The Otesaga is the grand hotel of central New York and the most elegant way to pair Howe Caverns with a classic upstate weekend. Opened in 1909 on the southern shore of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, the Federal-style resort with its white-columned portico and long lakeside veranda has been welcoming guests for well over a century, and since 2020 it has broken its old habit of closing after Thanksgiving: it now stays open year-round, which makes it a viable base in every season. The setting is the draw. Lawns run down to the water, the lake stretches north between wooded hills, and the hotel's own Leatherstocking golf course follows the shoreline. Dining spans formal and relaxed, with the Hawkeye Bar and Grill as the casual favorite and its glassed-in winter garden extending the season. Rooms are traditional and gracious, and many face the lake. The village of Cooperstown is a short walk away — the National Baseball Hall of Fame is about five to eight minutes on foot, along with the Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmers' Museum just up the road. For cave travelers, Howe Caverns is under an hour's drive east, where the tour includes an underground boat ride on the Lake of Venus, and Secret Caverns sits next door for a quirkier second cave. Expect resort pricing and a polished, old-world atmosphere. Fit: couples, multigenerational families, baseball pilgrims and anyone who wants a historic lakefront base for upstate New York's caves.
The hotel's century of history is felt rather than displayed. The Clark family, longtime stewards of Cooperstown's institutions, built and still own the Otesaga, and their preservation work has kept the building, its public rooms and its grounds in remarkable condition. The veranda overlooking the lake is the social heart in warm months, with rocking chairs and sunset views; in winter the glassed-in dining and fireside lounges take over.
Stay craft
Request a lake-view room for the signature experience, book well ahead for summer weekends and the Hall of Fame induction period in July, when Cooperstown fills completely, and consider the quieter shoulder seasons and winter for better availability now that the resort is open year-round. Combine one cave day at Howe Caverns with a museum day in the village and a lazy afternoon on the lawn or the golf course.
Practicals and fit
60 Lake Street, Cooperstown, about an hour and a half from Albany. Pair with Howe Caverns, the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Fenimore Art Museum, Glimmerglass Opera in summer, and the region's breweries and cideries. Fit: couples and families who want grand-hotel style with a cave adventure on the side.
Why stay here
- ✓Lakefront grand resort since 1909
- ✓Open year-round
- ✓Leatherstocking golf course
- ✓Hawkeye Bar and Grill
- ✓Lakeside veranda
- ✓Lake-view rooms
- ✓Walk to the Hall of Fame
- ✓Event and meeting spaces
Good questions
How far is Howe Caverns?+
Under an hour by car east of Cooperstown. The Howe Caverns tour includes an underground boat ride, and Secret Caverns next door makes a quirky second stop.
Is the Otesaga open in winter?+
Yes — it used to close after Thanksgiving but now stays open year-round, with winter dining in its glassed-in garden space.
Can we walk to the Baseball Hall of Fame?+
Yes, it is roughly a five- to eight-minute walk into the village from the hotel.
