To White Lake I go

White Lake is a tiny hamlet located in Sullivan County that thrives during the summer, its busiest season. This small town is located mainly on Route 17B, with a few buildings straggling up Route 55 towards the north. The substantial natural lake for which the town is named borders it directly to the north of Route 17B.

With the extraordinary growth that Sullivan County is experiencing, every town must change. The growth spurt is evident in White Lake in the varying style of housing. Many of the houses lying directly on the lake shore are new, frequently featuring landscaping and boat docks for private and easy access onto the lake. On the side of 17B opposite the lake are older houses with the multiple gables, porches, fancy woodwork and shingling that distinguish their period.

As you enter White Lake from the west, The White Lake Mansion House, built in 1848, is the first building that you see. The beautiful building is a sign of early prosperity. Now, however, the white paint of the mansion is mostly chipped away. Tall shrubs and bushes cover the yard in front of the building. The Mansion House is on the Register of Historic Places, and a national plaque commemorating its history is located near the road. A spectator cannot help but be in awe of the size and beauty of this building and its architectural complexity.

The quaint village offers a wide variety of lakeside activities including dining. The Front Porch Café is an upscale dining experience located in one of the old-fashioned houses opposite the lake. The restored beauty is colored with pale yellow and a bright indigo. Located on the second floor of the restaurant is the lounge area, furnished with black and red showpieces of leather furniture, plush rugs and artful pieces on the walls.

The next restaurant along with way, on the opposite side of the road, is Buster’s BBQ. The ambiance and architecture of this restaurant, named after the proprietor’s dog, bring us back to the present day. Here the atmosphere is more casual, and the food is southern barbeque including such items as spare ribs and pulled pork. Lakeside seating on the deck is available.

Further along the way, again on the lake, the Lighthouse offers yet another option for White Lake restaurant goers. This establishment features an American-style menu and casual dining. Not only can you dine on the lake, you can also rent and dock a boat here. Parties are welcome.

The Bradstan Country Inn, another one of the older buildings on the southern side of Route 17B, is truly a local gem. The massive, three-floor, white hotel has a southern plantation appeal and features small white cabins beside it. The size of this structure reminds us of boarding house popularity and prosperity at the turn of the century. The Bradstan is a not only a bed and breakfast but a venue for famous cabaret singers. Cabaret performances are held on Sundays in the Nancy LaMott room throughout the summer.

Of course if you’re looking to actually enjoy the lake, boat rentals are available. Payne’s Marina offers speedboats, paddleboats and jet skis for your tour of the lake. On a hot summer Sunday, the marina is packed and the lake is a vision of colorful sails and masts.

White Lake probably only has about a dozen or so businesses in it, and it’s surprising to see that that three of them are real estate offices. The most dramatic of the three features a woman, dressed in western-garb and yielding a pistol. The display comes complete with a cart full of hay and a cut-out of a man who joins the cowgirl.

The town is also blessed with a place of worship. The White Lake Reformed Presbyterian Church is packed with worshipers on Sunday whose voices can be heard in celebration of their religion. Outside on the letter board outside the church a message reads, “God may break us in order to remake us.”

White Lake is a pretty and eclectic exemplification of the growth and prosperity that our region experienced once and now is experiencing again.