Details on heirs and future conservation efforts emerging around the 36,000 acre Whitney Estate
By James M. Odato
The will of John F. Hendrickson, whose property near Long Lake is among the most desired private holdings in the Adirondack Park, reveals he’s letting his older brother figure out what to do with his multimillion-dollar estate.
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The document, filed in Palm Beach County, Florida Oct. 31, gives Edward Hendrickson, 62, who lives in Alaska, the ability to make key decisions.
John Hendrickson named his brother and Carolyn Steuer as his representatives, with Edward Hendrickson having final say on matters. Steuer is a former employee of Marylou Whitney, John Hendrickson’s wife, who died in July 2019.
Steuer received a Saratoga Springs residence as part of millions of dollars Whitney willed to friends and family. Whitney’s file in the Saratoga County Surrogate’s Court listed her assets as valued at $158 million, with her husband inheriting most.
Thomas W. Miller is the lawyer for John Hendrickson, his widow and her previous and deceased husband Cornelius “Sonny” Vanderbilt Whitney. He said a resolution of the 36,000 acres known as Whitney Park in the Adirondacks won’t happen this year, but could next year.
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Miller said Hendrickson, 59, who died in Saratoga Springs in August, had expressed what he wanted done with his Adirondack holdings. “It will be disclosed,” Miller said. “I’m well aware there’s a lot of interest in it, but I can’t share anything.”
The Hendrickson estate is bequeathed to the trustee of the John F. Hendrickson Revocable Trust and his representatives have the power to sell or invest any part.
Adirondack assets
The will, signed in Lexington, Kentucky in November 2020, marked the estimated value of Hendrickson’s estate at $100 million. It also set down his wish to be buried next to his wife at Green Ridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs, which was carried out, Miller said.
Marie Louise “Marylou” Whitney Hendrickson was a major philanthropist. She had inherited a fortune from her late husband, including vast tracts of forested land, exclusive camps and dwellings and shorefront in the Adirondacks.
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Almost 30 years ago, New York purchased a key Whitney tract, about 15,000 acres around Little Tupper Lake. The acquisition led to the state’s creation of the William C. Whitney Wilderness area, which includes Lake Lila.
Displeased with the state’s stewardship in recent years, John Hendrickson set out to sell nearby Whitney Park. He listed it for sale for $180 million. He later considered seeking the right to subdivide the property into 11 parcels, about 3,200 acres each, envisioning sales to fetch $238 million. The property contains the 17-bedroom Camp Deerlands overlooking Little Forked Lake. Hendrickson had not submitted any subdivision proposal to the Adirondack Park Agency, which oversees public and private development.
Beyond that, Hendrickson listed another 58 acres, “Camp on a Point” on Little Tupper Lake in Hamilton County. It was for sale at $5.25 million and recently reduced to $4.195 million following Hendrickson’s passing.
A prime property
State conservation leaders have eyed the Whitney Park estate for years. The state’s Open Space Plan calls it “a high-priority land conservation parcel.” A Department of Environmental Conservation communications official said the DEC does not comment on potential land negotiations.
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”In general, DEC is always open to conversations with landowners who are interested in exploring conservation outcomes for their properties,” the official said.
This fall, eight conservation organizations wrote to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her to find a way to obtain the Whitney estate.
“This historic tract in the heart of the Adirondack Park will be sold by a trust seeking to sell these lands in the months ahead,” the groups wrote. “We ask that you and your Department of Environmental Conservation take a leading role in negotiating the conservation of Whitney Park through purchase as Forest Preserve, as conservation easement, or a combination of the two.”
The letter was signed by leaders of the Adirondack Council, Protect the Adirondacks, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve, the Adirondack Mountain Club, New York League of Conservation Voters and Adirondack Wilderness Advocates.
The groups want Hochul to build on the work of Gov. George Pataki whose administration created the Whitney Wilderness Area. “It is important to demonstrate state leadership and commitment to land conservation,” the groups wrote. “Protection of Whitney Park will help sequester carbon, protect water quality and support biodiversity for New York State while also supporting increased recreational access in Hamilton County.”
