Whiteface 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 annual Wilmington Mountain Music Fest is returning for its third year, taking place on Saturday, July 27, at Wilmington Ball Park. Gates open at 1:30 p.m., with music beginning at 2:00 p.m. Advance tickets are available, beginning at $20, with family and VIP packages also available for purchase by visiting whitefaceregion.com/events/wilmington-mountain-music-fest. The festival has expanded this year with additional stages, a wide variety of musical acts and entertainment, and an increased number of food and beverage vendors. Musical acts span genres that should appeal to a broad audience, with a lineup that features regional artists as well as national performers. The festival aims to celebrate the community spirit of Wilmington, offering an experience residents, visitors, couples, and families can all enjoy together. This year’s music lineup is headlined by Completely Unchained, a Van Halen tribute band, and Don Jovi, playing tribute to Bon Jovi. Together they are positioned as a one-of-a-kind “Legends of Rock Show”. Other artists scheduled to take the stage include Merle Jam, Midnight Stargazers, and Taylor LaValley. Bands will be providing entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening, ending at approximately 10:30 p.m.Attendees will also be treated to a performance by The Smoke Show Fire Dancers, specializing in fire-eating and choreographed performances, taking the stage at 8:30 p.m.Michelle Preston, director of the Whiteface Visitors Bureau, explained that the event is quickly becoming one of the most popular events in Wilmington. “The festival is a highlight of the summer season,” she said. “It offers a family-friendly atmosphere, a diverse lineup of performances, and plenty of fun activities. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, umbrellas, and pop-up canopies so that they can relax and enjoy the day. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, the Wilmington Mountain Music Fest is an event not to be missed.”Advance tickets can be purchased online at a discounted rate of $20 per person. Pre-purchase also offers the options of a couples package for $75 or a family package for $150. Pre-order your music fest T-shirts online; limited supply available on the day of the show. Live music is a highlight of summer in the Whiteface Region. In addition to the Wilmington Mountain Music Fest, the Wilmington Town Beach hosts free concerts every Thursday in the summer and a wide variety of artists can be found performing at restaurants and bars in Wilmington and surrounding communities. Visit WhitefaceRegion.com/Events for more information on upcoming performances.

