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Peter Hornbeck leaves behind lasting Adirondack legacy

Hornbeck boatbuilder dies at 77.
Peter Hornbeck was known for his lightweight canoes and his storytelling. Photo by Tom Curley
Peter Hornbeck telling a story.
"He was a guy who would give you the shirt off his back and you wouldn’t have to ask him for it," said longtime friend Tom Bessette. "He made you feel special." Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck Boats
Customers visited Hornbeck Boats in Olmstedville to try out canoes on the pond and visit with Founder Peter "Pete" Hornbeck. "All sorts of different people drove through the gates," said Peter Bauer, executive director of Protect the Adirondacks. "It was a festive atmosphere." Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck Boats
Some of the boats designed by Hornbeck are as light as 12 pounds. Photo by Tom Curley
LEAG on a camping trip in the Adirondack Park with Pete Hornbeck.
Peter Hornbeck was a founding member of the League of Extraordinary Adirondack Gentlemen LEAG, a group of men who got together to paddle and camp in the Adirondacks. Photo by Tom Curley
Boatbuilder Peter Hornbeck
Out for a paddle with the LEAG on Middle Saranac Lake. Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck painting
Watercolors by Peter Hornbeck depicted Adirondack scenes and people enjoying them.
Hornbeck painting
Hornbeck painting.
Hornbeck painting
A fan recently purchased original Hornbeck paintings used in magazine advertisements.
Hornbeck painting
Hornbeck painting
Hornbeck painting
Hornbeck painting
Hornbeck painting
Hornbeck painting
Hornbeck boatbuilder Peter Hornbeck dies
In 2018, Pete Hornbeck retired from Hornbeck Boats to be creative director and “president for life,” turning the business over to son-in-law Josh Trombley. Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck Boats
Iconic boatbuilder Peter Hornbeck loved to be on the water himself. Photo by Tom Curley
Pete Hornbeck dies at 77
Peter Hornbeck in his shop earlier this year. Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck
Hornbeck taught members of the LEAG to build a boat at his shop this fall. Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck
Building a boat with Pete Hornbeck. Photo by Tom Curley
A camping trip with Pete Hornbeck and the League of Extraordinary Adirondack Gentlemen. Photo by Tom Curley
A camping trip with Pete Hornbeck and the League of Extraordinary Adirondack Gentlemen. Photo by Tom Curley
The LEAG at Santanoni. Photo by Tom Curley
The LEAG at Santanoni. Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck
A LEAG camping trip always included Hornbeck boats. At Santanoni. Photo by Tom Curley
Hornbeck
2020's LEAG adventure was the make a boat with Peter Hornbeck at his shop in Olmstedville. Photo by Tom Curley
The Hornbeck family, mother Leigh, her father Peter, and her boys Rushton (older, orange hat) and Devlin hike Castle Rock Mt in Blue Mt Lake, NY. The hike offers a forest trail, caves for exploring, a view of Blue Mt Lake and surrounding mountains from the peak, and a spur trail to the lake for swimming or landing small boats. photo by Nancie Battaglia
The Hornbeck family, mother Leigh, her father Peter, and her boys Rushton (older, orange hat) and Devlin hike Castle Rock Mt in Blue Mt Lake, NY. The hike offers a forest trail, caves for exploring, a view of Blue Mt Lake and surrounding mountains from the peak, and a spur trail to the lake for swimming or landing small boats. photo by Nancie Battaglia

For almost 50 years, Peter Hornbeck ran Hornbeck Boats, a business he started in his garage in 1971, from a shop on his property in Olmstedville alongside wife, Ann. On any given weekend, you could find him holding court with customers who came from all over the country and world to his pond to try out and buy boats weighing as little as 12 pounds. He was known for his sense of humor and colorful storytelling.

READ MORE about Peter Hornbeck.

He was an environmentalist and proponent of wilderness and an artist, painting watercolors of Adirondack scenes and people enjoying them.

“The Adirondacks won’t be the same without him,” said longtime friend Kim Bessette.

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Tracy Ormsbee

Tracy Ormsbee

Tracy Ormsbee is publisher of the Adirondack Explorer. When she’s not working – and it’s not black fly season – you can find her outdoors hiking, running, paddle boarding or reading a book on an Adirondack chair somewhere.

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