Camp Orenda

For those of us living in New York, especially those who cherish the pristine wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains, the concept of "getting away from it all" often involves trading city lights for starlit skies. Camp Orenda, nestled in Johnsburg, takes this idea and elevates it to an art form, offering what many consider to be the original and most authentic "glamping" experience in the United States. This isn't just a place to pitch a tent; it's an immersive, all-inclusive luxury retreat that seamlessly blends the rugged beauty of the Adirondack backcountry with unparalleled comfort and gourmet dining. For years, Camp Orenda has cultivated a truly special and magical ambiance, drawing guests back time and again to reconnect with nature, with loved ones, and with themselves. It's a unique opportunity to experience the Adirondacks in a profoundly personal and unforgettable way, far removed from the commercialization often associated with modern travel.

Camp Orenda is wonderfully situated at 90 Armstrong Rd, Johnsburg, NY 12843, USA. This places it in a secluded and picturesque part of Warren County, deep within the southern region of the Adirondack State Park. For New Yorkers, especially those in the Capital Region, Hudson Valley, or even the greater NYC area, Camp Orenda offers a surprisingly accessible escape into true wilderness. It's just a few hours' drive from major cities like New York City and Boston, making it an ideal destination for a long weekend or a rejuvenating mid-week break. While the camp itself feels perfectly isolated, allowing for profound peace and quiet, it's also conveniently located to provide access to the vast recreational opportunities of the surrounding Adirondacks. The journey to Camp Orenda is part of the experience, leading you away from paved roads and into the heart of the forest, signaling a true transition from daily life to an unparalleled outdoor adventure.

Camp Orenda distinguishes itself with an exceptional array of all-inclusive services designed to provide a luxurious and worry-free outdoor experience. This goes far beyond typical campground offerings:

• All-Inclusive Dining: A standout feature is the unique culinary experience. All meals – breakfast, made-to-order to-go lunches, and dinners – are included in your stay. Food is cooked on-site over an open wood flame using cast iron cookware, emphasizing fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients, often from their on-site heirloom garden. Dietary restrictions can often be accommodated with advance notice.
• Luxurious Canvas Cabins: Six custom-made canvas cabins offer a blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. Each is uniquely situated for privacy and comes fully furnished with high-quality bedding, plush down comforters, fresh linens, towels, interior lighting, ceiling fans, and electrical outlets. They even feature "wood-burning-inspired" electric stoves for heat on cooler nights.
• Pristine Bathhouse Facilities: A centrally located bathhouse provides two unisex restrooms with heated toilet seats. Fresh hand towels and eco-friendly, biodegradable hand soap are provided.
• Al Fresco Showers: Experience the unique sensation of bathing under the forest canopy in private, heated open-air showers, supplied with heated spring water from Orenda's artesian well. Biodegradable body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are provided.
• Beverage & Common Areas: While Camp Orenda is BYOB (bring your own beverages), a wet bar area is available with wine coolers and beverage refrigerators for chilling wine and beer. All glassware and ice are provided, encouraging guests to enjoy their preferred drinks responsibly.
• Outdoor Gear & Activities: The camp provides equipment for a variety of activities including canoes and kayaks for use on Garnet Lake, paddles, and dry bags. Guests can also enjoy lawn games like horseshoes and cornhole.
• Personalized Service: The highly attentive and passionate hosts, like proprietor David and second-in-charge Peter, provide extraordinary hospitality, ensuring every detail of your stay is taken care of, from bespoke dessert requests to personalized activity recommendations.

The emphasis at Camp Orenda is truly on an all-encompassing, comfortable, and memorable experience where guests can relax without a single worry.

Camp Orenda's features and highlights are what truly elevate it from a simple campground to a magical, transformative retreat, making it a highly sought-after destination for New Yorkers:

• The Original Glamping Experience: Orenda is lauded as where the concept of glamping truly began in the US, offering an authentic blend of nature immersion with luxurious comforts, rather than a commercialized version.
• Intimate & Unique Setting: With only 5-6 cabin structures, the smaller, more intimate setting fosters meaningful conversations with interesting people and a sense of community that is hard to replicate.
• Extraordinary Hosts: Reviews consistently rave about the proprietors, David and Peter, praising their attention to detail, energetic enthusiasm, engaging conversation, and genuine passion for creating a special experience. As one guest put it, "David’s attention to detail and passion... captured our shared enthusiasm... From the moment of our surprise arrival... I could not stop smiling."
• Gourmet Open-Flame Cuisine: The creative, organic, and locally sourced meals, cooked over an open wood flame, are a significant highlight, offering a unique and delicious dining experience that inspires gratitude, as another reviewer mentioned, leading them to say "thank you for bringing us here" multiple times a day.
• Secluded Natural Beauty: Nestled among high trees, rolling hills, and along a pristine mountain brook, the camp offers profound peace and serenity. The sounds of a babbling brook near cabins like "Mill Creek" add to the tranquil ambiance.
• Direct Access to Adirondack Adventures: Guests have direct access to self-guided hiking excursions, canoeing and kayaking on Garnet Lake (equipment provided), and opportunities for swimming and river exploration. Nearby excursions include whitewater rafting on the Hudson River and mountain biking.
• Thoughtful Cabin Comforts: Beyond basic furnishings, the canvas cabins provide high-quality bedding, heating, and lighting, ensuring a restful night's sleep even in the backcountry.
• Couples Retreat & Reconnection: Many guests, like the one who visited for a "couples retreat," find Orenda an ideal place to "reconnect and recharge," fostering non-digital human connections and lasting memories.
• Stargazing: Away from city lights, the Adirondack night sky at Orenda offers unparalleled stargazing opportunities.

These features collectively create a unique blend of adventure, luxury, and tranquility that defines the "Orenda camp life."

For those interested in experiencing the magic of Camp Orenda, here is the contact information:

Address: 90 Armstrong Rd, Johnsburg, NY 12843, USA

Phone: (347) 287-7359

Mobile Phone: +1 347-287-7359

It's highly recommended to reach out directly to inquire about availability and reservations, especially given the intimate size of the retreat and the high demand for its unique experience.

For New Yorkers, Camp Orenda represents an unparalleled opportunity to experience the Adirondacks in a truly special way. The glowing reviews from past guests paint a vivid picture of why this retreat is so perfectly suited for locals. It's described as "where the concept of glamping all started," a "very unique experience" that is "magical." For those seeking a break from the relentless pace of city life, Orenda offers a "place away from it all where we could reconnect and recharge," succeeding wonderfully in providing "peaceful connection with nature, fine cuisine, extraordinary hosts, and abundant Adirondack natural beauty." The personalized attention, the creative and organic meals cooked over an open flame, the comfortable and secluded canvas cabins, and the direct access to quintessential Adirondack activities like canoeing, hiking, and enjoying the sounds of the babbling brook all contribute to an experience that "elevated my heart and mind (and stomach too) and gave us new (non-digital) human connections and memories." The regretful news that "it’s sad to hear that it’s the owner’s last season" only underscores its unique and irreplaceable nature. For New Yorkers, this means it's the last chance to experience this specific, authentic, and non-commercialized form of luxury camping that has charmed so many. It's a rare opportunity to live the "Orenda camp life" and appreciate the simplicities often missing in our busy lives, right here in the majestic Adirondacks.