Lake George, NY - we visited during a winter carnival weekend, and a Phantoms & Fireworks ghost tour at the fort was in the events lineup. As someone who isn't really into military history but loooves everything spooky (and once upon a time belonged to a paranormal investigation club), of course I was up for some haunted fun! The ghost tour runs at night, obviously, as the midday sun isn't exactly conductive to maximum eeriness. Our guide kicked things off with a talk about the history of this 18th century British fort against the backdrop of the French and Indian War (and an apocryphal movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis). Then comes the main event, and we were brought to the casemate (basement), supposedly the most haunted part of the grounds, as it was used as a field hospital for wounded soldiers, and well, many didn't make it. Our tour guide was fantastic, equal parts historian and campfire storyteller, and regaled us with tales of entity encounters, paranormal happenings, and other unexplained phenomena. Are the stories real? Exaggerated? Completely fabricated for tourism purposes? I have no idea, but baby I got chills! If you believe that a place can carry the residual energy of suffering, deaths, not to mention infection-prone surgeries without anesthesia, perhaps these stories are believable. Note: the daytime vibe is basically just a normal historic fort, so the day tour is a pretty different experience, and doing both isn't redundant. I didn't really get to look around the museum cos I didn't want to be left behind alone after that terrifying finale about a girl who wandered off alone during a tour (no spoilers but that one made the hairs on my arm stand up!), and anyway I wanted to check out the gift shop, where the bright fluorescent lights and people are.... Finally, what a great gift shop! There's a nice assortment of souvenirs, practical items, and knick knacks, and I even snagged some cool finds on sale. My favorite score was a scratch-off card of the Catskills 3500 peaks (shoutout to Peakquest), a reminder for me to get back to peak bagging instead of ghost hunting. read more

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Had a fun time here. Took a day trip here with parents and my dog. We loved the details and stories they had displayed. It was a very hot summer day and inside each room was nice and cool. Loved that we got to see every room and all the relics on display. The best part was that I was able to bring my dog inside. The staff loved him and gave him all the attention. The only thing he hated was the musket firing. Kind of scared all of us. There was also a huge gift shop. Had a ton of fun here. read more

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This place was pretty cool! Stopped in here on my weekend getaway and decided to check it out! If you're someone who loves history like me, this is definitely the place to go to. I loved the souvenir shop. I did a ghost tour which was pretty interesting. I didn't see any ghost, but the tour guide was very informative and funny at times. Although I will say the price was a little steep and it was a bit freezing, so if you do go in the winter months like I did in November, the tour is for the most part outside so dress appropriately. I have to say the best part was the live demonstrations. Actually made me jump a little haha. I'm not sure if I would return again but if I did, it would probably be to go into the souvenir shop, but it's also in a nice location so check it out if you're in the area. read more

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Please note: This is a review for the historical Fort William Henry and NOT a commentary on the adjacent hotel, which has its own Yelp site. Some Yelpers apparently got a bit confused about this. The fort has quite a violent but short history. It functioned only between 1755 and 1757 during what we call the French and Indian War. Built by the British and their American allies at a key location at the southern tip of Lake George, it came under French siege and eventually surrendered. Granted terms to leave the fort safely, the surrendering fort soldiers instead wound up getting massacred by the Indians who were allied to the French. After that, the fort was destroyed. The restored fort today is nonetheless quite interesting to visit. There are costumed guides to walk you through the museum, talk about the history, and on non-rainy days demonstrate musket and cannon firing. Sadly we visited on a rainy day and didn't get to see the latter. And while our guide was knowledgeable, his presentation was rather halting. Anyhow, visitors are free to stroll around the fort at their leisure and enjoy the views of the lake and village; there are some special exhibits which also add to the history. And there also is a nice gift shop where you can find books, clothing and some odds and ends. It's a fun way to spend a couple of hours, and the kids will probably enjoy it too. (There are a number of books about the fort at the gift shop; we'd recommend "Fort William Henry 1755-57" by Ian Castle. It's thorough, well written and has lots of useful illustrations.) read more

