The story of Aiden Lair dates back to around 1850 when a simple log cabin was erected to accommodate travelers and hunters venturing into the rugged Adirondack region, which was just beginning to open up. This original cabin eventually caught fire, leading to the construction of the first Aiden Lair lodge in 1893—a magnificent hunting lodge in the Adirondack style, operated by an Irishman named Michael Cronin. The lodge became particularly famous as a key location during Theodore Roosevelt's Midnight Ride in 1901, marking the start of an extraordinary presidency. On September 6, 1901, President McKinley was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, initially at the Vermont Fish and Game Club, rushed to Buffalo upon hearing the news. However, after McKinley’s doctor assured them that he would recover. Roosevelt now in the Adirondacks, decided to hike Mount Marcy, New York's tallest peak, and visit his family at the Tahawwur Hunting Club. While resting by Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds a foot messenger delivered news that McKinley’s condition had deteriorated. After receiving a telegram stating the president was dying, Roosevelt quickly set out for Buffalo. His journey to the nearest train station in North Creek involved a challenging 35-mile ride on muddy roads, stopping at Aiden Lair Lodge to change horses. He arrived at Aiden Lair around 3:30 AM, just after McKinley had died at 2:15 AM, making Roosevelt the new president of the United States. The rundown building located behind the state historical marker along the road is not the original Aiden Lair that Theodore Roosevelt visited. The first lodge was destroyed by fire in 1914, and shortly after, a new 20-bedroom hotel was constructed, resulting in the dilapidated 16,000-square-foot structure that stands today. Michael Cronin, the lodge’s founder, struggled with mental health issues and was hospitalized just before the original lodge burned down. After he was hospitalized, the lodge was consumed by flames a month later, and his family proceeded to rebuild it without his involvement, as he passed away shortly thereafter. Throughout the years, the hotel continued to welcome travelers to the Adirondacks, drawing in hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and eventually skiers and snowboarders heading to Gore Mountain. However, by the 1960s, the popularity of Adirondack hunting lodges began to wane, leading to the eventual closing of Aiden Lair.