at the Park has contributed to a remarkable renaissance. Most historic buildings have been restored and are beautifully maintained. A stroll through the quiet lanes takes one back to another time. The Park is not merely a serene place for oldsters on veranda rocking chairs, but is a vibrant place for youngsters--truly a family resort for all generations.

Few cars and absence of through traffic make the Park kid-friendly.

The "Guzzle," an old-time corner soda fountain across from the tennis courts, is where its happening for young people.

The public dock is a center of activity. A restored pavilion on the dock provides quarters for a yacht club and accomodates other community functions.

Summer homes here are not grandiose, but require devoted maintenance of the fragile detail.

The Holden Library, designed by a noted American architect, has been proudly restored as one of the community's assets.A treasure of Thousand Island Park is the cottage of Swami Vivekananda. Still the property of his followers as a shrine and pilgrimage site, its story appears in A Floating World.

The charm of Thousand Island Park derives in large part from the sense of community, represented by the life of the street and front porch.

At the main intersection of the Park a historic hotel and shops activate the community center. The Wellesley Hotel appears in the Dining Section. On the corner across the street is the lunch room and soda fountain, known locally as "The Guzzle."