NORTH CREEK, N.Y. — At its June 23 board of directors meeting, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) adopted two resolutions that will restart the North Creek Ski Bowl development projects at Gore Mountain in the Adirondack Park. With these approvals, the Olympic Authority and Gore Mountain will break ground in […]
NORTH CREEK, N.Y. — At its June 23 board of directors meeting, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) adopted two resolutions that will restart the North Creek Ski Bowl development projects at Gore Mountain in the Adirondack Park.
With these approvals, the Olympic Authority and Gore Mountain will break ground in the spring of 2024 on the North Creek Ski Bowl Lodge, a new Hudson chairlift, and a zip coaster. The lift is projected to be available for the ‘24-25 ski season and the completion of the lodge is slated for 2025, according to a news release from the Olympic Authority.
The new lodge, which replaces the historic lodge that was destroyed by fire in 1999, will be an 18,300-square-foot facility with a restaurant and two levels of patios with slope-side views. The lodge is positioned to become a popular destination for additional summer activities, the Olympic Authority contends. The zip coaster will be an attraction that combines the features of a zipline with a rail system.
“The Ski Bowl project will provide a year-round boost to the business community of North Creek,” said Mark Smith, supervisor of the Town of Johnsburg, which encompasses the hamlet of North Creek and Gore Mountain. “The Ski Bowl redevelopment is a significant project that strengthens the position of North Creek as a year-round destination.”
The North Creek Ski Bowl at Gore Mountain was established in 1934, is owned by the Town of Johnsburg, and is a year-round facility offering a variety of outdoor recreation. In December 2002, the Town of Johnsburg board members approved a contract with the Olympic Authority. The Olympic Authority has since operated and maintained several winter activities at the Ski Bowl. Gore Mountain has installed chairlifts there, improved trails and snowmaking, modernized, and expanded the Joe Minder Lodge, and developed a professional Nordic Center with certified racecourses, the release stated.
In January 2022, the Olympic Authority unveiled the pending projects to the Town of Johnsburg board, but the lack of a wastewater infrastructure delayed the permitting process. The Olympic Authority said it has worked closely with the Town of Johnsburg on a solution, and as a result, the new lodge will connect to the Town of Johnsburg’s new wastewater-treatment facility, which is presently being built. The Town of Johnsburg has been awarded several grants to construct the facility, which is expected to be completed prior to the completion of the lodge.
“After many years of working through the process, we are excited to get this project underway,” James Bayse, general manager of Gore Mountain, said in the release. “The new lodge will be a full-service hub for year-round activities, and the zip coaster will be a one-of-a-kind draw to our area.”
Additional projects underway at Gore Mountain include the replacement of the Bear Cub Poma Lift with a conveyor-load quad, providing those who are learning ideal access to the easier-rated Sunway trail. The mountain is making several snowmaking improvements, which include adding new guns and infrastructure on Little Gore Mountain.
As recently reported in the 2022-2023 “Economic Impact Analysis for the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority,” the local operational spending and revenues, as well as the state’s investment, yielded a direct economic impact of $341.8 million, of which Gore Mountain generated $31.3 million in direct spending in FY 2022-2023.