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Loved visiting this fort. It's also very family friendly. Great activities for kids (like why not let them sign enlistment papers and dress like a soldier for their entire visit!). If you're lucky , you'll see a musket firing AND a cannon firing. The history of the French and Indian war is so interesting to me. The history of the Siege of this fort is also interesting. And if you're a fan of The Last of the Mohicans (story depicts the siege of this fort) , it's a must visit. The group guides are both knowledgeable and funny. Only thing I'd say is I wish there was a mic set they can use. The groups can get big and the acoustics are awful. Definitely recommend!! read more

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Our first adventure was the Fort. It's not the "original fort" that burnt down and was destroyed, but this fort is built pretty much on the same grounds and to specs, yep they even did it by original drawings and is only off by a bit, as far as foundation. Fort William Henry was a young and short lived fort, from 1755-1757, basically the French and Indian War, I'm sure you heard about it in school ages ago, but read it now, it's not as censored and you will appreciate it more as an adult. We loved the tour, cannon and musket firing and the efforts that went into building this fort, not as big as you would think forts are. So moving on----bought some great stuff in the store, paid for the haunted night tour and enjoyed walking the grounds. They say that the area that was the make shift hospital is the most haunted, because after the siege there was a slaughter (want to know why? read the history!) so, yes it is a bit odd in that particular area, but the actual grounds as a whole is haunted, because the ground you are walking on, not the building that stands today...is where the war happened. IMHO: History is amazing and though not everyone agrees with how things were done back then, we have to understand, you can't change history, it's done, we just need to learn from it. Take steps to always move forward and don't repeat the bad, but preserve as much knowledge as possible for the future generations, so we all stay on the correct path of not repeating the bad, but appreciating the historical legacy of it and every part of every soul involved. To change it, is to erase it, and we shouldn't erase history or there won't be a reminder, and then... well ya know the saying. read more

Great staff and very nice room with a view of the lake. Reasonable price, we will be coming back again.

A gem of history in the Adirondacks. I truly felt that the fort was and the desk staff was very quaint and offers up an escape from the hustling that is going on around the fort itself. Free parking available and the docents made the fort come alive with the history of not just the fort but the region and beyond! Live cannon and musket firing demonstration are part of the tour, so don't miss them. read more

Great tour. but the tour guide was dead wrong about use of word "limey" as it applied to the English. outside of that the fort is rotting apart. From the Boat tour lot the roof drain go right over log rows and is sequentually rotting them out...who does the maintanance a water intrusion anuway???what a shame!!! read more

I had to cancel a reservation more than a year in advance (almost two) and was charged 50$ cancellation fee. In today's world that is simply unacceptable. I will not recommend this hotel to anyone, nor will I ever stay there in the future. read more

Visited this week. Police & military personnel get in free with proof of ID. We toured the museum & listened to two very knowledgeable young ladies giving history of the musket & cannons. We were amazed at how well spoken & knowledgeable the re-enactment girls were. The museum is full of charm and is a must see for anyone who likes history!! read more

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Very nice event. We really enjoyed it. The tour was very interesting and I definitely learned quite a lot! Nice experience if you're in lake George and want to know some nice ghost stories!! Not gonna lie, you definitely get a little spooked out when they tell you specific stories of ghosts still being there! read more

Fort William Henry - Sunset during tour! - Hotels Near Me - Lake George, New York

Most of the outlets didn't work in my room in the East Wing. I ended up having to let my phone charge in the bathroom. The first day we arrived, the smell of the room was not appealing. When we were serviced the next day, that smell was taken care of. The view from our room was beautiful and the hotel is in the heart of the tourist sites and very close to Lake George. We had breakfast at the White Lion which is in the hotel. I don't eat pork and they didn't have turkey sausage, bacon or any breakfast meat that fit my diet, unfortunately. Hence, I had all carbs. The pancakes, home fries and eggs were good. Overall, my experience at the Hotel was not great but it is at a perfect location. read more

