A century of heritage - the Farmhouse story

Sunlight glittered on rows of yellow wildflowers as Jenn and I crested the long dirt drive toward Farmhouse Snowmobiling & UTVs, just 12 minutes from Saranac Lake (30 from Lake Placid). This family-run spot sits in the heart of some of the Adirondacks’ most scenic farmland. In winter, it’s a local legend for snowmobiling; today, at a cloudless 80°, we were here to test-drive its summertime star: UTV tours.

At the end of the driveway, a hand-painted sign on the side of an expansive farmhouse beckons you around the corner to the red barn that looks like it was built straight out of a storybook. That’s your landmark and the heart of Farmhouse Snowmobiling & UTVs.

Farmhouse takes its name (and that barn) from a very busy past. Back in 1905, this was “The Sisters’ Farm,” feeding patients at the nearby Trudeau Sanitarium. Sometime in the 1960s, it became Asplin’s Christmas Tree Farm, and in the 1990s, when the property went up for sale again, the Freeburg family came along and fell in love with the place and its legacy. 

For three decades, Dick Freeburg wove new life into these pastures—raising a variety of fruits and vegetables for their family and friends, Christmas trees sold for the holidays, and, of course, carving out miles of snowmobile and UTV trails.

Today, under the direction of his son Lee (pictured below), those same fields and woods bring thrill-seekers and nature lovers together for an Adirondack experience that’s equal parts heritage and high-octane fun. Lee's passion for the property and business is evident as he shows us around. “Every year I try to improve and add something new to the experience,” Lee says, and this year is no exception—he's added two larger UTVs to his fleet that offer a more capable and comfortable experience for his guests. 

UTV 101: What exactly is a side-by-side?

“The number one question I get is, ‘What the heck is a UTV?’" Lee chuckles as he shows off his small fleet and goes through our safety briefing. “People think they're ATVs, three or four wheels and you sit on top.” But what Lee offers is an entirely different, and safer, experience. 

Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs), or ‘Side-By-Sides,' are small two-person off-road vehicles with a protective frame that surrounds the occupants and a roof overhead. They’re purpose-built to take people and supplies into wilderness areas other vehicles couldn't go. If you can drive a car, you can drive a UTV, with its simple steering wheel and automatic transmission. Drivers must be at least 16 and possess a valid driver's license, but kids 12 years or older can ride along. If you have any questions at all about requirements, I’d recommend contacting Lee before you book your tour.  

An adventure in three acts - our tour

All tours are guided at Farmhouse, which was fine by me. It allows for more fun and sightseeing and less "Did I go the wrong way?" Helmets on, strapped in, and safety briefing completed, Jenn and I were ready to follow Lee into the woods. I would break the experience down into three parts. The first stop was the original serpentine track the Freeburgs built a decade ago. This one is about the thrills as you twist and wind back and forth amongst the Christmas trees and tall grass, getting a handle on what the UTV can do (and a little grit in your teeth). Pro tip: if your goal is to walk away with less dust in your hair, give the rider in front of you plenty of room.

Having conquered the twisties, we burst out into open farmland. From here, we left the Farmhouse property and headed out on another addition in recent years, several miles of trail that follow the edge of another century-old farm, Tucker Farms. We enjoyed expansive views across the farm and glimpses of Whiteface Mountain and the High Peaks in the distance. Riding through this section is where I felt like I got to sit back and smile, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the magic of a summer afternoon in the Adirondacks. 

From here, the course heads into the woods. For me, this might have been the coolest part. Thick green foliage fills the canopy as the moss-covered forest creeps right up to the edge of the trail. This really captures what being deep in the Adirondack woods feels like, as the branches reach out to gently touch the cab in certain spots. 

The last section of the course brings you back across several fields, offering your final opportunities to enjoy the corn, potatoes, wildflowers, and views as you head back to the big red barn, a beacon in the distance. 

Back at the farm

As we rolled back to the big red barn, Jenn and I slid out of our UTVs and wandered onto the farmhouse porch, where a makeshift shop stocks hats, tees, hoodies, and even bright yellow rain suits. “If it’s wet out, we let riders borrow these,” Lee says with a smile. “The course gets wild in the mud.” While I'm happy we stuck to sunshine for our first ride, I'm sure a rainy day offers a whole new set of thrills!

Rides run about $110 for one person or $120 for two side-by-side (or you can snag shotgun with Lee or one of his guides for $60). It’s a gentle, no-license-needed way to sneak into the Adirondack backcountry and still clock plenty of wide-open-field and deep-woods magic.

Extend your Adirondack day - corn mazes, local brews, and more trails

If you do make it out this way, don’t miss out on some of the other local favorites. Tucker Farms, whose fields you just enjoyed, opens up their famous Corn Maze each fall, and on your way back to town, you can swing by Hex & Hop for a cold, locally crafted draft beer or Teddy's Ice Cream for one of the best cones around. If you want an easy introduction to self-propelled backwoods travel, the Paul Smiths Visitor Interpretive Center is also only 10 minutes away and offers an easy-to-navigate and well-groomed system of hiking trails.