Hamilton County (Experience Our Adirondacks)

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has compiled and released the results of its fourth annual tourism impact survey, conducted in late 2025. The survey gathered feedback from residents and business owners in Essex and Hamilton counties, as well as the villages of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, regarding their perceptions of tourism's impact on the local economy and community.The survey was designed to capture business owners’ and residents’ perceptions and opinions on various topics related to tourism in the region. It aims to uncover sentiments regarding tourism-related activities and their impacts which contribute to the local economy and social environment, as well as identify topics that may be sources of concern. Surveys completed by business owners represent 26.6% of total surveys, compared with 73.4% completed by non-business owners. The vast majority of respondents have lived in the region for more than 11 years and 86% are employed full-time or retired.According to ROOST Chief Operating Officer Mary Jane Lawrence, destination management and marketing organizations (DMMOs) like ROOST work to balance economics of the tourism industry and community needs. “To be effective as a DMMO, it’s essential that local sentiment is clearly understood,” Lawrence said. “This survey gives residents and business owners a voice, helping us identify opportunities, address challenges, and shape strategies that support the local economy and quality of life for community members.”Key findings include:The vast majority of respondents (83%) believe that tourism positively impacts their community.More than 95% of respondents believe that tourism has a positive impact on businesses in their local community.The vast majority of respondents indicated that tourism has a positive impact on the region’s economy, the availability of local attractions, retail opportunities, and restaurant options.May and June saw the highest proportion of business owners indicating they could benefit from increased business (64% and 62%, respectively), suggesting opportunity for growth in the late spring/early summer period.The share of respondents who reported working more than one job (39%) increased by 10 percentage points year over year.Each year since 2023, survey respondents believe that the region would benefit most from additional marketing of arts, biking/cycling, and food/restaurants.Traffic and affordable housing remain the top cited negative impacts of tourism. Environmental degradation was cited more often than in past years as a negative consequence.Since 2022, a growing share of residents agree that increasing the number of permanent residents in their community is important to them.Results underscore the importance of recent community initiatives to balance community benefits with the positive impacts of the local tourism economy. These initiatives include the Community Tourism Enhancement Fund, which provides funding to each of the 18 towns in Essex County, to enhance the community for residents and visitors. Additionally, ROOST has collaborated with local officials to establish an event committee to review large-scale events and implement recommendations to mitigate impacts. ROOST also works with the region’s elected representatives to assist with initiatives such as workforce housing, grant applications for community improvement, and other projects designed to benefit Essex County communities. “The resident sentiment survey is an important tool for ROOST - it allows us to monitor and understand the impacts of tourism on local residents year over year,” stated ROOST President and CEO Dan Kelleher. “We appreciate that the vast majority of respondents affirm the overall benefits of tourism in our region, and we also recognize the important and ongoing work to assist our communities with housing, large-event mitigation, and other destination management initiatives.”Business owners and residents were invited to complete the survey via email, social media, news reports, and local notices. A total of 737 surveys from residents and business owners were completed in target regions. The results achieved a 5% margin of error at a 99% confidence level.Respondents were incentivized to take the survey with a chance to win a Visa Gift Card valued at $100.A link to survey results can be found at ROOSTAdk.com/research.

December, 2020Adirondacks, USA - Snowmobilers in the Adirondacks will now have access to an interactive trail map on their phone to better plan their outdoor riding adventures in one of the largest trail networks in New York state. The new, free Adirondacks, USA snowmobile app contains information about the trails in Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties, and nearby gas stations, stores, restaurants and lodging properties that welcome sledders. More trails in neighboring counties will eventually be added to provide a more comprehensive map.The interactive map gives the sledder’s location with real-time GPS. Plug in a destination and the route will appear, tap on the trails near you to identify your route, or use the search feature to find the trail you are looking for. Backcountry riders will be glad to know that the app was designed with offline functionality, and its new mapping engine was specially created to work in areas with little to no cell service once it has been downloaded. Created by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), the destination marketing organization for Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties, the app is available for both iPhone and Android and can be downloaded at the app store. "Our landscape is criss-crossed with hundreds of miles of well-maintained, professionally-groomed and natural trails that are perfect for snowmobile enthusiasts,” said ROOST’s Director of Digital Services Jasen Lawrence. "We want to make it easier for riders to plan their excursions through our beautiful trail network and connect them with the full range of amenities available in our Adirondack communities.”This is the first phase of the ADK Snowmobile app. ROOST is looking to add other features in the future including weather and turn-by-turn directions.###