August, 2019 Alternate Routes Included Lake Placid, NY – The 3rd IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Placid triathlon will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept 8. The triathlon route includes a 1.2-mile swim in Mirror Lake, a 56-mile bike ride through Lake Placid, Keene, Upper Jay, Jay and Wilmington, and a 13.1mile run in and around the Lake Placid village. Temporary road closures will begin at 5 a.m. The following are all estimated times based on New York State Police traffic control. Please use caution and expect delays. Road closures (Rt 86) Sorthbound in to Lake Placid from Wilmington beginning at 7 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Rt 86 westbound from Jay to Wilmington will close from 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Rt 9N will close Northbound from Keene to Jay at 6 a.m until 1:30 p.m. Haselton Road will close in both directions on between Bilhuber Rd and Silver Lake Rd 7:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Road closures (Rt 73) south/eastbound from Lake Placid to Keene beginning at 5 a.m. until noon. **NOTE FROM IRONMAN TO WILMINGTON ROAD RESIDENTS: The section of Wilmington Road from Northwood Road to the route 86/73 intersection will be closed to vehicle traffic and parking until 2 p.m. Homes and businesses in this area will be impacted as the cyclists will travel out and back on Wilmington Road/Route 86 from Northwood Road to the traffic light on Main Street at the Route 73 intersection. Thank you for your understanding and please use caution when exiting your residence as there will be bikes in both directions and they will be traveling in the opposite lane of traffic. Alternate Routes LAKE PLACID TO JAY: From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Right on Route 86 to Jay. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid, in Wilmington, and in Jay from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. AUSABLE FORKS TO WILMINGTON: North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Bonnieview Road to Wilmington. Expect delays at intersection in Wilmington. AUSABLE FORKS TO SARANAC LAKE/LAKE PLACID: North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Union Falls Road to Route 3. Left on Route 3 to Saranac Lake. In Saranac Lake take Route 86 East to Lake Placid. AUSABLE FORKS TO KEENE: Expect delays in Jay. SARANAC LAKE TO I-87 SOUTHBOUND: Route 3 West to Tupper Lake. Route 30 South to Long Lake. Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 2 East to Exit 29 on Route I-87 or Route 28N to Warrensburg. POINTS SOUTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID: Take exit 30 towards Keene. Follow route 9N to Rt 73. Expect delays at Keene. POINTS NORTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID: From Southbound on Route I-87 take exit 31 to Route 9N North. Route 9N North to Elizabethtown. Route 9N North to Route 73. Right on Route 73 to Keene. Expect delays at the intersection in Keene. KEENE TO LAKE PLACID: Route 73 Westbound lane open. Expect Delays at River Road/Ski Jumps intersection. Access Village of Lake Placid via Old Military Road. LAKE PLACID TO WILMINGTON/AUSABLE FORKS/I-87 NORTHBOUND: From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Straight through intersection on Bonnieview Road (County Route 19). Right on Silver Lake Road and follow detour arrows to Ausable Forks. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid and in Wilmington from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Carrie Gentile, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518-621-3665 July, 2019 Lake Placid, NY – The 20th annual IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon will take place from 6:25 a.m. to midnight Sunday, July 28. The triathlon route includes a 2.4-mile swim in Mirror Lake, a 112-mile bike ride through Lake Placid, Keene, Upper Jay, Jay, Black Brook, and Wilmington and a 26.2-mile run in and around the Lake Placid village. Temporary road closures will begin at 5 a.m. The following are all estimated times based on New York State Police traffic control. Please use caution and expect delays. Road closures (Route 86) Southbound in to Lake Placid from Wilmington beginning at 7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Route 86 westbound from Jay to Wilmington will close from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Route 9N will close Northbound from Keene to Jay at 6 a.m until 5 p.m. Haselton Road will be closed in both directions from Bilhuber Road to the Black Brook town line from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Haselton Road from Route 86 to Bilhuber Road will be open only Northbound from 8 a.m -5 p.m. Road closures (Route 73) south/eastbound from Lake Placid to Keene beginning at 5 a.m. until 4 p.m. Notice to residents and businesses along the Wilmington Road from the traffic light to the Alpine Cellar: NOTE FROM IRONMAN TO WILMINGTON ROAD RESIDENTS: There are some changes to the bike course. Your home or business will be impacted as the cyclists will travel out and back on Wilmington Road/Route 86 from Northwood Road to the traffic light on Main Street at the Route 73 intersection. Thank you for your understanding and please use caution when exiting your residence as there will be bikes in both directions and they will be traveling in the opposite lane of traffic. Alternate Routes LAKE PLACID TO JAY From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Right on Route 86 to Jay. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid, in Wilmington, and in Jay from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. AUSABLE FORKS TO WILMINGTON North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Bonnieview Road to Wilmington. Expect delays at intersection in Wilmington. AUSABLE FORKS TO SARANAC LAKE/LAKE PLACID North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Union Falls Road to Route 3. Left on Route 3 to Saranac Lake. In Saranac Lake take Route 86 East to Lake Placid. AUSABLE FORKS TO KEENE Route 86 West, crossing Jersey Bridge to Sheldrake Road. Right on North Jay Road. (County Route 64). Left on Valley Road (County Route 58). Right on Trumbulls Corner Road. Left on Route 9N South to Keene. Expect delays in Ausable Forks and at Route 9N intersection. SARANAC LAKE TO I-87 SOUTHBOUND Route 3 West to Tupper Lake. Route 30 South to Long Lake. Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 2 East to Exit 29 on Route I-87 or Route 28N to Warrensburg. POINTS SOUTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID From Northbound Route I-87 take exit 29 to Route 2 West to Route 28N. Turn right on Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 28N to Long Lake. Right on Route 30 to Tupper Lake. Right on Route 3 East to Saranac Lake. Take exit 30 towards Keene. Follow route 9N to Rt 73. Expect delays at Keene. POINTS NORTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID From Southbound on Route I-87 take exit 31 to Route 9N North. Route 9N North to Elizabethtown. Route 9N North to Route 73. Right on Route 73 to Keene. Expect delays at the intersection in Keene. KEENE TO LAKE PLACID Route 73 Westbound lane open. Expect Delays at River Road/Ski Jumps intersection. Access Village of Lake Placid via Old Military Road. LAKE PLACID TO WILMINGTON/AUSABLE FORKS/I-87 NORTHBOUND From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Straight through intersection on Bonnieview Road (County Route 19). Right on Silver Lake Road and follow detour arrows to Ausable Forks. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid and in Wilmington from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ###

