Lake Shore Park Info
 

Hi,
I have been a long time lurker on the board and was hoping someone could help me out. My wife and I are interested in finding out more information about Lake Shore park. We have a young family and it seems like a place that we would enjoy now and in the future. If anyone is an owner, knows an owner and/or has visited the community, I would love to hear about your experiences (owners in particular).

Many thanks

Lake Shore Park (LSP)
 

My wife has family there, on my many visits and stays there I know it as a great family spot, many families have been there for multiple generations now and everyone (seems to) know everyone. Many things going on for the adults (band music on weekends, catered events, beach gatherings at night, Fires on beach, street hockey games etc.) also for the kids (didn't go but remember swimming events and sack races and field events etc.).

Big Marina with a waiting list for a slip I believe. Same for the few moorings out front. Beach is 300-400 feet long and gorgeous. Also a second beach (Baby beach) on opposite side of Park. Pavilion for gatherings for the park with various bands, again on weekends. LSP is kept very clean, I think they have City Sewer, Private water & bring your trash to the in-park dumpster station on your way out/home.

Others may be more familiar with ownership, VMC (?) for each home/trailer and I believe each is on leased property.

Very nice place (for the family) but for me to live in LSP, sometimes privacy can come at a premium there, especially on those rough Friday nights when you just need some down time. Can be the Dew Drop Inn.

Good Luck

Thanks Winnilifer, that's some good info.

I've been a member and owner since 1976
 

LSP is a great spot for familes, especially with young kids.

Some of the basics about the way LSP works.

LSP was orginally owned by a series of families, the last was the Spanos family. (I think) They were going to sell the property to one of two companies that wanted the property for Condo development.

A group of the renters that had been at LSP for many years proposed to buy the park rather than see it sold and everyone being thrown out to make way for Condo Developement.

The Family agreed to a sale to the group for somthing around $2M.

More info here.. http://www.lakeshorepark.org/

There are 310 "owners" in LSP. each owner has a VMC (Voting Member Certificate) that makes them 1/310th owner of LSP.

Members own their building, but not the land it sits on.

Each VMC holder pays annual dues (currently around $1,800)

Members pay real estate tax to the Town of Gilford, but just on the accessed value of the building. The land and "common building" are taxed by the town, but the LSP Association pays that bill out of the $1,000 annual dues paid by the VMC Holders.

When an owner sells, he/she can sell the cottage/building for what ever they can get for it. The new owner then MUST buy the selling owners VMC, but only for face value. (that's how LSP stays a Not for Profit Social Club.)

When you check out the website, contact me, I'd be glad to "show you around LSP" ,

Just send me a Private Message here on Winni.com and I'll get back to you to answer any other questions you have.

SteveA

Got to ask...
 

....Steve, have you ever seen a cabin with a sign on it saying "Wee Hoose" ? My Mom's Uncle Jim Foster had the cabin, and actually had it when all you had was a platform with a tent. Uncle Jim was from Arbroath Scotland, hence the name (wee hoose, wee house, small house). As a 3 or 4 month old, I came up to Lake Shore Park for the first time, and have coming Upthesaukee or living Upthesaukee ever since.

Yes! I clearly remember a cottage over near the area of the footbridge called the Wee-House. (Hoose). There has been so many of the old places torn down, and re-built as newer more "modern" cottages. LSP went through a period of "re-location" wereas people were allowed to re-locate to the area at the far end of LSP that abutes the Samoset property. The deal was, to stay with the limit of 310 members and 310 VMC's, you had to tear down your place in the designated "congested" area and claim a spot in that area to rebuild a new "cottage".

LSP has, as part of the deal with the Town of Gilford, and the courts,lives with a limit on the size of the new cottages. Framed buildings can't exceed the 540' square foot rule. (Your cottage can not exceed 540' sg feet. outside measurement)

What has been allowed is "building" into the side of a bank. Some of the more hilly spots in LSP now have 3 story "cottages" that have been plugged into these bankings, with 3 stories and still complying with the "540" outside measurement rule. Add a 200 square foot enclosed "deck" (which is allowed) some folks have gotten to close to a 2000 sq foot "cottage". Many of these cottages have become year round homes. I think at last count there are about 40 full timers.

The mobil homes have limits that are similar, I believe they are limited to 14'X52' , also with the limit of a 200 sq foot "deck" that can be enclosed as long as it has X amount of windows (don't remember the actual amount of glass that must be on the "deck portion" )

The trend at LSP is leaning towards more and more full timers. LSP allowed the state to run the sewer lines through the property, so the park is all on the sewer, which eliminated the awful septic system that LSP had for many years.

As a very new family in LSP I would simply say, it's fantastic, especially with the little kids. Every weekend is something else going on and the sense of community here is outstanding. If you can get in here, get in and then enjoy the next couple of decades as everyone else before us has. We talk to people who have been going to LSP for 20-30 years and more and they all say the same thing, that the charm and draw of LSP never wears off. It really is a special little place IMO...

znh, do you mind if I PM you with some more questions?

Nope not at all :D