For Immediate ReleaseContacts: Brenda Valentine 518-648-5636Darrin Harr 518-648-5112Indian Lake N.Y. - The Great Adirondack Moose Festival, New York State’s first-ever moose themed festival, offers visitors of all ages a fantastic Adirondack experience. Held in Indian Lake, N.Y., in the center of the famous Adirondack Park, moose-themed programs will abound the weekend of September 28 and 29, 2019. Visitors to the Indian Lake region for the Moose Festival will enjoy programs, games, contests, exhibitions, guided tours, shopping – all in the theme of the moose. The half-ton mammal is making a comeback in the Adirondacks, so you may even spot one during the weekend. The Annual Great Adirondack Moose Festival (GAMF) is sponsored by the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce and a host of regional and local business sponsors.The GAMF is designed to offer visitors of all ages a purely Adirondack experience as a two-day destination event. As always this year’s GAMF will feature Adirondack style and moose themed activities such as our very popular moose calling contest; guided wilderness hikes; Moose River Plains self-guided driving wilderness tour; fly tying demonstrations; white water rafting; historic Blue Mountain Lake boat cruise; old fashioned turkey shoot; Indian Lake Museum open house; count the moose scat contest; moosterpiece games and activities for children; North County Crafter and Vendor Show in the Big Moose Tent; and much more. "The festival is a celebration of the return of the moose to the Adirondacks and is designed to offer a multigenerational Adirondack experience. This community-wide event features a host of Adirondack style and moose-themed family fun activities,” said event chairs Brenda Valentine and Darrin Harr.The GAMF is also held during peak fall foliage, so visitors will enjoy the beautiful colors in the Central Adirondacks. Most festival activities are free and do not require advance registration. For more information please visit www.indian-lake.com call (518) 648-5636 or (518) 648-5112. The GAMF can also be found on Facebook at “Great Adirondack Moose Festival.”###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Carrie Gentile, communications coordinator Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism direct: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123 Governor Cuomo invests $13 million to bolster tourism in the North Country through new lodging Lake Placid, NY - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is furthering his commitment to growing tourism in the North Country with the state’s investment of $13 million this year for the development of new lodging properties. The 2019 New York State Executive Budget, released this week, includes $13 million in capital funding through the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) and the Upstate Revitalization Initiative to spur development of lodging in the Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands regions. In addition, Empire State Development will commission a study to identify lodging development opportunities in those regions. The North Country Regional Economic Development Council (NCREDC) convened a lodging task force in 2017 to create a model for successful lodging development as a source of sustainable tourism, after identifying that there is a lack of full-service, modern lodging options that attracts today’s traveler. “We made a strong case for making some significant funding available for hotel development in the North Country and once again Governor Cuomo has responded positively," said Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the NCREDC. "It's the latest example of his confidence in the strategies set by the REDC, and we are hopeful that this commitment will help to attract new, quality development proposals over the next couple of years so we can continue to build a quality future for our tourism economy.” “Through the NCREDC, we have been activating tourism as a driver to diversify our economy and create demand to accelerate private investment,” said Anthony G. Collins, president of Clarkson University and co-chair of the council. “The governor’s commitment to invest in new and improved lodging across the region will further elevate global recognition of the North Country as one of the special places on the planet to visit, live, work and study.” As reported in the annual State of the State earlier this month, thanks to Governor Cuomo’s investments in tourism, New York state has experienced unprecedented growth in visitation and tourism, resulting in an economic impact of almost $105 billion last year. For this growth to continue, the governor recognizes the need for full-service lodging. With the $13 million, grants will be made available to developers to incentivize building these types of properties. Members of the NCREDC lodging task force are encouraged by the news. “Encouraging investment in new and improved lodging has been consistently identified by stakeholders as a key to growing tourism jobs in the region,” said Gary DeYoung, director of the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council and co-chair of the NCREDC lodging task force. “The governor’s commitment to providing the tools needed to attract that investment will go a long way toward assuring tourism continues to be a growth industry in the Thousand Islands.” “Through the NCREDC’s efforts over the last seven years, tourism has been identified as number one growth industry in the North Country,” said James McKenna, president of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) and co-chair of the NCREDC lodging task force. “We have the natural environment and attractions, but are lacking modern hospitality infrastructure. The governor’s leadership in identifying tourism as the number one economic driver in our region is the incentive needed to transform the North Country’s economy.” "The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to the North Country, and the solutions he identified in yesterday's budget briefing is exciting,” said William G. Farber, Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors and member of the NCREDC lodging task force. “One would think that after all we have accomplished together, this would become more anti-climactic, but success just never gets old. Lodging is a critical Adirondack/North Country need, so the Governor's partnership on this issue is great news.” ###

