Bald Peak Colony, Moultonborough

Long Island Baba · 09-20-2006, 04:47 PM

I was at Bald Peak today for a benefit luncheon. What a beautiful place! I've read some background info on how the it all started, about the golf course, etc.

Can anyone share information on residences there? I understand it is quite exclusive...rumors that you need a few mil in the bank to even be eligible to live there...stuff like that.

Anything to share?

Is there a really a financial review? What are the annual fees? Stuff like that. I find this all very interesting....

Appreciate it!

Just curious. You know, in case I win the lottery! Ha!

Thanks!

Senter Cove Guy · 09-20-2006, 09:22 PM

I worked at Bald Peak for 4 summers, 1 as a busboy and 3 as a greenskeeper during my teenage years (which was a long time ago). It was a great place to work and I met a lot of interesting people and got to see how the rich and famous lived. I even met my wife there. No, she wasn't a member. Several times a summer, Bald Peak would hold parties for "the help". I was there and she attended with another "helper". Somehow or other we hit it off and the rest they say is history.

Back then I heard it was something like $10,000/yr to be a member so you can imagine what it costs today. The homes were beautiful. At the time Edward Bartsch was head of the greens committee. He owned a house just up the hill from the 18th fairway and green. His lawn was basically a green. Same grass and the same care required. A beautiful thing to see.

Babe Ruth played golf there and, of course, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier visited in the 1950's. I was fortunate enough to have been able to play a few rounds of golf there as well.

I always said that, some day, I'd spend a week at the Bald Peak hotel. It never happened but, I have a lot of pleasant memories of years past.

mcdude · 09-21-2006, 07:21 AM

Aerial View of the Colony

Clubhouse in the 1930s

The Bald Peak Colony Club was founded by Thomas Plante, infamous builder of "Lucknow" or as we know it today, The Castle in the Clouds. He was ruthless in his quest to acquire all of the land between his castle and the lake which led to the spite fence at Weelahka Hall.

He began to develop the property in 1919.

Quote:

He stood looking down from his mountain fastness upon the fine tract of land that lay between the village road (now route 109) and the lake shore. There were about 750 acres heavily wooded with pine, hemlock, maple, birch and oak which rose gradually from the lake to quite a plateau on which were the clearings of three small farms. These farms were known as the Browne, Horne and Caverly farms. At one place on the lake shore the huge pines stood back to admit of a natural sandy beach with was extremely beautiful. It came to him that he could share all this beauty with many others in no better way than to establish a residential golfing club. He pictured it as a club colony with cottages, a clubhouse and an 18-hole golf course.....the building of the clubhouse and nine cottages went forward - six on the ridge and three to the northeast of the clubhouse. There were (sic)also built a boathouse and a large dormitory garage for about 20 cars and the chauffeurs of the guests.

Those who applied for membership were carefully screened. The membership fee was $2,500. Of course this was a deterrent to many but he considered it not too high for what was offered.

The first families were; Barrows, Case, Clark, Corby, Drury, Elkins, Erickson, Evatt, Lahey, Ley, Lounsbury, Love, Low and Pettigrew.

From The Castle and the Club by Elizabeth Crawford Wilkin - 1964 - Melvin Village

CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE THE MAP

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-21-2006, 08:05 AM

Lakes Region Conservation Trust has some great information too.
Thanks McDude! You're the best.

SIKSUKR · 09-21-2006, 01:56 PM

McDude,you never cease to amaze me at the volume of history you have at your fingertips.Thanks for more great stuff.

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-22-2006, 06:56 AM

McDude, did you get a shot of Bald Peak Colony from the water as we were going by?

What a great day!

mcdude · 09-22-2006, 07:16 AM

I think I did. In the book by Crawford-Wilkin there is a photo of the beach with cabanas on it. When I saw the cabanas I think I took a shot because it was so different. Did not realize at the time that it was Bald Peack Colony Club beach. I'll have to look back through the camera's (did I use the apostrophe correctly?) memory card.

09-20-2006, 04:47 PM	#1
Long Island Baba Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 Thanks: 1 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Bald Peak Colony, Moultonborough I was at Bald Peak today for a benefit luncheon. What a beautiful place! I've read some background info on how the it all started, about the golf course, etc. Can anyone share information on residences there? I understand it is quite exclusive...rumors that you need a few mil in the bank to even be eligible to live there...stuff like that. Anything to share? Is there a really a financial review? What are the annual fees? Stuff like that. I find this all very interesting.... Appreciate it! Just curious. You know, in case I win the lottery! Ha! Thanks!

09-20-2006, 09:22 PM	#2
Senter Cove Guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 598 Thanks: 294 Thanked 430 Times in 141 Posts	The Bald Peak I Used To Know I worked at Bald Peak for 4 summers, 1 as a busboy and 3 as a greenskeeper during my teenage years (which was a long time ago). It was a great place to work and I met a lot of interesting people and got to see how the rich and famous lived. I even met my wife there. No, she wasn't a member. Several times a summer, Bald Peak would hold parties for "the help". I was there and she attended with another "helper". Somehow or other we hit it off and the rest they say is history. Back then I heard it was something like $10,000/yr to be a member so you can imagine what it costs today. The homes were beautiful. At the time Edward Bartsch was head of the greens committee. He owned a house just up the hill from the 18th fairway and green. His lawn was basically a green. Same grass and the same care required. A beautiful thing to see. Babe Ruth played golf there and, of course, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier visited in the 1950's. I was fortunate enough to have been able to play a few rounds of golf there as well. I always said that, some day, I'd spend a week at the Bald Peak hotel. It never happened but, I have a lot of pleasant memories of years past. __________________ Lake Winni - The only place I want to be during the summer.

09-21-2006, 08:05 AM	#4
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Castle History Lakes Region Conservation Trust has some great information too. Thanks McDude! You're the best.

09-21-2006, 01:56 PM	#5
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	McDude,you never cease to amaze me at the volume of history you have at your fingertips.Thanks for more great stuff. __________________ SIKSUKR

09-22-2006, 06:56 AM	#6
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Photo From The Water McDude, did you get a shot of Bald Peak Colony from the water as we were going by? What a great day!

09-22-2006, 07:16 AM	#7
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	I think I did. In the book by Crawford-Wilkin there is a photo of the beach with cabanas on it. When I saw the cabanas I think I took a shot because it was so different. Did not realize at the time that it was Bald Peack Colony Club beach. I'll have to look back through the camera's (did I use the apostrophe correctly?) memory card.