Former “Scott’s Family Resort” Site Sparks Concern at Oquaga Lake

Some property owners at Oquaga Lake are expressing concern about the deteriorating conditions at the site of the former Scott's Family Resort.

The site gained renewed attention when it was featured as a family getaway spot in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel television series.

Geragos Global of California acquired the 1,000-acre property in the town of Sanford in December 2020. The purchase price for the site about 30 miles east of Binghamton was $2.7 million.

The new owners planned to transform it into a year-round destination for adults and families, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

But nearly three years after the sale, people at Oquaga Lake say the dilapidated buildings remain an eyesore and a potential safety hazard.

A petition was circulated seeking action from the town of Sanford code enforcement office.

Town supervisor Kenneth Wist said he hasn't heard of any detailed redevelopment plans from the property owners. He said conditions of the remaining structures at the site have worsened since the sale.

Wist said he and the Sanford code enforcement officer met last January with a representative of the owners to discuss the property and what might be done in the future.

The supervisor said a couple of buildings had partially collapsed at the site. He said workers did shore up some of the roof structure at the former Scott's hotel building.

Wist said, in his opinion, "some of the buildings are beyond repair." He said a heavy snowfall could cause additional collapses of the old structures.

The town has conveyed to the owners concern about the appearance of the property, including grass that at one point reached about "two-and-a-half feet high" over the summer. Some action was taken after the owner's representative was notified.

Wist said "probably something will need to be done next spring" to deal with the condition of the property. At this point, he said some of the buildings appear to be beyond repair.

The Hollywood Reporter story indicated the new owners were "already planning a renovation of the 18-hole golf course in partnership with a professional golf celebrity." The article also reported they had "plans for waterfront cottages to take advantage of 2,000 feet of unobstructed lake views."

Geragos Global representatives could not be reached Wednesday to discuss what is planned for the site.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.