September 2017 - ROOST has been busy hosting and working with travel writers this summer. As the stories are published, we are sharing them with you. Travel writer Allison Tibaldi wrote a piece about the Adirondack great camps and elegant lodges that appeared on CNN earlier this month. ROOST hosted Allison and provided information and photos for her story entitled Rough it like a Gilded Age millionaire in the Adirondacks. It features lodgings in our region including Great Camp Sagamore, The Point, Lake Placid Lodge, Elk Lake Lodge, White Pine Camp, and the Whiteface Lodge. We worked with writer Sarah Taddeo for her September 2 story in USA Today, New York Road Trips: Top 5 must-see small towns. Lake Placid made the list! To support the golf at par initiative in Franklin County, we hosted Scott McLeod of Flagstick Golf, an Ottawa-based magazine. The result of his visit to the Malone Golf club can be found here. We’ll be sure to share more articles as they are developed!

May 2017 adirondacks, usa — Now in it’s seventh year, the Great Adirondack Garage Sale has grown to encompass an over 200-mile “trail”, stretching from Malone to Speculator, and Old Forge to Newcomb. Residents are encouraged to sign up to sell during the expanded Memorial Day Weekend event. “Memorial Day weekend in May is traditionally the time when second-homeowners open up their camps and we’re hoping we get people motivated to clear out their garages, attics, and basements, said Alexandra Roalsvig, Director, Parks, Recreation and Tourism for the Town of Long Lake. “The more participation, the bigger impact the event will have, so we encourage our residents and second homeowners to sign up and sell, sell, sell!” The expanded event was initiated by Hamilton County in partnership with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). The organization developed an interactive website that showcases garage sale locations and allows sellers to list items along with an unlimited number of photos to enhance their listing. The listings include the hours of operation and a sampling of items for sale. “Signing up is easy and free, so make sure your sale is on the map!”, said Michelle Clement, ROOST’s director of destination development programs. “This event is also a great way for non-profits, churches, and school groups to fundraise,” added Roalsvig. “The Town of Long Lake will have space available for outside vendors to sell their wares both in Long Lake and Raquette Lake so call our office at 518-624-3077 and ask for Steph Hample and she’ll set you up with a location.” The regional garage sale originated in 2010 when Long Lake linked up with Old Forge, Inlet and Indian Lake to promote 70 miles of garage sales. It has grown to include Old Forge, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Lake Clear, Paul Smiths, Malone, Cranberry Lake, Piercefield, Childwold, Newcomb & Speculator. Each community will also have a printed map to hand out during the event with mapped Garage Sale locations based on the website data. Participants should visit GreatAdirondackGarageSale.com for more information and to register individual sale locations. ###

One of the most powerful marketing tools ROOST has for communities and businesses across the North Country are our regional events calendars. Every one of our destination sites offers any public event the opportunity to have its very own page on the site. Any event that is local and open to the public can be submitted for an event listing. We will review and create a page that posts to the appropriate website's events page. Our events pages are some of the most trafficked on each of our sites. The events listing is also a quick and easy way to boost your event in Google searches for things to do in your region. Not only does an event listing help you get in front of thousands of travelers visiting our sites, it also makes it easier for us to incorporate your event into other marketing efforts. These listings are one place our photographer, videographer, bloggers, communications staff, and marketing staff monitor to help plan our marketing calendars. So mark your calendars to get event info up on our calendars! Here's a list of links for event submissions: Lake Placid (LakePlacid.com) Lake Champlain Region (LakeChamplainRegion.com) Saranac Lake (SaranacLake.com) Tupper Lake (TupperLake.com) Hamilton County (AdirondackExperience.com) Schroon Lake (SchroonLakeRegion.com) Franklin County/Malone (VisitMalone.com)

ROOST helped coordinate Adirondack Day, an annual event aimed at educating Albany stakeholders about the Adirondacks. This year's event, held Wednesday, June 1, included booths featuring local colleges, attractions and other Adirondack organizations. [gallery size="medium" ids="19068,19067,19066,19065,19064,19063,19062,19061,19060,19059,19058,19057,19056,19055,19053,19052,19051,19050" orderby="rand"]