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Carrie Gentile, communications coordinator; Regional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123 July 2019Jay, NY - An effort is underway to spur economic growth in the town of Jay through growing its tourism sector and by increasing the housing inventory in the region. Members of a newly formed Jay Task Force have been meeting since March to investigate and identify key initiatives to inspire growth in the town of Jay’s economy. “Our goals include attracting new residents, promoting the hidden gem businesses we have here already, and concentrating on the needs for housing,” said Spencer Reynolds, task force member and councilman for the town of Jay. The town of Jay is comprised of three Hamlets — Upper Jay, Jay, and Au Sable Forks, all located in Essex County. The town of Black Brook does share a portion of Au Sable Forks on the Clinton County side. Joining Reynolds are local business owners from all three hamlets, community members, representatives from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, Clinton County Industrial Development Agency and the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County.The group is exploring the idea of Jay becoming a hub for housing and whether individuals or families who work in the Plattsburgh or the Tri Lakes region would consider the commute from Jay. “Early on, the task force recognized that the town’s housing stock was a valuable community asset and that developing a local housing strategy is key to its economic future,” said task force member Bruce Misarski, development director of the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County.Area business owners are being asked to provide information on how housing is affecting their workforce. The task force will be distributing an employee housing survey to employers within a 30 mile radius to ascertain if their employees housing needs are or are not being met. Pending the results of the survey, the hopes are it can be used as an incentive tool for developers to bring in housing and businesses to the area, Reynolds said. The survey is being sent out this week via email to area employers.Members:Spencer Reynolds, Town of Jay CouncilmanThomas McDonald, Town of Jay CouncilmanAnnie Stoltie, Adirondack Life Magazine, EditorMichelle and William Axtell, Adirondack Mountain Coffee CafeDavid Brunner, Asgaard Farm & DairyLloyd Brewer, Brewer BuildersSierra & Cory Hanf, Hollywood TheaterLynn Edmonds, Town of Jay residentRebecca Kelly and Craig Brashear, Tahawus Cultural CenterAlex Eaton and Margo Brooks, Sugar House CreameryJames McKenna, Regional Office of Sustainable TourismMaryJane Lawrence, Regional Office of Sustainable TourismRenee McFarlin, Clinton County Industrial Development AgencyBruce Misarski, Housing Assistance Program of Essex CountyElisha Bartlett, Housing Assistance Program of Essex County###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 3, 2019 Adirondacks, USA — Fly fishermen from across the country and Canada will convene in Wilmington, NY, May 16 - 18 for the Ausable Two-Fly Challenge. This year’s catch and release tournament is celebrating twenty years of fishing, storytelling and raising money to preserve the West Branch of the Ausable River. Proceeds go to regional preservation non-profits and to stock the river. To mark the 20th anniversary, organizers added an extra day of fishing, expanded fishing hours and added more non-fishing events including a comedy night with well-known comedian Louis Ramey. He’s been featured on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Comedy Central’s USO Tour, Comedy Central’s World Comedy Tour and on his own half hour special, Comedy Central Presents: Louis Ramey. The Two-Fly Challenge starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 16 at the Wilmington Town Beach with a barbeque, beer, bonfire and a band. Anglers will fish all day Friday and Saturday morning on the beautiful and well-stocked Ausable River. Anglers are invited to a Fly Tier’s reception Friday evening, followed by the comedy night with Louis Ramey. The weekend wraps up Saturday evening with a banquet at Whiteface Mountain, complete with prizes, raffles, and awards and a new live auction. The 411 Anglers are allowed to bring two barb-less hook flies of any combination or patterns. Once the flies are lost or unusable, he or she is out. Anglers must fish with a partner and each must record the total number of fish caught, the length of each fish and the cumulative number of inches. The winner is determined by the highest cumulative length of each fish caught. There are four competitive categories: junior, men, women and professional. Each fisherman can choose just two flies to use per day. About the Ausable River and Wilmington It's the diversity of the river that allures many anglers to explore the West Branch of the Ausable River, located in New York’s Adirondack region. What stands out the most is the large amount of pocket water, where the best trout live. The river holds vast amounts of oxygen from water tumbling over the rocks and boulders, which provide plenty of hiding places, food and resting spots. The river also harbors slower sections that are deep with undercut banks. The town of Wilmington, just nine miles from Lake Placid, is home to fly-fishing shops, numerous guides, and affordable lodging and restaurants, not to mention gorgeous mountain scenery. Registration is open to the public, online at www.whitefaceregion.com/do/events/two-fly-challenge. For more information, contact the Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau at 518-946-2255, or via email at info@whitefaceregion.com. ###

