1. Never assume that you think you know something that millions of people don't already. I wouldn't count on the house being worth much more in the future (in other words - be prepared to hold on to it for a long time just in case). You're clearly not wanting to purchase as strictly an investment, but you seem to be somewhat justifying it as such. All I'm saying is never count on appreciation.
2. It's not technically a national park - it's a state owned preserve.
I wouldn't personally do it unless I was willing to set up a cleaner to take care of it as a vacation rental for me (or normal 12 month lease if it makes sense) in the interim between working and moving in.
It's a win-win if you're willing to rent it out - satisfies both the logical and emotional side of things. Of course that doesn't necessarily mean it will perform well as a rental and if you're willing to rent it out you should take that into consideration too.
While you have a decent sized savings and a good income (can clearly afford it), plopping down ~$35k plus ~$800/mo (taxes/insurance/maintenance/mortgage) for something you're not even going to use for years doesn't make sense.
If I bought it I wouldn't be selling it so what it is worth wouldn't matter, but I do see your point.
However the area has been depressed for decades after the Air Force Base closed, and now it has an international airport in it's place, and tech and manufacturing that is exclusive in the world, (i.e. a facility with 11 3-D titanium printers that only exist at that plant) things like that, and HUGE amounts of underutilized waterfront. Its proximity to Canada means tons of Canadian tourists visit the area, and there are unique business relationships in the area between the two countries.
Billionaires and millionaires are buying up massive plots of land, the owner of alibaba bought 23,000 acres of only 23 million dollars, several movie stars and other stars such as Bruce Springsteen have been snapping up massive properties and great camps. These areas are being discovered buy the super rich, and its only a matter of time before it trickles in just like SF and LA. But I obviously see your point that nothing is guaranteed, but the US has 100 million more people than it did when I was born, and people are going to fill up every nook of each side of the coast before they start moving inward.
True is it a preserve, but again, it is the ONLY place in the entire united states that you can own private land inside a park like that, and has the forever wild protection guaranteed by the NYS constitution. Nowhere else has an entity like the APA to make sure you don't have a massive housing development pop up next to your cabin, or such tight building restrictions to keep your great views from being spoiled by others.
I really don't think renting it out is a viable option, and I agree it doesn't make much sense to pay for something that I would not be using 95% of the time, I just have a really hard time not thinking that it would be the perfect place for when I'm FIRE in 5-7 years.
Thank you very much for your input, believe it or not I find the "don't do it" responses very helpful because it brings up many things that I don't think of.
Thanks again!