Hidden between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake on 100 acres of Adirondack forest, McKenzie Wilderness Estate is a private, storybook escape—perfect for enchanting lawn ceremonies, sunlit cocktail hours, and tented receptions beneath the stars. Owners Sean and Jessi O’Malley—who tied the knot here first and then built the place they couldn’t find—welcome you and up to 250 guests to celebrate like you’ve stepped into a secret garden.
Our venue manager will team up with you (or connect you with top planners and vendors) to nail every detail. Your package includes full venue access, seating for 250, a clear-topped Losberger De Boer Levo reception tent and matching cocktail tent, dance floor, stage, catering tent, and customizable lighting. Think of McKenzie as your blank canvas—bring the spark, we’ll bring the magic.
Woman-owned Business
2+ years in business
Speaks English
Small team (2-10 members)
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Park
Venue Service Offerings
Rentals & Equipment
Tents
Any questions?
Reviews
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Be the first couple to share your thoughts!
Camera Person 5.0
7/14/25
Glass barn. Hospital fundraiser.
Cathleen Nurse 5.0
1/09/26
I attended a beautiful wedding here. Felt so private and deep in nature all while being just a few minutes away from Lake Placid.
Maureen Swartz 5.0
7/29/25
Jessi and Sean are an absolute dream to work with. So kind and helpful. The venue is absolutely insane, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better wedding. Everything exceeded my expectations. Everyone was so impressed with the venue and how beautiful...
it looked. I can’t recommend McKenzie Wilderness Estate enough!
katie lavoie 5.0
6/16/25
The McKenzie Wilderness Estate was the wedding venue of my dreams! It was so unique compared to any other venue I’ve ever seen before, and the owners make you feel like family. I felt completely connected to nature, surrounded by the most beaut...
iful landscape. If you’re lucky enough to have your ceremony up on the hill with the mountains in the background, that alone will seal the deal and have you looking no further! There is truly nothing like MWE and I highly recommend this venue if you want a wedding people will be raving about for years to come! I continue to receive compliments on how beautiful my venue and my wedding was and that is all thanks to MWE.
Sarah Bartenslager 5.0
6/22/25
WOW!! The McKenzie Wilderness Estate was amazing! Being one of the first weddings at this place, I was amazed at how much the owners did to make sure everything was exactly how we wanted it. Jessi and Sean were so personable and friendly. They ...
made sure everything was where it needed to be when it needed to be there.
MWE is nestled back in the woods off Route 86 in the small town of Ray Brook, NY at the base of the beautiful McKenzie mountain. It’s back far enough in the woods to seclude your wedding from the public and have the privacy you want for your day.
The days leading up to our wedding, were just as amazing as the day itself because of how close the venue is to the historic Town of Lake Placid with all of the activities and views you will need. Between great picturesque locations for those perfect wedding photos to a little getaway after your wedding (multiple highly rated resorts on the lakes) or a nice hike on Whiteface mountain, this venue has everything you will need nearby without being in the hustle and bustle of a tourist town.
Driving into the venue, I was absolutely blown away. The reception building and cocktail tent were plenty big enough to fit all 200 guests and still have enough room for the dance floor. Not to mention the see through roof that will give you the ability to see all of the beautiful landscape surrounding the venue. Sean and Jessi did an amazing job keeping the venue classy but in tune with nature, which is what we were looking for. Not to mention the lady that was driving the golf cart all night back and forth was a RIOT!!! By far the best venue we looked at and would recommend to anyone!
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McKenzie Wilderness Estate
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