Tupper Lake Region

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.

The Tupper Lake History Museum is planning a grand opening of its new location with a celebration and ribbon-cutting on Saturday, July 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.The ribbon-cutting will take place at the museum’s new multi-room quarters in the former gas station building at 291 Park Street. Local leaders, along with museum board members will be on-hand.The museum has had a number of locations over the years after its founding more than 20 years ago by Arthur Richer. It was initially located in the former Hull family home on Water Street. Its next location was on the second floor of the Town of Tupper Lake’s old Junction fire station on Pine Street, where it operated for more than a decade.After a year of fundraising, the museum’s board of directors purchased the empty gas station at 291 Park Street and began renovating the space, with assistance from many volunteers and local businesses.The museum is also staffed by volunteers who are eager to help visitors learn about Tupper Lake’s mixed and rich heritage. Twenty exhibits showcase the community’s history from the late 1800s to today.The Tupper Lake History Museum opened Memorial Day weekend, with limited hours during June. This summer, the museum will be open five days a week, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. Details about the museum can be found at tlhistorymuseum.org or on its Facebook page.

July, 2019Big Dipper over Adirondack chairs lit red by headlamps, Blue Mountain Lake, Hamilton Co., Adirondack Park & Forest Preserve, NYTupper Lake, NY - With its location within a protected state park, with low light pollution, low humidity and sitting at a high altitude, Tupper Lake provides ideal conditions for night sky viewing, some of the best east of the Mississippi. Local officials, university professors, and amateur astronomers have long recognized the community’s potential to become an astrotourism hub, and have banded together to build on the current Adirondack Sky Center and create a state-of-the-art AstroScience center here, tentatively slated to open in 2024, during another fabulous eclipse. In the meantime, Tupper Lake is holding stargazing and other events to raise funds and awareness about the planned opening of the new center aimed at exposing the public to the beautiful night sky. On Sunday, July 21, all are welcome to a community-wide celebration of the dark skies and stargazing at the first Adirondack Sky Festival. The day-long event is a mix of star and solar gazing at the current Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory (formerly the Adirondack Public Observatory) at 178 Big Wolf Road in Tupper Lake. Starting at 1 p.m., participants can take advantage of the Roll Off Roof Observatory, games and crafts, a scavenger hunt, scientific demonstrations and solar gazing through specialized telescopes. Experts will be on hand to talk about the stars and planets, and how to best see them, offering tips to the public. To date there are three lecturers: Al Nagler, a former optical designer at NASA known for designing lunar landing simulators and Tele Vue eyepieces for telescopes; Andy Andersen of the International Dark Sky Association discussing light pollution impacts on wildlife; and Gib Brown, former meteorologist at WPTZ and college professor, showing the Science on a Sphere. All of these events are taking place at The Wild Center. At the Tupper Lake High School, Bruce McClure will lead planetarium shows in the StarLab. The Adirondack Sky Center’s own professional astronomers, Aileen O’Donoghue, Jeffrey Miller and Joshua Thomas, all trustees of the organization, will be leading demonstrations and addressing questions throughout the day. Jeff Miller and David Fadden, Mohawk Artist and Storyteller from the Six Nations Museum in Onchiota, will also give a talk at the High School at 7:30 p.m. on Star Stories of the Haudenosaunee, Greek and Roman Traditions. There will be plenty of celestial-themed music at the Tupper Lake Bandshell, with local band Night School, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.; and then stargazing at the observatory. David Levy, internationally known comet hunter and co-discoverer of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. which impacted Jupiter in 1994, has just published his autobiography The Nightwatchman's Journey: The Road not Taken and will be discussing it and signing copies. In October, the Adirondack Sky Center will host a four-day astrophotography conference. Held October 3 - 6, it is aimed at astrophotographers of all levels looking to capture images with the aid of instructors and specialized telescopes. Spaces are limited so please contact the Sky Center office if you are interested. Members receive a discounted registration fee. Why Tupper Lake? This community sits squarely in the Adirondacks, six million acres that is permanently protected as “Forever Wild” by the New York State Constitution, which means the region will remain wilderness and not be threatened by urban lighting. The low humidity and high altitude add clarity to the dark skies. Local officials recognized early on the special nature of their dark skies and agreed to install down-facing streetlights, which help to curb light pollution. The region is also visited annually by an estimated 7-10 million tourists, and surveys say that up to half of tourists seeking outdoor experiences are interested in stargazing and learning the night sky. Emerging campaign for the Wilderness above The AstroScience Center museum, which organizers anticipate will open in five years, is the second building being constructed to comprise the Adirondack Sky Center campus. The Observatory was completed in 2013, and a third building housing a 24-inch reflecting Research Telescope will cap the project. The science center will provide astronomy-related experiences for visitors, day or night, in clear or cloudy weather, including a Planetarium, Lecture Hall, Interactive Classroom and much more. A limited range of fun, hands-on educational activities are now offered year-round in the Sky Center Activity Room at the organization’s Office and Gift Shop, 36 High Street in Tupper Lake, and stargazing at the observatory. The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory appreciates the support of I Love NY and the Stewart’s / Dake Family Foundations. For more information, visit AdirondackSkyCenter.org. ###

