Frequently Asked Questions

As much as we would love to allow guests to bring their pets, we are afraid that our insurance agency is very strict. In today's litigious society, we need to play it safe and are unable to allow pets on the property.

During the first year of operation we made a few exceptions for "small, well-trained, quiet pets that don't shed" and it was a big mistake. The "quiet" pet barked all night- disturbing guests in the tent.  And the so-called well-trained dog ripped up a cabin and shed all over the sofa.

As much as we love pets, we sadly are forced to have a "no pets under any circumstances" policy in effect.

However, there are some very nice kennels for cats and dogs in the area ("Countryside Kennel" is 5 minutes away) and local pet sitters can be found at www.rover.com.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

If you like sailboats, saunas & starry nights,

If you like a little wine, rocking chairs & wrap around porches,

If you like campfires, the sound of crickets & evening breeze 

If your family likes getting up early, going offline and getting outdoors,

. . . then you will love Silverlaken!

If you like jet skis, cases of beer and late nights,

If you prefer highways to dirt roads and Ubers to tractors,

If you need satellite TV & high-speed internet,

. . . then we politely encourage you to seek accommodations elsewhere.

THE “NO’s” TO KNOW

• Absolutely NO SMOKING indoors.
• NO PETS allowed on property – we love pets but the insurance company doesn’t.
• Absolutely NO UNREGISTERED GUESTS – day or night.
• Absolutely NO DRUGS of any kind.
• Enjoy alcohol responsibly, absolutely NO INEBRIATION.
• NO BARE FEET outside your rental unit (on land & water) as sharp rocks, shells and leaches are occasional found in freshwater lakes of Western NY.
• NO TRASH LEFT OUTSIDE. Please leave trash in the designated trash bins to avoid bad smells and attracting unwanted animals.

Quiet Hours For the comfort of our guest, we are serious about tranquility:

• Quiet Hours are in effect from 9 P.M. to 9 A.M.
• No loud music, raised voices or screaming kids at any hour.
• Parents should watch their children at all times.
• Bluetooth speakers and similar devices are not to be used inside or outside during quiet hours.

In advance of your booking, so that you are familiar with the estate, its infrastructure and rules, please visit this page to download  “Important Notes for Guests” which covers the following items:

• Welcome letter from your hosts
• History of the Silverlaken estate & the Silver Lake Sea Serpent
• Map & Parking
• Communications
• Covid Related Items/ Medical
• The “No’s” To Know & Quiet Hours
• Bedding & Housekeeping
• Check In & Check Out
• Trash & Recycling
• Solar Power/ Electric
• Shared Spaces: Sauna, Firepits & Campfire Wood
• Special Notes for Water Activities: Boats/ Docks/Fishing Drinking Water Farmland/ Wild Animals/ Mosquitoes & Poison Ivy
• Things to see & do nearby: Letchworth Park, Village of Perry, Public Beach
• Groceries & Where to eat near Silverlake
• Sunday Church Service
• Unique/Local Gifts & Souvenirs
• Kid Friendly Places
• Bike Maps

Registered guests are warmly welcome to use the following infrastructure (free of charge) found in the common area:

• Sauna
• Campfire pits
• BBQ grills & picnic areas
• Horseshoes & Tetherball
• Kayaks & Paddleboards
• Fishing

Visit here for an overview of the infrastructure, including boats, sauna, campfires and much more.

Silverlaken is minutes away from Letchworth park and much more. See "Things to do, see and eat nearby".

Click here to learn about the history, ownership, renovations, environmental stewardship and much more.

Yes, but probably not the monster you have in mind.  Check out the facts here.

Refund Policy:  Airbnb vs Direct Booking

The two have very different refund policies in the event of a cancellation or change.

Cancellation Policy for Airbnb Bookings

As Airbnb sets the refund policy, if you have made a booking or wish to make a booking via Airbnb, please check the listing for details.

Cancellation Policy for Direct Bookings made at Silverlaken.com

Because our Winters are so long and the vacation season is so short in Western NY, we have a fairly strict cancellation policy and are unable to substitute dates or swap rental units once the booking has been made. Please consider the following before making a booking:

• Full refund (minus payment processing fee) for cancellations made within 48 hours of booking, if the check-in date is at least 30 days away.
• 50% refund (minus payment processing fee) for cancellations made at least 20 days before check-in.
• No refunds for cancellations made within 20 days of Check-in. This includes, but is not limited to inclement weather, changes in travel plans, medical issues, personal reasons, etc. We appreciate your understanding.