Fort William Henry - View from the pool - Hotels Near Me - Lake George, New York

Made a last minute reservation here during thanksgiving break, after comfort suites refused to accommodate our service dogs. The staff was extremely friendly, accommodating, and made us feel great about the choice to stay there. Our room was very clean and comfortable enough for three humans and a dog. Although the hotel is priced slightly higher than other accommodations nearby, we didn't mind paying extra to ensure that everyone in our family was comfortable. read more

This is a great place for a day trip, it is full of history and has a great town with food and activities. I live near the fort so I go all the time but I have to say the hotel is great for if you want to go more than a day. read more

Errr... guess what, we got put in a room in the side building which is literally a motel, exterior corridor, very old and dated rooms. Too bad I was expecting for paying that price in an off-season day I will get the main building 3star hotel kind of stay. Sorry, your room is on the other building. Lake view? Yes, on the exterior corridor. I felt being scammed!!! Wanted to upgrade to the main building. They charge 50+ more per day. No thanks! Will stay with other brands next time ! read more

My husband, his parents and I came for a weekend getaway and stayed at the Fort William Henry hotel. It really is the best location and allows you to walk to town / lake / everywhere. Even though we didn't stay in the main hotel, we were still able to access all of the same amenities as the hotel guests - pool, bar, restaurant. The brunch at the restaurant on site is soooo worth it even though their timings mean you have to get up early on vacation / weekend. Tip: when booking, pay attention to the room and know if you are staying in the main hotel or one of their other "rooms" which aren't as clean / good. We made that mistake and will be sure to be more careful next time. Additionally, book early!! read more

If you are looking for a wedding venue in Lake George, FWH needs to be an option. The best thing, Dawn Bennett. Dawn is the wedding coordinator who will make your vison come true! She is thorough and meticulous and will guide you through one of the best days of your life. Myself and my family are so thankful for her. The venue in itself is great! The White Lion Room held my reception and was beautiful. The outside area is perfect for guests to mill about all night if they choose. The food was delicious. I was passed along compliments all night on the food. You and your guests can all stay in one location at the hotel. The rooms are nice. Not only is this convenient, but smart! I loved Fort William Henry. The staff, venue, food...all lived up to our expectations. read more

Cute little fort in Lake George. It's not particularly massive - which can be a good thing when you don't want to feel overwhelmed - there are still a plethora of areas, activities and displays to see to keep you busy for an hour or two. Ghost tours happen in the evenings for a bit of a higher price, and they offer guided tours every hour. I believe there is a charge to get in (past the gift shop and hallway, which are free), but they suspend ticket sales for some events (like the Adirondack Nationals car show, and other yearly gatherings at the neighboring hotel), so stop by and see it for free then, only during the day. read more

Horrible got put in a room that should be condemn. Smelled like mold . The health department needs to look at this hotel and it was 240 a night for a dump! read more

I stayed here for a wedding labor day weekend in the grand part of the hotel. We had a lake view. It was gorgeous. Top floor perfectview. The room was clean and the service was great. They don't have room service which sucks. The bathroom was immaculate. Everything about our room was just perfect. I will def be comi ng back. read more

Fort William Henry - View from the room - Hotels Near Me - Lake George, New York

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Beautiful place, best views in LG. Please work on the outdoor bar service; poor guy opened at 2 and was swamped with little children ordering ridiculous amounts of virgin frozen drinks. Had to use a single blender that needed to be rinsed out between almost every drink, causing a huge backup of ADULT paying customers, some waiting 45 minutes for a single beer. Bartender was awesome, but i felt stressed FOR him. There are many industrial-sosed machines available for purchase that will keep multiple frozen drinks flowing all day; surely FWH generates enough revenue to update this poorly set up system. read more

It's well pass it's hay day. Both ice machines broken in original building. Outside chairs are cheap and broke. Concrete old cracked and stained. If don't need to be on lake a lot better deals other places. Very expensive for what you get. read more

Fort William Henry - Hotels Near Me - Lake George, New York

Booked our room 10 months ago for a wedding. Specifically requested to not be on the top floor and that is where they put us. We had no bath towels in our room, hairdryer was falling off the wall and no exhaust fan working in the bathroom. For $250 a night I expected more. read more