For immediate Release Contact: Carrie Gentile, communications coordinatorRegional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123 July 2019 Tupper Lake, NY - The Tupper Lake Woodsmen’s Days returns to Tupper Lake Municipal Park July 12-14 for a celebration of the region's storied heritage of logging and lumberjacking. This year’s theme, Lumberjack Revival, will bring with it a host of new additions for adults and kids, including a large bounce house, an obstacle course, and a silent auction to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. The New York State Lumberjack Association (NYSLA) will also attend Woodsmen’s Days for the first time. Members of the organization pay dues to compete in similar events around the state. NYSLA contests will being at noon on Saturday in the grandstand and continue throughout the afternoon. Spectators can look forward to exciting events like the axe throw, women’s bow saw, men’s springboard, and Jack and Jill fire building. Admission to the competition is free for kids under 5, $5 for ages 6-12, and $7 for 13 and over. The Woodsmen’s Days parade will return to the old route this year, starting on the corner of McLaughin Ave. and Park St., going through Park Street business district, and continuing down Lake Street before ending at the Municipal Park. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE contact: Carrie Gentile, communications coordinatorRegional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123 Tupper Lake, NY — This village’s annual Brew-Ski returns this Saturday, Feb. 23, and participants can expect plenty of fresh snow this year. With a several-inch base and more expected before Saturday, the James C. Frenette Sr. Recreational Trails, located at the Tupper Lake Golf Course, will provide participants an optimal Brew-Ski experience.For $10, embark on a craft-beer-and-skiing tour and glide along the growing network of groomed trails, stopping along the way to sample the region’s best brews. The 2019 Tupper Lake Brew-Ski will highlight eight local breweries that will be serving their craft beers along the one-and-a-half miles of beautifully maintained ski trails at the Tupper Lake Golf Course. Kids 12 and under are free. Breweries will bring their hops to the snow at several tasting stations along the trails, pouring samples as skiers and snow showers gather and mingle at fire pits along the way.The event will include the following North Country and Adirondack breweries: Raquette River Brewing, Big Tupper Brewing; Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, Big Slide Brewery and Public House, Blue Line Brewery, Oval Craft Brewing, Valcour Brewing Company, and Great Adirondack Brewing Company. High Peaks Cyclery will be on site with free ski and snowshoe rentals, as well as fat tire bikes. MAC’s Safe Ride will operate from noon-4 p.m. to provide transportation to participants.This year, there will be more kid-friendly activities including a hot chocolate bar, The Wild Center pass giveaways, an adjacent sledding hill, and kids’ ski and snowshoe rentals.Also occurring simultaneously is the Fire & Ice Golf Tournament from noon-4 p.m on the golf course. Three-person teams will play two rounds at the five-hole course. The cost is $60 per team with the proceeds benefiting the Lion’s Club community projects.###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Carrie Gentile, communications coordinator Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism direct: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123 ROOST ANNOUNCES 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lake Placid, NY - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is pleased to announce its 2018 Board of Directors. The new and returning board members were confirmed during ROOST’s Annual Meeting and Social held January 15 at the Intervale Lodge at the Olympic Jumping Complex, which was attended by ROOST staff, board members, marketing partners and elected officials. The board of directors, responsible for governing the organization, is comprised of directors from throughout ROOST’s eight Adirondack regions. For 2018, the board welcomes five new directors: Chandler Ralph, former president/CEO of Adirondack Health; Garrick Smith, owner/operator of Hotel North Woods; Michael Doran, general manager of Holiday Inn Express in Malone; Nick Politi, associate real estate broker at Merrill L. Thomas and Shawn Goodway, general manager of The Whiteface Lodge. They join sitting directors Ed Finnerty, vice president and counsel, Champlain National Bank and ROOST board chair; Melinda Little, president, Point Positive, Inc., Saranac Lake and first board vice-chair; Jill Cardinale, owner of The Pines Inn and second board vice-chair; Charlie Cowan, financial consultant with Longrun Wealth Advisors LLC and board treasurer; Bob Hockert, owner of Adirondack Sauna in Wilmington and boardsecretary; Mike Beglin, owner of Beglin’s Lake Placid Jewelry and Gifts; Beth Hill, executive director at Fort Ticonderoga; Sarah Wilson, Sarah Wilson Communications in Keene; Marc Galvin, owner of the Bookstore Plus; James Lemons, executive director of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts; Mark Jessie, owner of Raquette River Brewing in Tupper Lake; Lisa Hess-Marks, owner of Pine Cone Mercantile in Schroon Lake and Andrea Holderied, operations director at Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid. Current Board Directors Mark Galvin, James Lemon and Beth Hill were re-elected to an additional three-year term. Director Justin Smith’s term on the board expired. “We are very pleased to welcome five outstanding community leaders and businesspeople to the ROOST Board of Directors,” said Ed Finnerty, board president. “With the three board members who were re-elected for an additional term, I believe our 21 person board possesses a wealth of outstanding talent and expertise and will provide the vision and leadership needed to guide ROOST in the coming year.” During the event, ROOST CEO James McKenna spoke briefly about the organization’s progress and growth in 2017, including its momentum on social media and increased website traffic. Specifically, ROOST gained 107,000 new Facebook followers across its eight regional social media platforms and its umbrella site, adirondacks, usa saw a growth of 118 percent. There was also a 5.5 percent increase in website traffic, leading to 3.5 million website sessions. As an accredited destination marketing organization (DMO), ROOST is responsible for promoting Essex County, Franklin County, Hamilton County, the Town of North Elba, the Town and Village of Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, Lake Placid, Piercefield, and Saranac Lake, New York to the traveling public. In addition to leisure travel promotion, ROOST is responsible for sales and marketing for the Conference Center at Lake Placid and town-wide conventions. ###