Important:

Please note that the banks and credit card companies apply the processing fee to both the original payment and the refund when booking direct.  That means even a full refund will be the total amount minus 2x the processing fee of 3% or 6% in total!

Cancellation Policy due to Weather Events

Please note bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable after the closure of the cancellation window, despite any inclement weather.

All rental units, including tents, are engineered to handle typical wind and rain.  Most, but not all rental units are heated.  Please read listing notes carefully before making your booking.

• Most fixed-walled rental units have heating.
• Most fixed-walled rental units + the two canvas cabins have air conditioning.
• Lake Tents do not have electric, heating or cooling.  The lake breeze helps cool the tents in the summer and a rechargeable fan is provided as well.  Blankets are provided in the cooler times of year, but guests should consider bringing extra blankets when the temperatures are low.
• Bubble Tents and Canvas Cabins are not heated but electric heat blankets are provided for extra comfort in the cool seasons.
• Canvas Cabins stay cool most evenings, thanks to the breeze off the lake. Fans and air conditioners are provided for the occasional muggy night mid-summer.

Covid Cancellation Policy

Please be sure to abide by current New York State mask & social distancing parameters; especially when in shared spaces such as campfire, waterfront and/or bathhouse.

As the rental units are cleaned before each guest’s arrival, please do not enter any other tents, rental units or buildings, other than the ones you have booked.

Guests testing positive for Covid are not allowed on the Estate. Guest showing Covid-like symptoms should stay at home or see a doctor.

We understand the pandemic is unpredictable and we will do our best to remain flexible with the refund policy should a member of your group come down with Covid after the cancellation deadline has passed. For example, if we are able to fill the opening with other guests, we will gladly offer a full refund (minus any payment processing fees).

Forgive the long answer to this frequently asked question. We want to be very transparent with our guests about the pros and cons of Airbnb vs Booking Direct. We are happy to pull the curtains back and shine some light on the platform fees and cancellation policies.  Rather than force the guest in one direction, we prefer to explain all the options in great detail, so you can select the best fit for your particular situation.

Room Rates:  Airbnb vs Direct Booking

While the Airbnb algorithm adjusts prices up or down based on supply and demand at any given time, generally speaking, direct bookings are 8 to 15% less than booking via Airbnb. But direct bookings have a much stricter refund policy.

Direct booking rates are fixed in advance for the super peak, peak, high and low seasons. It is possible to find a last-minute deal if you book via Airbnb, but if you wait too long and there is an event in town or holiday, the Airbnb rates could be significantly higher. Guests with bookings made via Airbnb will enjoy the same access to Silverlaken Infrastructure and receive the same high level of customer service from Silverlaken staff.

Refund Policy:  Airbnb vs Direct Booking

The two have very different refund policies in the event of a cancellation or change.

Cancellation Policy for Airbnb Bookings

As Airbnb sets the refund policy, if you have made a booking or wish to make a booking via Airbnb, please check the listing for details.

Cancellation Policy for Direct Bookings made at Silverlaken.com

Because our Winters are so long and the vacation season is so short in Western NY, we have a fairly strict cancellation policy and are unable to substitute dates or swap rental units once the booking has been made. Please consider the following before making a booking:

• Full refund (minus payment processing fee) for cancellations made within 48 hours of booking, if the check-in date is at least 30 days away.
• 50% refund (minus payment processing fee) for cancellations made at least 20 days before check-in.
• No refunds for cancellations made within 20 days of Check-in. This includes, but is not limited to inclement weather, changes in travel plans, medical issues, personal reasons, etc. We appreciate your understanding.

Important:

Please note that the banks and credit card companies apply the processing fee to both the original payment and the refund when booking direct.  That means even a full refund will be the total amount minus 2x the processing fee of 3% or 6% in total!

Payment Methods

The only way to pay via Airbnb is to use a credit card.

Direct booking allows for payment via check, cash or credit card.  Credit card payments up to $1,500 are accepted online at www.Silverlaken.com.  Please call us if you wish to pay via check, cash or credit card payments over $1,500.  We will be happy to hold your reservation while the check clears.

Bottom Line: Airbnb vs Direct Booking

Book direct on this website with a credit card if you are confident your dates won't change and your booking value is less than $1,500.

Book direct with a phone call and arrange to pay with cash/check or if your booking value is greater than $1,500.

Consider booking via Airbnb:

• If you think you may need to change or cancel your reservation at a later date, as Airbnb's cancellation period is more flexible than direct bookings and Airbnb doesn't charge the processing fee when a cancellation is made, if that cancellation is made within the agreed cancellation period.
• If you are spending more than $1,500 but prefer to use a credit card rather than cash or check.