The North Country Chamber of Commerce and its licensed health insurance service, the Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp., are reminding all employers and households in the North Country of the need to review updated health insurance options and to enroll in new plans or make changes in coverage soon, in time for the new year. The Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp. is a fully licensed health insurance agency with trained and licensed professionals available to review all options available and then to enroll in new coverage or make changes in existing coverage. Their professional services are free and are available throughout northern New York including Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, St. Lawrence and adjacent counties as well as Akwesasne. The Chamber and its Service Corp. offer access to a number of plans and options, both on the state's health insurance exchange, New York State of Health, as well as off the exchange. Advice and assistance is available for employers of all kinds including businesses, non-profits, government entities and self-employed persons, as well as for individuals and their families. Depending on the county, available options include a variety of health insurance plans through Excellus, Blue Shield of Northeastern New York, Fidelis, and MVP, including Healthy New York options, as well as stand alone dental and vision plans. The North Country Chamber of Commerce is the official provider of health insurance services to ROOST, and the Saranac Lake Area, Tupper Lake, Malone, Akwesasne, Ticonderoga Area, Schroon Lake, Indian Lake, Adirondack Speculator, Gore Mountain Region, North Warren and Stony Creek Chambers of Commerce as well as the Whiteface Visitors Bureau and the Inlet Business Association. For more information or assistance, contact Lisa Bedard Dupee at the North Country Chamber at 518-563-1000.

Adirondack Architectural Heritage to hold its 25th Annual Meeting at the Indian Lake Theater on Saturday, June 13, 2015 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS of PRESERVATION in the ADIRONDACKS Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) is pleased to invite the general public to its 25th annual meeting to be held at the historic Indian Lake Theater on Saturday, June 13, 2015. The theater is a wonderful location for many reasons: It is a Tudor Revival style building that was designed by a notable regional architect, it has a long history of serving the entertainment and cultural needs of the community, and its current revitalization as a movie house and arts center was recognized with an AARCH Preservation Award in 2014. The theater was designed by Glens Falls architect Grover Ward Shippey and built in 1937. Over his long and prolific career, Shippey designed private homes, cottages, inns, hotels, municipal structures, and commercial buildings. The theater closed in 2004 but was reopened as a year-round nonprofit theater and community space in 2008. Since then, community theater groups have packed the house for amateur productions of Hello, Dolly!, The Wizard of Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar, and other ambitious musicals. Thanks to the vision of Indian Lake Theater Inc., the building has been revived once again to its original use as a vibrant community center. Besides conducting regular AARCH annual meeting business, this special matinee event — complete with popcorn — will feature the presentation of short films by three guests: independent filmmaker Michael Fisher, Mountain Lake PBS star Derek Muirden, and the up-and-coming Eli Moore, who will show his piece about Huybertie Pruyn, one of the great spirits and devotees of Great Camp Santanoni. Each piece explores how architecture can be used to tell stories and create a sense of place, and each showing will be followed by commentary from the artist. Attending the annual meeting requires preregistration by calling 518-834-9328 or emailing virginia@aarch.org. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. with cake and refreshments to follow. Adirondack Architectural Heritage is the nonprofit historic preservation organization for New York State's Adirondack Park. AARCH was formed in 1990 with a mission to promote better public understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Adirondacks' unique and diverse architectural heritage. ###

Paddle Sport Event Management Workshop Hosted by the Adirondack Watershed Alliance At the Paul Smith’s College VIC 8023 State Route 30, Paul Smiths, NY 12970 February 28, 2015 – Noon – 4 PM The Adirondack Watershed Alliance (AWA) is working with New York State and regional tourism agencies to coordinate a canoe and kayak paddling promotion as part of a larger tourism promotion project funded through an award to the North Country Regional Economic Development Council. The AWA will assist in the development of several paddle oriented promotional tools involving social media, events, destination and trip planning, and a website to encourage more paddlers to discover the diversity of paddling opportunities in the North Country Region (the area including the Thousand Islands, the Adirondacks, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Hamilton and Oswego Counties). The leaders of the discussion will be Brian & Grace McDonnell, coordinators of the Adirondack Watershed Race Series and the Adirondack Canoe Classic for the past 16 years, and Chuck Bolesh, director of the Canton Canoe Weekend for the past 25 years. The conversation will be designed to provide specific information to new and seasoned event organizers; encourage new events; and provide the basic tool box for a successful race. TOPICS WILL INCLUDE: The Basics of event administration – scheduling, permits, promotion, volunteers, advertising, entry forms, registration, boat numbers, timing, insurance, finance. Event Management – Course design, safety, order of start, timing of start, weather and cancellation policy, class specifications, communication, tents and facilities (bathrooms, port a johns, pavilion), Pit stops or First aid on course. Amenities – Sponsors, T-shirts, food, prizes, plaques, activities, Pro vs Amateur event, recreational class, results, awards, involvement in race series, and spectator friendly information and visibility. Advertising and Promotion - Social media, local media, NYMCRA, event calendars For more information or to RSVP – please contact Brian McDonnell at brian@macscanoe.com or call 518 891- 2744.