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. ###

Have you seen the most recent ROOST-produced destination videos? These promotional pieces help to showcase the regions' assets and inspire travel here. Our in-house videographer shoots footage and creates videos on an ongoing basis to augment our marketing efforts. Check out our newest ones! Mount Severance hike Malone Fun Discover Spring in Tupper Lake Wilmington Whiteface MTB On the water!

SARANAC LAKE - Area businesses, including some of the Adirondacks’ biggest employers, will be looking for qualified employees for a variety of full-time, part-time and seasonal positions at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise's Tri-Lakes Job Fair from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake. In its second year at the college, the fair has been moved to the gym (the Sparks Sports Complex) to accommodate more participants. Industries that will be represented include include the hospitality sector and medical field, along with other businesses and agencies. Job seekers can actively engage with the employers to apply for positions, learn about career opportunities and build relationships with North Country employers. “It is a great opportunity for high school and college students, as well as adults looking for a new career, to apply to the numerous positions available,” said Catherine Moore, publisher of the Enterprise Newspaper. Saranac Lake Rotary Club members will be available to review and offer tips on resumes, as well as to help prepare job seekers for interviews with potential employers. Event organizers strongly suggest job seekers bring copies of their resume for review by rotary club members and to hand to recruiters. Immediately following the fair, the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will host a networking mixer in the gym. “It’s an opportunity to meet and greet area business owners and employers,” said event organizer Lindsay Munn of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Employers are encouraged to register now by calling Lindsay at 518-891-2600 ext. 20. The Tri-Lakes Job Fair is sponsored by North Country Community College, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Saranac Lake Rotary Club, Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce and ROOST (Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism). ###

