Admission:
History Tour: $22.00
History Tour & Lunch*: $48.95
*Extend your time with us and enjoy a meal in our historic, lakeside Dining Hall. Click below to register for this event and see the option to add a meal reservation. Advance registration required. Subject to availability.
Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks’ Traditional Arts Demonstrations are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Demonstrations are included as a special segment of our daily History Tour, for a limited time only during the listed dates.
Join us for a special artisan woodcarving demonstration with master carvers Rick and Ellen Bütz and experience the timeless art of carving in the heart of the Adirondacks.
With more than 40 years of combined experience, Rick and Ellen bring extraordinary skill, warmth, and storytelling to their work. Rick is known nationally for his long-running PBS series, Woodcarving with Rick Bütz, where his clear instruction and deep respect for traditional handicraft have inspired generations of carvers. Ellen wrote the scripts and served as production coordinator for six seasons of the Public Television show, and she is also one of Sagamore’s beloved historical tour guides. Her knowledge of camp history and Adirondack culture adds rich context to the craft, connecting each carving to the broader story of the region’s artisans, guides, and makers.
Rick & Ellen Bütz
Rick: After 25 years in a successful woodcarving business, Richard chose a lateral transition into a new career. He gained acceptance into Albany Medical College and became a Physician Assistant. He had the pleasure of serving our Veterans medical needs for many years, retiring in 2016 to return to woodcarving. It has been a valuable and rewarding experience.
Ellen: As a full-time woodcarver Ellen co-authored and photographed 7 instructional books on carving. She wrote the scripts and acted as production coordinator for six seasons of the Public Television show Woodcarving with Rick Bütz. In 1997 she became Executive Director of the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts. In 2006 she accepted the position of Executive Director of the Lower Adirondack Region Arts Council in Glens Falls. In this role she increased funding for regional arts programs, and partnered with government and business leaders to promote community economic development through the arts. She retired in 2016 to return to the life of a working artist.