Long Lake, NY - An informational meeting for those businesses interested in applying for the Microenterprise Grant Program will be held on January 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the town hall in Long Lake. About the Microenterprise Grant Program Essex County, in partnership with Hamilton County, applied for and was awarded an Adirondack Park Upper Hudson Recreation Hub Grant, creating the Hub Microenterprise Program. The total amount awarded for this program was $100,000. As qualified businesses are identified through an application process, the MGP will provide resolution to small businesses lack of access to capital and assist businesses to offer a more relevant mix of wares, goods and services to help improve the viability of the businesses, to become more sustainable and retain and create new jobs. . These communities will be investing in amenities to promote a spectrum of recreational opportunities and the use of the State lands, which will enhance and increase visitations to the communities to enjoy the surrounding Forest Preserve and Conservation Easement lands. Who can apply? The Microenterprise Grant Program (MGP) will be established to provide grants to eligible expanding or start up Microenterprise businesses, located in Essex County, the towns of Minerva, Newcomb and North Hudson and in Hamilton County, the towns of Indian Lake and Long Lake. A Microenterprise is a business that employs or will employ nine (9) or fewer persons, including the business owner or owners. To be eligible for assistance, an existing microenterprise business must retain and or create jobs. The grant funds from the Microenterprise program can be used to: purchase equipment, furniture & fixtures, inventory and be used for operating expenses, marketing, and working capital and start up costs. All grant applicants must complete Adirondack Upper Hudson Recreation Hub Microenterprise Program, Business Development & Enhancement Training Program. For information, please contact the Essex County IDA at 518-873-9114.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) will host a gathering of destination planning committee representatives from 13 Adirondack Tourism Destination Areas (TDAs) on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Conference Center at Lake Placid. The gathering on Friday will begin with registration at 10:30 a.m. The program will be facilitated by outside consultant and destination development expert Joe Lathrop of OCG, a New York City-based consulting firm. At 11 a.m. each Tourism Destination representative will provide a brief overview of their region’s progress. In addition to the TDAs, a representative from the Lake Placid Retail Tourism Development Group will present an overview of a recent survey. This will be followed by breakout work sessions to identify synergies and challenges and explore further opportunities for collaboration, then a wrap-up session to discuss the destinations’ gaps in product, inhibitors to growth and current strengths. The TDAs are currently in various stages of progress in the ROOST-led destination development process. “Most of these TDAs have completed the inventory of assets and are beginning to develop strategies and goals,” said James McKenna, ROOST CEO. “This gathering will serve as both a networking forum and a valuable work session for these community stakeholders.” The overall goals of the destination master planning process mirror those of the sustainable tourism credo: Grow the existing tourism economy without negatively impacting the residents’ quality of life. The goals of the process are to put tools in place to attract private investment in tourism, and to develop tourism infrastructure to transform the region by driving community development and leveraging private investment in tourism destination area communities and corridors. A summary of the day’s results will be compiled and distributed to the collective group following the Summit. Questions regarding the Summit and/or the TDAs should be directed to Kerry Blinn at kerry@roostadk.com or at 518.523.2445 x113.

There may be no better time than now to start or grow your business in the North Country. The North Country Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Adirondack Economic Development Corp. (AEDC) and the Town of Plattsburgh’s Local Development Corp. to provide comprehensive entrepreneurship training and technical assistance – as well as direct access to commercial loans – to those who want to do more than just dream of being their own boss someday. AEDC will be holding its 60-hour Entrepreneurship Assistance Program (EAP) Small Business Institute in Plattsburgh beginning Wednesday, Oct. 15. This comprehensive hands-on training is specifically designed for new and existing business owners to learn what it takes to give their business ideas the best chance to succeed. Topics to be covered in this program include: Planning and researching your business idea; Marketing analysis, strategies and implementation; Financial record-keeping; Understanding and using cash flow projections; Financing your business; Negotiating with partners, clients and customers, and more. The cost of instruction is covered by the EAP network. Participants will be asked to pay $149 to cover the costs of books and materials, but will receive a $50 refund if they attend 90% of the classes (14 of 16), complete 10 hours of free one-on-one technical assistance and turn in a completed business plan by the end of the program. Classes are tentatively slated for 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings at the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce office, 7061 Route 9. To sign up, or for more information, contact Jim Murphy at (518) 891-5523, ext. 101, or via email at: jmurphy@aedconline.com