Temporary road closure information for the IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Placid on Sunday, September 9 Alternate Routes Included Lake Placid, NY – The 2nd IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Placid triathlon will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept 9. The triathlon route includes a 1.2-mile swim in Mirror Lake, a 56-mile bike ride through Lake Placid, Keene, Upper Jay, Jay, Black Brook, and Wilmington, and a 13.1 mile run in and around the Lake Placid village. Temporary road closures will begin at 5 a.m. The following are all estimated times based on New York State Police traffic control. Please use caution and expect delays. Road closures (Rt 86) Northbound in to Lake Placid from Wilmington beginning at 7 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Rt 86 westbound from Jay to Wilmington will close from 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Rt 9N will close Northbound from Keene to Jay at 6 a.m until 1:30 p.m. Haselton Road will close in both directions on between Bilhuber Rd and Silver Lake Rd 7:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Road closures (Rt 73) south/eastbound from Lake Placid to Keene beginning at 5 a.m. until noon. Alternate Routes LAKE PLACID TO JAY: From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Right on Route 86 to Jay. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid, in Wilmington, and in Jay from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. AUSABLE FORKS TO WILMINGTON: North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Bonnieview Road to Wilmington. Expect delays at intersection in Wilmington. AUSABLE FORKS TO SARANAC LAKE/LAKE PLACID: North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Union Falls Road to Route 3. Left on Route 3 to Saranac Lake. In Saranac Lake take Route 86 East to Lake Placid. AUSABLE FORKS TO KEENE: Expect delays in Jay. SARANAC LAKE TO I-87 SOUTHBOUND: Route 3 West to Tupper Lake. Route 30 South to Long Lake. Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 2 East to Exit 29 on Route I-87 or Route 28N to Warrensburg. POINTS SOUTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID: From Northbound Route I-87 take exit 29 to Route 2 West to Route 28N. Turn right on Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 28N to Long Lake. Right on Route 30 to Tupper Lake. Right on Route 3 East to Saranac Lake. Take exit 30 towards Keene. Follow route 9N to Rt 73. Expect delays at Keene. POINTS NORTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID: From Southbound on Route I-87 take exit 31 to Route 9N North. Route 9N North to Elizabethtown. Route 9N North to Route 73. Right on Route 73 to Keene. Expect delays at the intersection in Keene. KEENE TO LAKE PLACID: Route 73 Westbound lane open. Expect Delays at River Road/Ski Jumps intersection. Access Village of Lake Placid via Old Military Road. LAKE PLACID TO WILMINGTON/AUSABLE FORKS/I-87 NORTHBOUND: From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Straight through intersection on Bonnieview Road (County Route 19). Right on Silver Lake Road and follow detour arrows to Ausable Forks. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid and in Wilmington from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ###

For Immediate Release ROOST TO HOST WHITEFACE REGION DESTINATION MARKETING REVIEW Wilmington, N.Y. — The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) invites all Whiteface region municipal leaders, businesses, organizations and individuals to attend a brief regional destination marketing review, followed by a reception at Pourman’s Tap House, on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 5:30-7 p.m. The agenda will include a brief presentation by ROOST staff and time for Q&A, followed by a networking opportunity with light refreshments and a cash bar. The purpose is to acquaint or reacquaint community members with their respective regional marketing manager and to give an update on ROOST’s progress on the scope of work related to tourism marketing initiatives. “I encourage our marketing partners to attend this informative, casual gathering,” said Catherine Ericson, Lake Placid and Whiteface regional marketing manager for ROOST. “It will be a great networking opportunity, and a chance to continue our ongoing dialogue about ROOST’s destination marketing strategies on behalf of the region." All those interested in attending the Lake Placid event are asked to RSVP to Catherine Ericson at catherine@roostadk.com. ROOST is the accredited destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for promoting Essex, Hamilton and Franklin counties in the Adirondacks of New York. For more information about ROOST and its team, visit roostadk.com. ###