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)

The North Country Chamber of Commerce and its licensed health insurance agency, the Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp., are actively assisting small businesses and individuals throughout the region with their health insurance needs during the current open season. This includes reviewing current coverage in light of rate increases scheduled for January 1st and assisting with the identification of options, whether a different plan structure with the same insurance company or a possible move to another company's plan. Changes for January 1st need to be made by Dec. 15. The chamber and its health insurance subsidiary can serve businesses and employers of all kinds, non-profits, self-employed people and individuals, and can assist clients with coverage on either the "N.Y. State of Health" exchange or off the exchange. Its services are available throughout Clinton, Franklin, Essex, Hamilton, Warren and adjacent counties as well as Akwesasne. Access is offered to all major plans in the market including Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of Northeastern N.Y., Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fidelis and MVP, with availability varying by county. Access to the Healthy New York Program is also available, as are group rates on stand alone vision and dental plans. The chamber's health insurance professionals are licensed and trained, and advisory and enrollment services are without cost to the clients. The Plattsburgh-North Country Service Corp. is the official provider of health insurance services for the North Country, Malone, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Akwesasne, Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga, North Warren, Gore Mountain, Stony Creek, Indian Lake and Adirondack Speculator Chambers as well as ROOST, the Whiteface Visitors Bureau and the Inlet Business Association. For more information or to make an appointment to review coverage, contact Lisa Bedard Dupee at 518-563-1000.

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"]

Tupper Lake, N.Y. - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) invites all interested to attend two informational public meetings on Thursday, Jan. 21 to review destination marketing objectives, progress, and plans for Tupper Lake and Piercefield. The first will be held in the downstairs board room at the Tupper Lake Municipal Office, 120 Demars Boulevard in Tupper Lake, N.Y. at 5:00 p.m., followed by a meeting at the Piercefield Town Office at 48 Waller Street in Piercefield, N.Y. at 7:00 p.m. ROOST is the accredited destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for promoting Essex County, Franklin County, Hamilton County, the Town of North Elba, the Town and Village of Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, Lake Placid, Piercefield, and Saranac Lake, New York to the traveling public. For more information about ROOST, visit roostadk.com.

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.

