It’s off the main drag on Beach Road in Lake George where the mark of longtime mayor Robert Blais may be most apparent: the popular lakefront walkway to Million Dollar Beach that opened a view of the lake.

The project took into account input from shop owners along the strip and took 12 years to complete.

“Takes me a bit longer to get things done, but we like to think we did it right," said Blais.


What You Need To Know

  • Lake George Mayor Robert Blais has been in office for more than 50 years

  • He's currently the longest-serving mayor in the country

  • Blais plans to retire in April 2023

For over half a century, Blais has led the village. That's longer than any other mayor currently serving in the United States.

While he's stuck around longer than most, Blais said getting in to politics was more of an accident than a plan. In 1971, at 33 years old, he wanted to change his community.

“It wasn’t a friendly place for families to come," said Blais.

He combated the village’s negative reputation for riots and underage drinking with family festivals and beautification, encouraging a bustling tourism industry.

“I believe there’s two types of politicians," said Blais. "There are caretakers and there’s movers and shakers.”

When he entered office, there was one lone community event each year, a band concert. Under Blais’ leadership, annual special events have increased to more than 100.

“There’s never been a bad year in Lake George," said Blais. "There’s good, better best and best ever.”

Blais believes the best ever was 2021. In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the village saw an increase in tourism.

The village is estimated to bring in around $2 billion annually, but Blais quantifies success by tracking water usage, booked motel rooms and parking meters. the village is home to only around 1,000 residents, Blais says an average summer night hosts 25,000 tourists.

While he knows constant visitors can sometimes be bothersome to residents, village taxes haven't gone up in 10 years because of the tourism revenue.

But there have been struggles, too. Blais is on the heels of what he calls the most stressful summer in his career.

“To try to prove to the people in 90 days that this village was worth keeping,” he said, “and happily, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the village. I believe it was a great vote of confidence for all that we've done here in the past many years.”

Securing the village will remain its own municipality, Blais says it’s time to turn the reigns over to someone new. He plans to retire April 1, 2023, at the end of his 13th term.

"I hope when they think about it, they smile first and then I hope they take [an] opportunity to enjoy what we have here in the village," said Blais.