The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is hosting a retirement celebration for long-time CEO James McKenna on May 15, 2024 at the Crowne Plaza in Lake Placid from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. ROOST is encouraging business leaders, elected officials, former colleagues, friends and neighbors to join the celebration. “We’re excited for Jim and to see what projects he works on next,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, ROOST chief operating officer. “We hope you will join us in celebrating his career and all of his accomplishments.” McKenna is retiring from ROOST after 40 years at the organization’s helm. Throughout his career, he has worked to promote the area, encourage visitation, share his love of the Adirondack region with the world, and support national and international sport opportunities. He oversaw the transition of ROOST from a tourism marketing organization to a destination management organization; managing the impact of visitation by creating a sustainable tourism economy for the Adirondacks - economically, socially and environmentally. McKenna announced his retirement in late 2023. RSVP to kristin@roostadk.com by May 1.

Two hundred miles of garage sales will entice bargain hunters The 2024 Great Adirondack Garage Sale is scheduled to take place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, within the Adirondack region of upstate New York. The event takes place throughout communities along a 200-mile trail, on NYS routes 28, 30 and 3. The region-wide garage sale has become a popular kick-off to the summer season, with residents and visitors embracing the opportunity to buy and sell unique household items, gently used home furnishings, home accessories and quirky treasures. According to Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism Hamilton County and Tupper Lake Marketing Manager Trisha Hosley, the sale appeals to people from within the local communities, as well as from outside the region. “The Great Adirondack Garage Sale attracts people from throughout the northeast; many enthusiastic shoppers plan a trip to the Adirondack region each year to take advantage of the event.” The sale route meanders through the communities of Old Forge, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Cranberry Lake, Piercefield, Wanakena, Newcomb, and Speculator, with additional stops at small hamlets and rural locations in-between. Hosley explained about treasure-seekers’ love for the region. “People visit the Hamilton County and Tupper Lake regions for big outdoor experiences, but also to visit the region’s small towns. During the Great Adirondack Garage Sale, visitors can take part in a big experience while visiting many of the small towns - attending the garage sale really puts them in touch with local communities. These unique small towns are packed with character, and this event will most certainly showcase that,” she said. The garage sale route can be easily followed by using one of the printed maps available within each community. The event website, GreatAdirondackGarageSale.com, also includes an interactive map that showcases sale locations. Each listing includes information about available items, entered by the seller. Those wishing to add details about their garage sale can also use the event website by using the “add your sale” section. The listing is free. This regional garage sale originated in 2010 when the community of Long Lake coordinated its efforts with Old Forge, Inlet, and Indian Lake to promote 70 miles of garage sales. Hamilton County and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism eventually expanded and promoted the sale. Contact Trisha Hosley at trisha@roostadk.com to learn more about the event.

Party on Park, organized and presented by Tupper Arts, will take place on Saturday, May 25, from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Tupper Lake. Organizers are inviting local businesses, artisans, area attractions, food vendors, local service organizations and other exhibitors to take part. Vendor spots along Park Street are available beginning at $25 for a 10’x10’ space. Throughout the day, Park Street businesses will welcome Tupper Lake residents and visitors, as well as those who travel from area communities to take part. Vendors, artisans, attractions and exhibitors will offer their information and products at locations along the street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic, creating the event's festival-like atmosphere. Community restaurants, food trucks and breweries will also be on-hand to provide food and beverages for community members and visitors enjoying the celebration. According to Sue Delehanty, president of Tupper Arts, Party on Park is considered to be the official kickoff to summer in Tupper Lake. “This event has become a great opportunity to celebrate our community,” she said. “We are working to make the event bigger and better by encouraging even more business owners, vendors, local attractions, and other exhibitors to take part.” Those who would like additional information about becoming involved as a vendor, business or entertainer should complete the registration form at TupperLake.com/PartyOnPark. Party on Park is a joint initiative of Tupper Arts and the Park Street business community. Tupper Arts, based in Tupper Lake NY, supports and encourages appreciation of artists and artisans, supplies artistic opportunities for the Tupper Lake community and offers a tradition of year-round community programming providing easy access to the arts through gallery shows, classes for all ages, live performances, and community events.

