WHITE LAKE – Restoration efforts at the historic White Lake Mansion House are moving into a new phase, as the revitalization team prepares to seek a zoning variance for a planned “heritage garage” that will showcase a fully restored 1927 Dodge Brothers sedan, a centerpiece intended to bring the property’s early 20th-century history to life.

According to an update shared this week by the project team, representatives met with the Town of Bethel Planning Board on Monday. A recording of that meeting will be posted online once available. The next step will be submitting the variance request for the exhibit, which is designed as a glass-fronted display where the car’s headlights will softly illuminate at dusk, offering what the developers describe as “a glimpse into the past.”

The antique vehicle carries its own storied history: purchased from the children of its original owners, whose parents drove it on their honeymoon and kept it as a treasured family heirloom for generations. The mansion plans to make the display interactive; once open, guests will reportedly be able to step inside, sit behind the wheel, honk the horn, and take photos.

In addition to the proposed exhibit, major structural progress has been made on the mansion itself. The center portion of the building has now been fully stabilized after what the developers called a challenging rescue process. The building’s porches have been temporarily removed and will be reconstructed after work on the west wing, the final critical stabilization phase, is completed.

“It’s been an intense but rewarding period, and the transformation is becoming more tangible every week,” Dimitry Simanovsky, the project head, told the Democrat.

The White Lake Mansion House, originally built in the late 19th century, has been undergoing a multi-year restoration aimed at reviving the landmark as a historic lodging and cultural destination.

Further details, including architectural renderings and Planning Board documents, are expected to be made public as the variance application moves forward.