LAKE PLACID — The Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is celebrating its centennial this year.

The history of the inn dates back to the early 1920s, when Climena Alford, a 1917 graduate of Lake Placid High School, married William Rufus Wikoff of Massachusetts. Their first son John, later known as Jack, was born in January 1922, when they were living in Palmer, Massachusetts.

Within a few years, Mr. Wikoff, who had found financial success with his “Fuller Brush Man” concept, moved to Lake Placid with his family and they began operating two hotels: the Alford Inn, a family business that began as Alford’s Cottage and the current location of Adirondack Decorative Arts & Crafts at 2512 Main St.; and the Mir-a-Lac Inn, which the Lake Placid News referred to as the “Mir-a-Lak” in its coverage from 1925 to 1933. Both hotels were operated by the Mirror Lake Hotels Corporation, with Mr. Wikoff the president of the corporation.

In the “News of the Hotels” section on July 24, 1925, the Lake Placid News reported that renovations had been completed at the inn, located on the northwestern shore of Mirror Lake at the foot of Signal Hill.

“The refinishing, decorating and improvements at the Mir-a-Lak have been completed,” the News stated. “The Mir-a-Lak, formerly the Brewster Cottage, is completely filled with guests until after Labor Day. … The Mir-a-Lak is in charge of Mrs. Lillian Dean and is operated as a separate unit, though under the same management as The Alford.”

Despite the Great Depression, the inn continued to grow, adding guest rooms and making improvements, including the construction of the main dining room. For the 1932 Olympic Winter Games, the inn was winterized, and the Norwegian team rented the entire property, with speedskaters and skiers staying there while gold-medal figure skater Sonja Henie stayed at the Hotel Marcy. On Jan. 8, 1932, the News reported the team’s arrival in Lake Placid for the Olympics (Henie and other skaters came later that month).

“Arriving on the evening train (Jan. 6) and greeted by officials of the Olympic committee, they were taken to their hotel after being photographed as they left the train,” the News stated. “Here they found dinner awaiting them, the table being decorated to welcome the newcomers to their home while training for and participating in the Games. Great cheeses of their native land were stuck with tiny flags of Norway and all food which was served was of the nature to which they have been accustomed.”

In 1933, Mrs. Wikoff took ownership, renaming it the Mirror Lake Inn.

The May 19, 1933, issue of the News referred to the inn as the Mir-a-Lak Inn while the newspaper reported the following week that the “Mirror Lake Inn” was open for the season under the personal management of Mrs. W. R. Wikoff.

“The inn is featuring its special Sunday dinners, which are expected to attract many residents of Lake Placid, as well as those living in nearby North Country communities.”

During World War II, the Army used the nearby Lake Placid Club as a rehabilitation center and rented the inn to house its guests.

The Mirror Lake Inn has always been known for its sports-related innovations. It set up the area’s first electric-powered “rope-tow” on Dream Hill and purchased the first snowmaking machine in the late 1940s. Mrs. Wikoff’s father even built the first bobsled run, initially used for hauling deer out of the woods. The inn was also the first in Lake Placid to have a skating camp, housing future world figure skating champions such as Dick Button and Toller Cranston.

The inn was a hub of activity, with winter guests enjoying moonlit cross-country ski excursions and sleigh rides to a cabin in the woods for steak or flapjack-eating contests and lively dances. Up until the late 1970s, the Mirror Lake Inn consisted of several private cottages surrounding the main building, including one built specifically for Kate Smith, singer of “God Bless America” in the early 1950s.

In 1976, Ed Weibrecht, a New Jersey business executive and avid skier, was tasked with managing the inn, with the understanding that if Mrs. Wikoff approved of his capabilities, he would become the new owner. This transition occurred in 1977, and for nearly 50 years since, the Weibrecht family has continued to build upon Mrs. Wikoff’s foundation of providing guests with upscale service and an authentic Adirondack experience.

Over the past century, the Mirror Lake Inn has survived the Great Depression, endured World War II, participated in two Winter Olympics, including the famous “Miracle on Ice” hockey game in 1980,and secured 40 straight years of the AAA Four Diamond Award of Excellence. It also withstood a tragic fire in 1988 while preserving its Four Diamond status, served as a safe haven during the coronavirus pandemic, invested millions in renovations and improvements, and added popular features like The Cottage Cafe and The View Restaurant, Lake Placid’s only AAA Four Diamond eatery. Additionally, a full-service European Spa and Salon was introduced.

“Just like Climena, our inn’s employees strive to make our guests feel special and important,” Weibrecht said.

To commemorate the centennial, the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa planned a celebratory weekend over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 31 and Sept. 1). The festivities included a variety of lodging packages, activities, live music, a wine tasting and special menu features at The View Restaurant. The weekend culminated in a drawing for a complimentary two-night stay in the inn’s “Presidential Suite.”

As the Mirror Lake Inn celebrates its 100th anniversary, it looks forward to the next hundred years under the guidance of a new Weibrecht generation. Since retiring from his professional Alpine ski racing career in 2018, during which he won two Olympic medals now displayed at the hotel’s front desk, Ed and Lisa’s son Andrew, along with his wife Denja, are ready to carry the torch. Fully immersed in the resort’s daily operations, their passion for the family business is evident. Guests often experience this firsthand when one of them stops by the breakfast table to say hello, offer a smile, and top off their morning coffee. The time-honored tradition of “family serving families” and creating cherished memories remains in good hands.

For more information, visit www.mirrorlakeinn.com.