Limiting the campsites to only registered guests allows us to maintain a safe and quiet environment with sufficient access to infrastructure such as watercraft, BBQ grills, propane, hot water, sauna, parking, electric and plumbing.

Our insurance policy, zoning regulations and campground rules each require that all guests are registered and contact information collected when booking is made.  Zoning limits the number of guests allowed onsite. As such, we generally do not allow additional guests or visitors of registered guests, unless agreed in advance.

Exceptions are sometimes made during non-peak periods when the camp occupancy is not near capacity.  Arrangements should be made well in advance and a non-refundable, visitor’s fee is applicable and due in advance.

Hot Water, Toilets, Heat & AC

Many rental units have plumbing, hot water, heating and cooling.

Some rental units have plumbing but not climate control.

Some rental units, like the bubble tent and boathouse have external bathrooms with hot water for their exclusive use.

Some rental units, like the lake tents, have no plumbing, no climate control nor electric. Guests use the common area for toilets, showers and access to electric.

Please read the listing notes carefully before making a booking if having heat, air conditioning and a private bathroom is important to you.

For your comfort and the protection of the environment, the Silverlaken Estate does not use any composting toilets or septic systems.  All are flush toilets, connected to the municipal sewer system.

Internet Access

In order to provide an experience focused on outdoor activities and to help guests “get unplugged”, we have intentionally not hooked up Cable/Satellite TV/ High Speed Internet. The password to our free (but very slow) wi-fi network is provided in advance of check-in.

Note on Cell & Data Connectivity

Our part of Wyoming county (Perry, Silver Lake, Castile) has 4G coverage in the majority of areas and 5G in a few locations.  For example, on the west half of the Silverlaken Estate there is 5G while the eastern half is limited to 4G coverage due to location of the towers and topography of the land.

• If your phone is set for “5G only” then you will experience dead spots in coverage along the waterfront at Silverlaken as well as downtown Perry.
• Unfortunately, letting your phone automatically bounce between 4G or 5G causes problems as the Estate straddles the border between the two networks. Many phones take up to 15 minutes to reset each time the border is crossed. If you are walking around camp, it may feel like you don’t have any coverage for hours at a time. In reality the phone is constantly toggling back and forth between 4G and 5G.

Solution:  Go to “mobile networks” under your phone settings.  Select “LTE/CDMA” which is another name for “4G”.   Lock in 4G for your vacation then switch back to “Global” (5G) when you leave the area.  This simple solution works on most phones.

Silverlaken is an ideal option for groups wishing to stay together in a private setting at a single location. The 5-acre site with 430 feet of lake frontage is large enough to comfortably house bigger groups, yet the professionally designed landscaping, with heavy emphasis on green buffer zones, fosters a sense of privacy among the rental units and within the neighborhood.nnWeddings, reunions, corporate training, church fellowship and other events are warmly welcome, but please note:

• Preference is given to groups who stay a full week.
• Groups that return each year on the same date are given top preference.
• Groups wishing to book the estate during the peak season holidays are advise to book at least 12 months in advance.
• We are serious about quiet hours, so Silverlaken is not the place to host a party.
• The entire Estate should be booked if you wish to host an event on-site. Book well in advance to ensure your date is available. Your private group will have full access to the infrastructure as no other groups will be on-site during your dates.
• To ensure the infrastructure is not stressed, all guests should be registered in advance, even if not spending the night.
• The group size is constrained by parking, restrooms and other infrastructure issues.
• Guest are not allowed to bring their own tents or RV’s.
• Additional deposits and cleaning fees may be applicable.

Contact us to discuss the best way to arrange your event.

Silverlaken is in a quiet neighborhood on a small lake where the sounds of crickets and frogs fill the typical night.

Even if you rent the entire estate and there are no other guests to disturb, we are still very serious about quiet hours, as a courtesy to our neighbors who are friends, law enforcement, first responders and government officials.

Quiet hours are in effect for all guests (including those who have booked the entire estate) from 9 P.M. to 9 A.M.

• Campfires should be extinguished before midnight.
• No loud music, raised voices or screaming kids at any hour.
• Bluetooth speakers and similar devices are not to be used inside or outside during quiet hours.

Put bluntly, Silverlaken is not the place to host a party, after-party, after-after-party or even a pre-party. Sorry.

Wedding groups, reunions, corporate training, church fellowship and other events that understand and respect the above polices are warmly welcome, but please note that the person who made the booking is responsible for enforcing the quiet hours policy among their group.  And per the booking agreement, the entire group will be asked to leave, regardless of the hour, without refund, should the above polices be abused.