Bike Trail Upgrades Part of Governor Cuomo's Adventure NY Initiative Wilmington, N.Y. - More than 1.5 miles of bike trails, including a new loop opportunity, have been added to the Beaver Brook Trail Network in the Adirondacks, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Bob Stegemann announced today. The trails are part of the Wilmington Bike Trail Network located on Forest Preserve lands in the Wilmington Wild Forest in the town of Wilmington, Essex County. "DEC continues to work with local government and other stakeholders to expand suitable recreational opportunities on the Adirondack Forest Preserve", said Director Stegemann. "The Adirondacks have long been a destination for hikers, paddlers, and campers during the summer. Now the area is becoming a destination for bikers while protecting the communities and pristine natural resources that have attracted people to the Adirondacks for more than a century." "Mountain biking in the Wilmington Wild Forest has been a huge success for Wilmington," said Randy Preston, Supervisor of the town of Wilmington. "The key has been the partnership between DEC, the town and BETA. DEC has listened to our requests and together we have developed the finest mountain biking trails in the Adirondacks. The system is located in a beautiful forested setting with views of the surrounding mountains which we continue to protect." The new trails were built under contract or agreement with and supervision of DEC as follows: The new 1.0-mile Ante Up Trail was constructed by Adirondack Mountain Club Professional Crew (ADK Pro Crew) and Barkeater Trail Alliance (BETA) volunteers; The new 0.25-mile Beaver Brook View Trail was constructed by BETA volunteers; and A new 0.3 mile section of the Lost Farm Trail was constructed by BETA volunteers. DEC also contracted with the ADK Pro Crew to construct a bridge over Beaver Brook that completes the loop on the Lost Farm Trail. This summer an Excelsior Conservation Corps work crew will improve the Beaver Brook View Trail to meet accessible trail standards to provide access for people with mobility disabilities. The trail improvements were made with $3,000 from the State's Environmental Protection Fund. The new trail increases the total mileage of trails in the Beaver Brook Trail Network to 8.5 miles and the mileage in the Wilmington Bike Trail Network to 21 miles. The Wilmington Bike Trail Network also includes 10 miles in the Flume Trail Network and the 2.5-mile Poor Man's Downhill Trail. Nearly two miles of additional trail mileage will be built this year in the Flume Trail Network, including a connector trail to the Wilmington Reservoir that will provide bikers with a connection between the trail network and the hamlet of Wilmington. This work will be completed through the combined efforts of BETA volunteers, crews from the ADK High School Volunteer Program, and crews from the Student Conservation Association Adirondack Program. The Flume Trail Network currently connects to the nearby Whiteface Mountain Bike Park via both the Lower Connector Trail and the Upper Connector Trail. Those two trails can be used free of charge and accessed from the Kid Kampus Parking Lot. A fee must be paid to use the other 25 trails and the services of the gondola lift and shuttles. Under Governor Cuomo's new Adventure NY Initiative, DEC is making strategic investments to expand access to healthy, active outdoor recreation; connect more New Yorkers and visitors to nature and the outdoors; protect natural resources; and boost local economies. This initiative will support the completion of more than 75 projects over the next three years, ranging from improvements to youth camps and environmental education centers to new boat launches, duck blinds, and hiking trails. National Geographic rated Wilmington one of America's 20 Best Mountain Bike Towns.

Wilmington, N.Y. — Fly fishermen from across the country and Canada will head to Wilmington, New York May 19 and 20 for the annual Ausable Two-Fly Challenge competition. It was founded 18 years ago by local anglers to celebrate the joy of the fishing, spirit of sportsmanship, and to help preserve a world-class fly fishery. All of the money raised from the entrance fees goes to preserving the river for future anglers. The funds are donated to the Ausable River Association and various other causes. According to lead organizer Michelle Preston, about 100 anglers are expected to participate. Rules for the catch-and-release tournament are simple: Anglers are allowed to bring two barb-less hook flies, of any combination or patterns. Once the flies are lost or unusable, he or she is out. Anglers must fish with a partner and each must record the total number of fish caught, the length of each fish and the cumulative number of inches. Only fish handled by the angler and successfully released will count as caught fish. The winner is determined by the highest cumulative length of each fish caught. There are four competitive categories: junior, men, women and professional. Each fisherman can choose just two flies to use per day. They must pick their flies they will use at the beginning of the day. If they lose them, they’re done. The Two-Fly Challenge begins Friday, May 19, with a day of fishing followed by a fly tyer’s reception that night where anglers can share the day’s experiences on the river while learning new skills from talented tyers. It will be held at Wilmington’s, newest gathering spot, Pourman’s Tap House. The ever-popular fly casting competition will be a part of the evening's festivities, and the band Fade to Blues will perform live music. Saturday morning check-in is followed by another exciting day of fishing on the beautiful Ausable River. The weekend finishes up on Saturday evening with a banquet complete with prizes, raffles and a presentation by a special guest speaker Robert Streeter. Registration is open to the public, online at http://www.active.com/wilmington-ny/fishing/18th-annual-ausable-river-two-fly-challenge-2017?int= For more information, contact the Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau at 518-946-2255, or via email at info@whitefaceregion.com.

