From the 3rd Olympic Winter Games to the Present

Merrill L. Thomas, Inc.’s roots began in 1943 after the 3rd Olympic Winter Games. The business was originally known as Lake Placid Agencies and its first location was above the Palace Theater. The business handled both real estate and general insurance at the time.

Throughout the 1940’s and 50’s the real estate market was predominantly seasonal in nature, catering primarily to the summer residents affiliated with Lake Placid’s large resort hotels.

In 1960 Merrill L. Thomas purchased the present office located on Main Street and Mirror Lake from the Estate of Jennie Isham who had been a well established real estate broker since the 1920’s. In 1964, Mr. Thomas purchased Lake Placid Agencies and renamed the company Merrill L. Thomas, Inc. located at its present address.

The company flourished throughout the late 1960’s and 70’s with its principal client being Mrs. Nettie Marie Jones, widow of W. Alton Jones, Chairman of the Board of Cities Service Companies. Mrs. Jones took a very active interest in the Lake Placid real estate market, investing millions of dollars buying waterfront and commercial properties throughout the community. Mrs. Jones was regarded as Lake Placid’s leading philanthropist.

In 1983 Merrill L. Thomas was purchased by Roby Politi, MAI. Over the last 35 years, the company has risen to become the #1 producing real estate firm in the Adirondack region. In 1983 there were 5 full-time agents and the total sales volume was about $1.5 million. Since 2013, Merrill L. Thomas, Inc. has consistently led the Adirondack Champlain Valley Multiple Listing Service. Our sales volume in 2020 saw a 59% increase year-over-year totaling $175,000,000+ which smashed a record high of $122M in 2018. To date, our transaction volume is over $500M in just a short 3 year time period.

Over the years, Merrill L. Thomas, Inc. has sold some of the most recognized Adirondack camps in the region. A cross-section of properties is shown as follows:

• Marjorie Merriweather Post’s – Camp Topridge
• Victor Herbert’s – Camp Joyland
• Kate Smith’s – Camp Sunshine
• Mary Lou Whitney’s – Camp Togus
• Cheery Lodge – Lake Placid
• Camp Carolina – Lake Placid
• Dexter Lake – St. Regis Falls
• Wenonah Lodge – Upper Saranac Lake
• Green Bay Camp – Upper Saranac Lake
• Camp Katia – Upper St. Regis
• Camp Gordon – Lake Placid
• Hillgarth – Lake Placid
• The Hedges – Blue Mountain Lake
• Bottle Bay Camp – Upper Saranac Lake
• Camp Solitude – Lake Placid