The Stagecoach Inn Mates

at Your Service!

  • Meet Chef William Darrah, our brilliant and creative Executive Chef —

    The skillful dishes he serves up have made the dining experience at The Stagecoach Inn second to none for almost four years now. Just ask our patrons who always come back for more.

    William calls Saranac Lake home, where he grows fresh herbs that often find their way into his recipes. With a deep appreciation for seasonal ingredients and scratch-made cooking, he brings warmth, creativity, and local soul to every plate he serves at the Inn.

  • Meet Samantha, the Swiss Army Knife Innkeeper of The Stagecoach Inn —

    She’s the one who graciously greets you at the door, senses if you need a cocktail or hot tea, and then settles you in to make sure you are cozy and well taken care of during your stay. In the morning Sam makes a delicious breakfast to order, in the afternoon whips up sophisticated cocktails behind the bar, and at night you might find her prepping in the kitchen or serving you at your table — all with style, grace, and her welcoming smile!

  • Meet Lilly, our Chief Hostess with the mostess!

    Her mouth-watering descriptions of our menu offerings are almost as good as the actual meal. Lilly’s passion and knowledge of every offering on our menu along with the perfect accompanying libation contribute to making your meal a dining “experience.” Lilly has been at the Inn since day one of the restaurant’s debut and her gentle smile is always on display to greet our patrons.

A welcome note from the Proprietress, Kelly LaHart Collins

Some places stay with you. Others call you back. Lake Placid has always been both for me, a place where family, friends, memories & magic meet in the mountains.

After a 40-year career working in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the world shifted, and my heart found its way home. I grew up four hours south of Lake Placid in Cortland, NY, but like a homing pigeon, we journeyed here many times every year to be with my mom’s wonderful extended family. It was the only place on Earth where we had a critical mass of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins.

I loved coming here, but my famously fun family didn’t solely fuel it. It was melting into the woods, climbing every new peak, bushwhacking with my uncles, kayaking the Ausable River, cross-country skiing on a full moon eve, skating frozen ponds, and introducing my friends to the magic of the Adirondacks in the fall. It was in this manner, over many years, that Lake Placid became my “emotional home.”

The ability to work remotely that emerged during COVID allowed me to pursue a lifelong dream: buying a home here in Placid.

I named it Lochloosa Lodge, after the first line of a song I love by Florida blues musician JJ Grey, who beautifully captures the feeling of missing the childhood town of your dreams: “Homesick, but it’s all right. Lochloosa is on my mind, she’s on my mind…”

As I re-acquainted myself with Lake Placid, I discovered that the Stagecoach Inn had evolved into a fine dining restaurant, building on its long history as a bed & breakfast owned by family friends. I had stayed there many times — and even held my engagement party there back in 1991!

The first night I joined friends for dinner, we struck up a conversation in the bar with other diners, and all ended up eating together in the Osgood Room — sharing spirited conversation and an incredible meal. The staff was so attentive and accommodating that evening, and the descriptions of the cuisine were so compelling and inventive, only to be surpassed by the actual meal itself: summer melon gazpacho, duck two ways, and poached pear in puff pastry. The whole experience felt like a bit of magic.

So a year later, when my favorite restaurant and inn was offered for sale, it felt like a real-life “dream come true.”

This little inn lies in a special place — in a beloved, hardy hamlet known for harsh winters, pristine summers, and radiant fall colors — and has stood the test of time and travelers from 1780 to today. For the past four years, it has also been home to a special kind of culinary and hospitality magic created by Chef William Darrah, our brilliant and creative Executive Chef; Samantha, our thoughtful and gracious innkeeper; and Lilly, our passionate and knowledgeable Food & Libation Chief Hostess. This team has created an exceptional brand of intimate fine dining, and I’m committed to preserving it just as it is. My vision is to enhance your experience by encouraging you to “linger longer.” Sip a cocktail on the porch. Play a spirited game of backgammon. Enjoy a long conversation with a stranger. Sing along at the s’more pit under the stars!

When I was young, I met the famous local songstress Kate Smith (of God Bless America fame!) who had a beautiful camp on Buck Island on Lake Placid. My grandparents would tell stories of hearing her sing across the lake at night from their little rustic camp — and how much they loved those memories. In tribute to those times, our three suites are named after Kate Smith, my grandfather, The Devlin Suite, and my grandmother, The LaHart Suite. Our fourth room, The Dewey Suite, honors Melville Dewey (of Dewey Decimal fame!).

I hope that you experience a little mountain magic yourself, and that the Stagecoach Inn welcomes you with a warm embrace — whether you join us for camaraderie at the bar, a special celebration over a wonderful meal, or rest here overnight as so many weary travelers have done through the years.

Oh, if these walls could talk..! Here’s to the many stories yet to be written — ones I’m beyond honored to be a part of. 

-Kelly LaHart Collins
Chatelaine de la Maison
& Proud Owner of The Stagecoach Inn