Standing on the platform in North Creek that one special day in March 1934, it must have been evident for anyone witnessing the 378 skiers arriving on that first snow train that something powerful was being unleashed.

That was the day alpine skiing in New York State was born. Since then, the sport has flourished amidst the pristine beauty of the Adirondacks and the thoughtful stewardship of many decades of leaders in the Town of Johnsburg and at Gore Mountain. In fact, the long and storied history of the development of Gore Mountain and the North Creek Ski Bowl played a major role not only in the region’s history but also that of alpine sports America.

Ninety years later, these ski areas stand as both a monument to the region’s natural beauty as well as their prominence as one of the Northeast’s biggest and best ski areas.

But this is a story far from complete. With the ongoing success and popularity of Gore and the North Creek Ski Bowl have come a vital economic impact on the region, and today’s multi-faceted vision being realized by the region’s leaders is one that will further transform the slopes into a year-round travel destination. One that, importantly, also honors the pristine Adirondack Park in which it’s located with environmentally sustainable infrastructure and recreation.

Owned by the Town of Johnsburg, the Ski Bowl offers a variety of year-round outdoor recreation. This summer, projects initiated as part of the vision of the region’s leaders will serve to further strengthen greatly its appeal. Working in tandem and in partnership, Town leaders and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) who manages facilities at Gore and the Ski Bowl, have several exciting and transformative projects underway.

New York’s most expansive mountain is hard at work elevating the skiing and riding experience and creating new opportunities for adventure in all seasons.

The centerpiece is a new 18,300 square foot lodge that will accommodate multitudes of future guests in all seasons. The Gore team broke ground this spring at the adjacent Ski Bowl on a beautifully designed new lodge, complete with a restaurant and two levels of outdoor patios designed for guests to soak in the surrounding natural beauty and more fully enjoy their time outdoors.

Additionally, crews are replacing the Ski Bowl’s old Hudson chair lift with a modern, new detachable quad. To be completed in advance of this coming 2024/25 winter, the new lift will service all levels ski trails, including the green circle Peaceful Valley trail as well as blue squares Moxham and Oak Ridge trails and event the black diamond 46er trail, not to mention Half & Half, JJ’s, and the Ski Bowl Glades.

Lastly, installation has also begun at the Ski Bowl on an innovative summer zipline type activity, the only one like it in the Northeast. When complete next summer, it will provide an enticing and exciting new activity, destined to drive interest, tourism, and excitement in North Creek. These projects at the Ski Bowl are indicative of how economic growth can unite with careful stewardship of the natural environment to produce well-being for all.

For many decades, the sport and recreation alternatives at Gore Mountain and the North Creek Ski Bowl have played a major role in the economic health of the region. A naturally symbiotic relationship continues today between the development at these vital two local ski areas and the interests of residents and businesses in the area.

The most recent economic impact study, performed last year in 2022/23, demonstrates once again that the strength of these ski centers in attracting visitors translates to revenues for local businesses and an ever stronger economy.

Some highlights of the most recent study include*:

      • Gore Mountain attracted 262,580 total visitors
        • 251,236 winter visitors
        • 11,344 summer visitors
      • Gore Mountain capital expenditures totaled $45.3 million
      • Gore visitors generated $31.3 million in direct spending
      • The Olympic Authority dispersed an additional $13.1 million in Warren Country to operate Gore Mountain and the North Creek Ski Bowl
      • These economic activities naturally induce other indirect impacts, including employment of residents; local, regional, and federal taxes paid; and indirect expenditures across industries

*Numbers reflect visits and expenditures in the year 2022/23.

With decades of expenditures on infrastructure and employment, from New York State’s first gondola and other lifts to beautiful lodges from base to summit to high-efficiency snowmaking systems to staffing these major hubs of activity to the largest solar array dedicated to a ski area in the United States to today’s projects to elevate year-round visitor experiences, Gore’s impact has grown through the decades.

As the caretakers of the historic legacy of Gore Mountain and the North Creek Ski Bowl, community leaders and the Gore Mountain team continue working together to elevate the purpose and performance of these outstanding venues. The investments in infrastructure are investments in the future. A future that will pay dividends for generations, helping continue the legacy and create a region where people are proud to live, work, and play.