PRESS RELEASE August 4, 2015 Contact: Tracey Legat, tlegat@wildcenter.org WILD WALK LOOKING LIKE A WILD SUCCESS Center says attendance breaking all previous records Regional impact felt Tupper Lake, NY - It was eight years in the planning. Now, one month after it officially opened to the public on July 4th, all the planning seems to be paying off for the Center and surrounding towns. The Center reports that it has broken every single attendance record set over its 9 year history. It has more members than at any time in its existence, admitted more customers in its first 30-days since the Walk opened than it did in any other 30 day period, including its big initial opening in 2006. Local food emporium Well Dressed Food owner David Tomberlin says he is seeing 30 percent more people in his shop wearing their Wild Center admission stickers. “It’s been a great boost.” Local restaurant owner Ted Demarais of Little Italy says his lunch business has doubled from both prior years since the Walk opened. In Lake Placid, Jim McKenna, who heads the Regional Office for Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), said “The Wild Walk addition to the Wild Center has already proven to be an engine that helps the whole region. There’s absolutely no question that this new attraction-within-an-attraction has emerged as a real driver of new visitors to the Adirondacks.” Wild Walk, with more than 1,250 feet of bridges and platforms that rise up into and eventually over a living Adirondack forest, was featured in New York State’s I Love NY television advertising campaign. It continues to get wide coverage from national media with stories in Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and ABC News to name a few. The experience includes a giant spiders web visitors can hang out in, a four-storey tree house, and a treetop bald eagle’s nest that offers a 27-mile view on a clear day. “A walk around our parking lot looking at license plates is like a tour of America,” said Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of the Center. “We’re seeing people from everywhere.” Ratcliffe says a survey of visitors shows that more than half of the people are coming because a friend told them about the Walk. “That means the most to us. We know I Love NY gave us this huge boost, and now we’re seeing another boost from all the people who seem to really enjoy the whole experience, and are telling others to come see for themselves.” The resulting numbers are outsized, and on some days the Center turns into one of the biggest population centers in the area. “In a single 10 day window,” said Ratcliffe, “we’ve had more that 18,000 people visit. To put that in perspective, it’s a good deal more than the entire year round population of Tupper Lake, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Old Forge, Inlet, and Lake George combined.” In the month of July, more than 50,000 people visited the Center. Dave St Onge, the facility manager of the Center says they are keeping up with the crowds. “The experience here is almost twice the size we used to be, with people using the trails, coming inside, hanging out on the Walk, taking canoe rides. We have a huge crew of interns this year, and while some of them are clocking up to ten miles a day showing people around, the end result feels less crowded than in years past when everyone would come inside for a movie screening or when rain watered the campus.” The Center has plans to maintain the momentum by boosting leaf peeper visits with a ‘Climb into the Color’ promotional campaign starting this month. “National Geographic Traveler and others have been by with cameras and reporters,” said Tracey Legat, who has guided more than 50 press visits. “We’re looking forward to next summer, when more stories about Wild Walk will be published internationally, and seeing what happens when all the people who came this year spread the word to their friends and families.” Legat said reviews in places like Tripadvisor were already drawing new visits. “We’re getting reviews like this one - ‘Wild Walk is unprecedented’, or this ‘I highly recommend this place as a must visit’ and we’re listening to feedback to make the experience better and better, so we’re really hopeful that Wild Walk will have a lasting impact.” # # #

• Did you know that Chinese tourists could help your bottom line? • Did you know that the number of Chinese visiting New York State has increased in each of the last five years to 800,000 and will continue to grow? • Did you know that the average Chinese tourist spends an average $7,200 per trip — well above the global average of $4,500? • Did you know that Chinese people highly value mountains, water scenery and clean air? • Is your business China Ready? I Love New York has opened three offices in Mainland China to encourage more Chinese people to visit New York state. In March, with sponsorship from The Wild Center, the Adirondack Foundation and Adirondack Regional Tourism, The Wild Center’s Hillarie Logan-Dechene participated in the first ever I Love New York China Sales Mission. Logan-Dechene represented both The Wild Center and the Adirondack region during the three-city tour speaking to hundreds of tour operators in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. On June 17, Hillarie will share what she learned and present some of the information I Love New York has disseminated during their “China Ready” trainings throughout the state. For the Adirondack Region to benefit, many organizations need to work together to welcome this new market. Join us for an information sharing session on: Wednesday, June 17 From 10:00 am to 11:30 am at The Wild Center’s William H. Flammer Jr. Theater 45 Museum Drive Tupper Lake, New York 12986 Chinese tea and cakes will be served. RSVP to Patrick Murphy at 518-359-7800 ext. 116 or pmurphy@wildcenter.org by June 15. Who should attend? Hotel and motel owners and managers restaurant owners and managers museum and attraction marketing staff regional marketing professionals chamber of commerce members and personal any other interested parties What will you get? Information sheets from I Love NY Practical information on getting your business China Ready A networking opportunity with other businesses who want to tap into this lucrative market

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.

Empire State Winter Games in the news Feb. 7, 2o15: Press-Republican, "Empire State Winter Games boost local economy" Kim Dedam overviews the economic boost the Tri-Lakes area sees each year due to the Empire State Winter Games. READ THE ARTICLE

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