Mount Ida's Early Rival, Mount Olympus

Sterling Goodenow noted the presence of “Mount Ida Falls” in his 1822 Topographical and Statistical Manual of the State of New-York. Horatio Gates Spafford’s 1824 Pocket Guide for Tourist and Traveler however, acknowledged Mount Olympus on the north side of Troy but of the Poesten Kill only noted that it was home to “Mills & c.” Mount Olympus became a regional attraction that was exploited at an early date. In 1823, W.D. Vanderheyden (by then most of the family had accepted the shortened spelling) built a large octagonal building on the highest point to accommodate sightseers and a walkway was built from the roadway below. The building included a concession that was staffed day and night and markers were installed to direct visitors to the views. The building was destroyed by fire in 1830.

Already however, some visitors were bemoaning the development on Mount Ida and beyond. A writer to the New York Commercial Advertiser in 1835 wrote that the “delightful situation” of Mount Ida had “been invaded” by houses and businesses over and below.