We didn't get to experience the whole Museum or any of the tour's they provide. After having dinner at the lookout next door. We walked over to Fort William Henry we walked up all the stairs so the cannons outside. The outside doors were open we were able to go in and check out a bunch of stuff they were going to be closing soon so we were able to go as far as we could that they would let the non-paying people see. And then we just got to explore as much as we could of the outside of the property of the museum as possible. When we go back next year it's something that we would definitely want to be able to explore thoroughly. If you continue to walk from the back of the museum towards the front there is like a little free Park area where you see kids on their bikes and their skateboards and you can walk through there and there's a whole area where the kids can walk over rocks and through tunnels and different things it's just pretty cool it's not part of that but because it was right there they got to experience that. read more

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Came here for a wedding and was fairly pleased with everything. Everything was fairly organized and the view of the lake was lovely (though it was sooo hot!!). The reception area was just the right size for the 80 or so guests that were at the wedding and the service there was good. Food had a nice presentation and was tasty. read more

So much history, so little time. It was costly to get in however, you could come and go as many times as you wanted throughout the day. The musket and cannon demonstration was wonderful. The staff there are very friendly and want to help you explore and learn. read more

Fort William Henry - Artillery reenactment. - Hotels Near Me - Lake George, New York

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We attended the guided military tour. Staff was friendly and informative. Cast members were AMAZING. They were super knowledgable of the content and were happy to answer questions. They demonstrated a musket firing and a cannon firing, and they were both incredibly funny and engaging throughout! Even after the tour was over, the younger gentleman patiently answered my 9 year old's questions, and the older gentleman actually started a conversation with my husband and I to broaden our understanding of the history of the fort and the area in general. Well versed in history, he even offered us additional information about other forts we have visited in the past and was able to recommend forts we may want to explore in the future, as well. There is a reasonably priced gift shop attached to the museum, plenty of artifacts and displays, and lots of land to wander around for great views of the lake, as well. We were very pleased with our visit and would recommend it to anyone visiting the area! read more

A lovely hand on museum to visit. I suggest going during one of the tour times. Our two guides were wonderful! Very informative and attentive to the kids in the group. The people in the gift shop were extremely friendly and helpful. read more

This place is not only beautiful they have excellent courteous wait staff and amazing breakfast. The grounds are spacious and a wonderful place to have a family reunion. Excellent choice!! read more

Really enjoyed the tour of the fort and the staff took the time to answer questions for as long as u wanted. I wish they had a combo ticket for both the day and night tour...I think if u go to the day one the night one is half price. Learned a lot from the staff there. read more

Beautiful place, great service, great view to the Lake. Very clean. Huge parking lot. My 4 stars are because there is no room service available and sofa bed was sloppy. Isabel, Marie and my housekeeper Crystal were awesome. Highly recommend this hotel. Swimming pool and hot tub a plus. read more

The view from our room was exceptional and the staff is friendly and helpful. We loved afternoons on the veranda. Comfortable beds and rooms. We'll be back! read more

The Lookout Restaurant is horrible..I sat there for at least 30 minutes..No one on the wait staff ever came over to even introduce themselves or even offer me a drink..Have been there before and had great service and burgers,not sure what happened,there was quite a few staff there.. read more

Went for a wedding. Beautiful ceremony and reception. Room was dingy, our door showed light when closed therefore bugs found their way in. Also, because our door opened to the outside and it was never fully closed, our non smoking room smelled like smoke from the smokers outside. Ice machine in our building was broken. Had to drive the cooler to the other side of the building to get ice. No extra plugs or newer lamps with plugs built in. Had to unplug alarm and lamp to charge phones. read more

We decided to stay here at the last minute as we made our way home from our moms funeral and it was a great choice; very nice accommodations, beautiful grounds to walk around and most importantly a friendly staff. The one stand out in the staff to us was Lorraine at the front desk she was helpful gave great suggestions for saving money and put us in a beautiful room for just the right price, she is a great compliment to your staff. read more