Originally known as Murphy's Friends Lake Inn, this landmark Inn was built in the 1860's as a boarding house. It provided a "home away from home" for men working in the local tannery, a primary industry of early Chestertown, New York; a small town in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.

By the Prohibition Era, the Inn had become one of a number of popular Adirondack summer retreats, particularly for New Yorkers looking for a break from the hot, crowded city. Horse-drawn carriages transported guests who disembarked from the New York-North Creek train at the "Glen" rail stop (now Route 28) to the Inn. Guests came for the summer to enjoy quiet days at the lake and nights of dancing and revelry at the "Grill" (as the Bar was fondly known), once located across the street. As car travel became a way of life, motels became the preferred lodging for vacationers in the Lake George area, ending the glory days of the Adirondack grand hotels. A victim of the times, the Friends Lake Inn closed in 1969 and remained vacant for 15 years.

In 1984, the inn was purchased and began a massive renovation project.  Fine wine became the focus of the Inn, personal interest along with an appreciation of how fine wines naturally augment good food. The Inn's wine list soon became comprehensive and is now internationally recognized with over 2,000 selections. Like the exceptional quality of the wine list, the dining also improved and is now considered one of the most delightful eclectic dining experiences in the Northeast.

In August 1997 the Friends Lake Inn won the prestigious "Grand Award" from the Wine Spectator Magazine. Late in 1998 it won the DiRoNA award (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) for exemplary dining.

Today, with 17 guest rooms, the Friends Lake Inn has become a complete, elegant country inn. For recreation, the Inn also added its own Ski Touring Center in 1993. 20 km of groomed (some tracked) trails wind through the woods, and are open for hiking (sorry, no mountain biking) in the summer. Additional facilities include small meeting rooms, a waterfront area on Friends Lake, and an outdoor sauna and gazebo overlooking the frog pond. 1996 improvements included the creation of a Wine and Beer Bar/Bistro area, landscaping to the grounds and parking area, and the conversion the rear apartment into two magnificent Adirondack Lodge Rooms. These rooms feature large stone fireplaces, twig furniture, and rustic ambiance. Also completed that year is the popular private dining room in the Wine Cellar, seating up to 14 guests in candlelit comfort. The improvements of 1997 and 1998 were the renovation and redecoration of the rooms to create a more luxurious atmosphere. An extensive landscaping project was started on the grounds to enhance the natural surroundings with perennial gardens.

As the Friends Lake Inn continues to evolve, Innkeepers, John and Trudy Phillips continue to recreate the atmosphere, charm, and hospitality that the Murphy Family began over 100 years ago. The physical restorations are as accurate as possible, while providing all the comforts of the modern era.