Fire on Lake George
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 8:58 am
Sadly, the beautiful Lake George boat, The Adirondack, had a terrible fire this morning. Fortunately, it was not a truly vintage boat, but it’s a big loss all the same. Although no cause has yet been determined, it serves as a tragic reminder to mariners to maintain your boats well, have current safety equipment aboard, keep folks trained as to what to do, be always vigilant, and have good insurance.
Here’s an article from The Rome Sentinel that describes it better than I could:
“The Adirondac, a 400-passenger tour boat which has enthralled tourists with cruises on the pristine waters of Lake George for more than 20 years, was destroyed by flames while docked on Monday morning, according to multiple reports. The ship, part of the Lake George Waterfront Cruises fleet, had offered sightseeing cruises, dinner sails, and private events since joining the fleet in 2004. The ship, which featured a turn-of-the-century design and multi-deck layout, was among the recognizable vessels on the lake. Photos of the vessel in flames were posted on dozens of social media accounts across the Lake George region, showing the Adirondac fully engulfed, with flames shooting through the upper decks and heavy black smoke rising over the village. Throughout the summer season, the ship was a tourism stalwart, bringing hundreds of guests daily across Lake George. Most recently, the Adirondac was being used for the company’s popular “Santa Cruise” program.
As of Monday, officials had not released details about the blaze, including whether anyone was on board the ship, the cause of the fire, or the extent of the damage — although unofficial reports said that the boat had suffered extensive damage. According to social media accounts, fire crews were dispatched and were battling the flames, and an investigation into the cause of the fire was expected.”
It looks to me as if the vessel was largely made of steel, with just the upper forward section being constructed of wood, so perhaps there's hope for a resurrection, though likely it will cost in the millions.
Here’s a video I assembled from fire and aftermath footage:
The vessel before the fire:
...and after:
Here’s an article from The Rome Sentinel that describes it better than I could:
“The Adirondac, a 400-passenger tour boat which has enthralled tourists with cruises on the pristine waters of Lake George for more than 20 years, was destroyed by flames while docked on Monday morning, according to multiple reports. The ship, part of the Lake George Waterfront Cruises fleet, had offered sightseeing cruises, dinner sails, and private events since joining the fleet in 2004. The ship, which featured a turn-of-the-century design and multi-deck layout, was among the recognizable vessels on the lake. Photos of the vessel in flames were posted on dozens of social media accounts across the Lake George region, showing the Adirondac fully engulfed, with flames shooting through the upper decks and heavy black smoke rising over the village. Throughout the summer season, the ship was a tourism stalwart, bringing hundreds of guests daily across Lake George. Most recently, the Adirondac was being used for the company’s popular “Santa Cruise” program.
As of Monday, officials had not released details about the blaze, including whether anyone was on board the ship, the cause of the fire, or the extent of the damage — although unofficial reports said that the boat had suffered extensive damage. According to social media accounts, fire crews were dispatched and were battling the flames, and an investigation into the cause of the fire was expected.”
It looks to me as if the vessel was largely made of steel, with just the upper forward section being constructed of wood, so perhaps there's hope for a resurrection, though likely it will cost in the millions.
Here’s a video I assembled from fire and aftermath footage:
The vessel before the fire:
...and after: