The open-air bowling pavilion at Great Camp Sagamore, in the Adirondacks of New York, was constructed in 1911 atop a 6-foot tall concrete slab. The wood lanes have remained remarkably level despite a century of exposure to the elements and weather extremes.
Camp Sagamore was the lakeside getaway of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt and his second wife, Margaret Emerson. Sagamore was one of several Adirondack Great Camps - resorts and summer retreats built for the enjoyment of the rich and famous of the time.
Alfred and Margaret were "sporty" people and wanted to expand the resort to include areas for friendly athletic competitions between guests, says Sagamore historian Robert Engel. The couple enjoyed entertaining beautiful, influential and famous people at their lakeside retreat. A popular way of entertaining was to hold organized sports competitions, pitting guests against one another. Bowling, tennis and croquet were all offered, and famous regulars included composer Jerome Kern, actor Gary Cooper and General George C. Marshall.