For Ali Turner (M.A. HPP ’20) and her fiance Trae, making the Adirondacks their home has been their dream since they first met as camp counselors. Their life has included years of working in the Adirondack region, recognizing the area’s resilience by its small communities and their economy oriented around seasonal tourism. With Trae’s background in recreation and Ali’s interest in architectural history, they knew becoming a part of the Adirondack community would be ideal.
While attending Cornell to pursue the historic preservation planning program, Ali’s thesis researched preservation practices in the Adirondacks and how small communities that relied on seasonal tourism can benefit from implementing a regional preservation plan.
After graduating from the preservation program, they both made a milestone in their lives by moving to Old Forge, known in the region as the “Adirondack Base Camp” for residents and visitors seeking adventure in one of the country’s largest protected natural areas. As new residents of Old Forge, Ali and Trae will manage the Blue Spruce Motel, a staple for attracting tourists to the area since 1965. Ali believes this opportunity will allow her to apply her preservation skills to conduct restoration and renovation projects on the property. She hopes this endeavor will be a stepping stone contributing towards a broader preservation plan for her community.
“I am looking into its current eligibility and historical integrity, and then we are hoping to use this as an example to show other small local businesses how historic preservation could work for them as well.”
With their current management structure, Ali hopes that she will have time during the off-season to help others in the community list their properties as historical structures.
To learn more about the Blue Spruce Motel, you can check out their page and their upcoming blog highlighting the motel’s restoration and renovation projects.