From Derek Jeter to Madison Square Garden… at Lake George

Even on vacation, there is always a sports story to be found if you're a sports writer.

My family and I recently found that out while spending some time in Lake George. We took a ride aboard one of the historic steam-powered vessels that cruise the lake, expecting to learn about the area's beautiful homes, scenery and history.

We certainly got all of that.

What I didn't expect was to stumble into a little piece of New York sports history.

As we cruised past the stretch of spectacular homes known as "Millionaire's Row," our tour included stories about some of the incredible properties that line the lake. These aren't your typical summer homes. We're talking massive estates that look like they belong in another era, with architecture and histories that are almost as impressive as the views.

One of the stories that caught my attention was about a property that Derek Jeter reportedly considered purchasing.

That's become something of a Lake George legend. I've heard the story for years, and apparently it's common lore around these parts. The details, however, are a little harder to nail down.

Some versions of the story say Jeter wanted a helipad on the property and that became an issue. Others suggest he simply decided he wouldn't use the home enough to justify the purchase.

Either way, that's the kind of story that makes you wonder how close the former Yankees captain came to becoming a Lake George neighbor.

But while the Jeter story is fun, the real sports history along Millionaire's Row might be even more fascinating.

One of the architectural giants associated with the area was Stanford White, the renowned architect who helped design the original Madison Square Garden. White also designed one of the magnificent properties along the lake, adding an unexpected New York sports connection to an already remarkable piece of real estate.

The home, known as Wikiosco — meaning "home on beautiful waters" in Algonquin — is a Tudor Revival-style masterpiece built in 1895 for Royal C. Peabody, founder of Brooklyn Edison.

And calling it a house almost doesn't do it justice.

The seven-bedroom, 12-bathroom property encompasses approximately 20,000 square feet and is estimated to be worth $12.9 million. The property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is packed with features that sound more like amenities at a luxury resort than a private residence.

There's a 4,000-bottle wine cellar, a 12-car garage, two covered boathouses and a heated outdoor pool. The property also includes an elevator, a two-bedroom guest cottage, a tennis court and a Nautilus exercise room complete with a steamer, sauna and locker rooms.

That's quite a summer home.

For me, though, the coolest part wasn't the wine cellar, the pool or the unbelievable views. It was discovering that tucked into the history of this beautiful stretch of Lake George was a connection to one of the most important architects in New York history — a man whose work helped shape Madison Square Garden.

That's the funny thing about being a sports writer.

You can take a vacation, climb aboard a steamship and spend the afternoon looking at million-dollar mansions, and somehow you still end up finding a sports story.

I wouldn't have it any other way.