Gwendolyn Craig contributed to this report.
If the land is obtained by an entity that would allow public access, even in the form of an easement, it would be nice if the Salmon Lake Mountain Fire Tower could be made accessible. It is one of the last standing Aermotor LX-24 towers in the country, and would be a great addition to the Adirondack Fire Tower challenge. I would be extremely disappointed if it was obtained by the state and labeled wilderness, leading to its removal like so many of the other historic towers.
It’s not clear to me what “details are emerging on future conservation efforts” are coming out with this information. One thing for sure, having these TWO executors on the will makes it very complicated, even if he has final say. Other than giving his brother and this past Witney employee the ability to decide on what happens with the estate are there any other details in the will? Usually it has some indication of what you want the executors to do, like give it to someone.
What is the estimated tax that NYS will have to come up with over and above the price for the property? It seems like from a conservation perspective a private owner with a conservation easement restricting development to what is already there would be a win win for the environment. State spends a few bucks buying the development rights a private owner buys the property and camps and the state keeps collecting tax to pay for things like more rangers we desperately need to protect all the other land the state can’t afford to properly maintain now. That also saves things like caretaker jobs in and around Long Lake which are great jobs in the area that go away once the state tears down everything.
I agree with Paul. It’s a situation that can work fir everyone. No skipping!
Does NY State have land condemnation powers for the public purpose of conservation?
Do local governments?
This land is too valuable to be developed or owned by private interests.
If the Trust moves to sell and develop, the land should be condemned and publicly owned. NY conservation groups must make bolder demands.
Excellent reporting.
“This land is too valuable to be developed or owned by private interests.” Why? It has been well protected that way forever, probably better than if it had been in state hands. Land doesn’t need to be stomped all over by the public to be protected.
1.) No, the state of New York does not have specific authority to condemn land for conservation purposes.
2.) Local governments can enact temporary restrictions on development to protect public health, safety, or general welfare.
3.) New York also has a process for inverse condemnation, which allows property owners to seek damages if a public entity has interfered with their property rights.
The deceased owner of the property doesn’t want to sell to the state because the general public ruins the truly wild places(example: Eastern High Peaks). The Whitney family owned this Adirondack land for over 120 years, with their ownership dating back to the 1890s. And the area was managed as it should have been. A productive forest.
Honestly, the State has been a terrible steward of its lands for decades. Under funded, under maintained, and under care for.
The family has every right to keep the parcels private and may even be acting in the highest regard to stewardship by doing so.
Just look at what is going on with the Tupper Lake Ski Resort. It was recently purchased at an auction by two developers who plan on building condos and homes on the property. Please protect this wonderful park for future generations. My ancestors came from Ireland and settled on the Clayburg/Redford area.
This parcel is too important to let go without a plan. The state has failed on so many levels in the Adirondack Park it is time the Govenor and friends step up and take responsibility for this part of New York. What happened to the policy’s that were set in place with the “Forever Wild” provisions?
On Upper Saranac Lake, the development of the new marina, is a huge mismanagement of that land. There is nothing to justify the building of of 90+ boat slips in that will benefit anyone, not even the developer. The past few summers, the statistic show that there has not been enough business to keep this business a float. Leaving a ruined waterfront property that will destroy the optics of the Forever Wild creed.
Come on Governor, don’t let the Adirondacks go to hell. The Whitney property and Upper Saranac are part of a majestic puzzle, that needs someone to “put on their big boy/girl pants” and make the area a priority not an after thought.
Seriously, NYS cannot balance a budget, the citizens have one of the highest tax burdens in the nation, and yes, the DEC and the state do a terrible job of maintaining what they already have!
Private ownership is a good thing and creates more revenue for the state as well as the local economy by providing well paying jobs and paying taxes.
The state doesn’t need any more land.