In August, Birgit Schulte, a native of Hamburg, Germany, who’s owned the lodge since the 1970s, sold the property to hotelier Peter Holderied. Holderied also owns multiple buildings along Main Street such as the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort and the Alpine Mall, and is also a village trustee.

In a phone interview Monday, Holderied said the land deal has been in the works for the past two-and-a-half years.

“The Schultes wanted to sell it as the hotel, but I just wanted it for the land,” he said.

He plans on keeping two of the buildings, which were made for the 1980 Winter Olympics, but Holderied said he isn’t quite sure of what he’s going to do with the rest of the property yet. Right now he’s weighing the financial cost, but he has some ideas.

The Schulte’s Family Lodge in Lake Placid is seen from the air during the 1990s. (Photo provided — Rolf Schulte)

“In a perfect world, which doesn’t exist,” Holderied said, “I’d like to put a commercial building there and workforce housing behind it because that’s what we need in Lake Placid.”

One idea Holderied had for commercial property was a large convenience store-gas station similar to the Maplefields-Sunoco on Route 86 in Ray Brook.

“That’s actually been a big gripe with some of the locals because most live on that side of town, and they have to travel to the Saranac Lake side to buy food. There’s nothing really on that side of town other than Big Slide Brewery.

“Right now, I’m seeing what would be best for Lake Placid, and if nothing works out, I’ll put it back on the market.”

Schulte and her husband Rolf purchased the lodge more than 40 years ago. It was a family-run business where their four children worked. However, as her family grew up and moved away, and she and Rolf got closer to retirement, Schulte figured it was the right time to move on from the business.

She said she would’ve liked to see the property continue as a lodge.

“People see it as a landmark,” she said. “You don’t see those types of cottages anymore. It was a good life and good customers. Just last week I had customers calling me to still book rooms.”