Registered guests are welcome to dock (free of charge) during daylight hours and during normal weather at Silverlaken.  First come first severe. Book in advance.

As the docks are light weight residential grade, guests should plan to overnight at the local marina or use the launch ramp at the State Park to pull out for the night or heavy weather in the day.

Overnight parking for vehicle and trailer is available at Silverlaken when confirmed in advance.

Share a picture of your boat and we will advise on a suitable daytime dock slip at Silverlaken based on water level at that time.

Please note that guests are responsible for using and securing their craft safely. Guest takes full legal and financial responsibility for any damage or injury to boat, docks, other boats, infrastructure and persons.

Swimming

Due to insurance and safety reasons, we do not offer a swimming area at Silverlaken, but guests are welcome to paddle out and cool off via the complementary kayaks and paddleboards.  The Perry Public Beach is just a few miles away at the North East end of the lake as well.

Lake Water Quality

Silver Lake is fed primarily by underwater springs and enjoys clear water. However, the clear water allows sunlight to reach the lakebed and this allows lake grass to grow, especially in the late Summer.   Luckily, Silverlaken happens have a gravel lakebed which prevents the lake grass from growing as dense as most places on the lake.

However, in mid to late Summer, you will most likely need to paddle out past the docks another 20 feet into deeper water to get past the lake grass.

Silverlaken has constructed multiple decorative ponds, not just for scenic beauty, but because they also catch the excess nutrients from the farms upstream before it hits the lake.

The lake grass is an essential part of the lake’s ecosystem as it provides coverage for smaller fish to hide from predators, for example.  It is not feasible nor environmentally sound to cut lake grass like a lawn.

Unlike other lakes in the area, Silver Lake has not experienced a harmful algae bloom in a decade, despite global warming.  The areas farmers employee state of the art, precision farming to manage the amount of nutrients going into the fields.  Also, in 1979, the cottage owners joined together and built a municipal sewer system around the entire lake.  This ended the days of septic systems leaking into the lake.

The lake “turns over” a few times a year. This is also a natural phenomenon and not to be confused with harmful algae blooms.

Simply put, lake turnover is the seasonal mixing of the entire water column. For many lakes deeper than about 20 feet, distinct, thermally stratified layers of water form during the seasons. These layers prevent the lake from mixing and aerating. However, when temperature or wind conditions are just right, the layers are mixed and nutrients rise to the surface where they react with sunlight to turn the lake surface a light green for a few days before the system resets itself.

Silver Lake turnovers are notoriously hard to predict but generally don’t occur more than 3 times per year for a few weeks in total.

You may find small panfish (perch, sunfish, bluegill, rock bass) right under the docks at Silverlaken! Depending on your fishing skills, you may not be able to catch them, but you can almost always see them!

Larger game fish (smallmouth bass, northern pike) inhabit the deeper water about 50 feet off the shore, along the weed bed.  You may be able to cast from the docks out to the edge of the lake grass depending on the season. Kayaks can also be used.

A valid New York State fishing license is required for ages 16 and up.

While guests are welcome to fish off our docks, we kindly request you:

1. Please do not fillet your fish at Silverlaken. This will prevent nuisance smells and avoid attracting animals into camp.
2. Never dispose of fish guts on the Estate grounds or trash bins.
3. Guests must be very careful when fishing from our shore or docks to never leave sharp hooks and tackle on the ground.
4. Please be careful with your casting to avoid snagging tents, inflatable boats, boat canvas or even yourself and others!

If you are serious about fishing, the Silver Lake State Park at South End of the lake offers 1000 feet of shoreline, more suitable for fishing than Silverlaken.

Our guests have remained safe and dry despite major storms and micro-bursts experienced to date.  Obviously, a tent doesn’t provide the same protection as house with a fixed foundation and basement.  And even a basement is not guaranteed safe in extreme events like a tornado.

As such, guests are encouraged to monitor the weather reports during their trip and be prepared to leave the area on short notice if they feel necessary.  The Sauna cabin is the heaviest building on site (that is always unlocked) in the event you are unable to leave the area when the emergency networks advise you to seek immediate protection from high winds and similar events.  Tent guests may consider riding out lightening and hail storms in their car or the Sauna Cabin.

Remember:

• Most lightning storms pass over in a matter of minutes.
• Most storms blow out of the west in this part of NY.
• If the time between when you see the lightening and when you hear it is getting longer with each strike, then the storm is moving away from you.

For more information visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/lightning/safetytips.html