The Ausable Two-Fly Challenge is set to take place from May 16-18 along the famed west branch of the Ausable River. The event, now in its 24th year, brings more than 100 anglers to the Adirondack region of upstate New York. The Ausable Two-Fly Challenge promises some of the best fishing in the region with three competitive categories: men, women and professional. The premise of the two-fly challenge is that anglers must catch fish on the west branch of the Ausable River, from the Ski Jumps in Lake Placid to the bridge in the center of downtown Wilmington, using only 2 flies that they choose each morning. The tournament takes place on Friday and Saturday, with registration beginning at 6:30 am on Friday, so that anglers can hit the water at 8:00 a.m. Tournament fishing begins at dawn on Saturday. The three-day weekend event begins with a celebration at the town beach on Thursday evening where participants meet, share stories and discuss tournament strategy. The kickoff event will feature local music, a bonfire, food trucks and beverages. Participants are also invited to a fly tier’s reception Friday evening at Twisted Raven in Wilmington. The weekend wraps up Saturday evening with a banquet at the Hungry Trout, complete with prizes, raffles, and awards. Two-fly challenge participants must fish with a partner, record the total number of fish caught, the length of each, and the cumulative number of inches. Only fish handled by the angler and successfully released will count toward the participant’s total score. The winner is determined by the highest cumulative length of fish caught. Official rules are sent with registration confirmations. According to Michelle Preston, director of the Whiteface Region Visitors Bureau, the Ausable Two-Fly Challenge was originally founded to celebrate the joy of fishing, sportsmanship, the preservation of the Ausable River, and natural wonders of the Whiteface Region. “This group of sportsmen and women are committed to their sport and to conservation efforts; it’s the reason they are drawn to this tournament, specifically,” she commented. “They enjoy being able to take part in this event year after year, knowing that their participation benefits local sustainability efforts.” The west branch of the Ausable River, stretching from Lake Placid to Wilmington, is world-renowned among fly fishing enthusiasts. The river holds vast amounts of oxygen supplied by cold water tumbling over the rocks and boulders, which also provide plenty of hiding places, food and resting spots for fish. The river is famous for the large amount of pocket water, where the best trout often live. It also harbors slower sections that are deep and cool with undercut banks. Anglers can learn more and register for the event at AusableFlyFishing.com. Proceeds benefit conservation efforts in the region; raising money and supporting non-profits that work to educate, preserve the river’s ecosystem, and monitor its health.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), in coordination with the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC), has released the results of the 2023 Lake Champlain Region bass tournament survey, developed to assess the economic impact of the region’s fishing tournaments. Overall economic impact of the fishing tournaments in 2023 was substantial. Visitors contributed positively to the local economy, with an estimated total spend in Essex County amounting to more than $2 million. The Ticonderoga area and Lake Champlain Region typically host 30-40 tournaments between May and October each year, depending on each tournament’s rotation of contracted locations, with many of these tournaments attracting hundreds of participants. Ticonderoga Chamber of Commerce President Matt Courtright explained the significant increase in the number of tournaments over the past decade, with three times as many fishing tournaments as there were 10 years ago. “Ten or 12 years ago, the region hosted 12-14 tournaments each year,” he said. “The Lake Champlain Region, including Ticonderoga, has seen significant tournament growth over the years, with many tournaments returning on a rotating location basis.” Tournaments drew more than 1,700 anglers to the region in 2023. Subsequent survey results revealed insightful details about participant demographics and spending habits. Of the 201 anglers who participated in the survey, 97% were male, confirming the sport's popularity among men. Tournaments lured anglers from across the US, with the majority from New York (34%) and its neighboring states including Massachusetts (28%) and New Hampshire (12%), with significant representation from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. A notable 58% of participants had participated in fishing tournaments in the Ticonderoga area or Lake Champlain Region at least 11 times, underscoring the region's continued allure and appeal of its fishing events. Despite their primary focus on fishing, participants also actively engaged in local tourism, with 90% visiting nearby restaurants and over 70% patronizing local shops, gas stations and convenience stores. The survey also sheds light on participants' lodging choices and average length of stay, enriching the understanding of their experiences beyond dining and shopping activities. Two-thirds of respondents chose to stay in Ticonderoga during their stay, with the majority preferring motels or hotels; others favored private rentals, RVs, cabins, second homes or staying with family and friends. According to ROOST Lake Champlain Region Marketing Manager Isabelle Bureau, these surveys allow ROOST to better understand visitors’ time spent in the region, while assessing the impact of their visit. "These fishing tournaments not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also provide a significant economic boost to our local businesses, hotels and restaurants," remarked Bureau. "We are thrilled to see such enthusiastic participation and look forward to hosting many more successful tournaments." Courtright went on to explain that tournament growth took place between the Adirondack region’s “shoulder seasons” - the times of year that experience fewer visitors. “This growth has not only had an overall significant economic impact, but has encouraged visitation during spring and fall,” he said. “The success of these fishing tournaments is due to community support, business enthusiasm and our local lodging properties supporting the invaluable role played by outdoor recreation in driving the area’s economic growth and fostering community vitality. The Town of Ticonderoga and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism have also been incredibly supportive of the event.” All survey respondents expressed their intention to visit the region again, underscoring the lasting impression made by the Lake Champlain Region. According to New York Bass Federation Official Nick Albano, the region is one of the most anticipated tournament locations. “Lake Champlain bass fishing, in my opinion, is the best in the Northeast,” he said. “The region is one of my favorite places to visit; the lake offers a tremendous amount of fishable water that no one person can cover in a lifetime. I’m really looking forward to the Bass Federation tournament this fall,” he said. “The economic impact reflected in this study is significant, but I believe that this year the number may be even higher; our area hosted fewer tournaments than normal in 2023 due to the rotating location schedule and personal issues faced by a few of the organizers,” said Courtright. The 2023 Lake Champlain Region bass tournament survey can be found at roostadk.com/research.