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!

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 keeps a close eye on indicators such as Smith Travel Report data and occupancy tax collections to gauge our destinations’ economic health and to compare to our competitive set. Following is a snapshot of numbers to date! JAN-SEPT 2016 compared to JAN-SEPT 2015* Essex County Statewide Upstate New York Occupancy UP 2.4% 0.0% UP 0.2% Revenue UP 4.1% UP 2.4% UP 3.8% *Based on the Smith Travel Report (STR), which represents 67.9 percent of the rooms in Essex County. OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS - ESSEX COUNTY JAN-SEPT, 2016: $1,772,600 Based on these occupancy tax collections, which do not include day trips and other overnight visitation, we can estimate that taxable lodging sales were $59,075,000. Travel research indicates that lodging normally represents 1/3 of a traveler's expenses. That means that YTD in 2016: Estimated travel expenditures (tracked through occupancy tax only - which doesn't include day trips and other overnight visits) in Essex County = $177,225,000 SALES TAX determined via occupancy tax collections through September by travelers to Essex County = $7,089,000 Factors that played a part in this year's tourism activity include the largest conference year in North Elba's history, terrific weather for outdoor activities, events all over the county, including Ironman, the Lake Placid Horse Shows, Summit Lacrosse Tournaments, the Bike Fest in Wilmington, Adirondack Harvest Festival in Westport, a huge bass fishing tournament schedule on Lake Champlain, the Adirondack Distance Festival in Schroon Lake and a big push in leisure travel promotion. ROOST will post a year-end report in February!

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 has partnered with ORDA to offer Ski & Stay Packages on ROOST's LakePlacid.com and WhitefaceRegion.com websites. This is the result of months of work by staff at both organizations and marks the first time lift tickets will be sold online through these channels. Lift tickets are being sold at a discounted rate as part of Ski & Stay Packages, which are available to any lodging property with room inventory on the LakePlacid.com or WhitefaceRegion.com booking system. Lodging properties in the system will have to do very little additional setup or accounting to offer these packages. There will also be no additional charge or fee to the properties to sell these packages. Eight properties have already signed on to offer Ski & Stay Packages, and ROOST is excited to start promoting this with a targeted marketing campaign for the winter season. You can find more info here and contact Glenn Pareira at glenn@roostadk.com to start offering Ski & Stay Packages in association with your property.

Earlier this month, ROOST rolled out its new booking platform to the Whitefaceregion.com website that will keep ROOST's marketing efforts at the cutting edge of the industry. WhitefaceRegion.com is the second of ROOST's websites to receive this upgrade, following LakePlacid.com. The new platform replaces a much more limited one, which has been in place for many years. The system relies on a third-party software developed by the company Inntopia, out of Stowe, Vermont. The software provides businesses in the Whiteface Region the opportunity to reach visitors through a much more streamlined and user-friendly process. The platform also adds the ability for visitors to now book nearly any activity (admission tickets, guided tours, equipment rentals, etc.) all through the same system. Reservations are not just for lodging anymore! Whiteface Region businesses are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this new marketing tool. There is no setup fee or subscription fee, only a small percentage-based commission for sales made through the system. For more information, local businesses should contact Glenn Pareira at glenn@roostadk.com or 518-874-0255. ROOST will continue to bring this software to all of its destination sites in the coming year, including: SaranacLake.com, TupperLake.com, LakeChamplainRegion.com, SchroonLakeRegion.com, and AdirondackExperience.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"]

North Country Business Council Business After Hours Sponsored by High Falls Gorge DATE: Thursday, January 14th TIME: 5:30 - 7:00pm LOCATION: High Falls Gorge ADDRESS: 4761 NYS Route 86, Wilmington Come enjoy our cozy Cafe and Lounge area in one the of the Adirondacks most scenic places. Chef Tim Dulka will prepare some outstanding hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar of beer, wine and non alcoholic beverages will be available. Weather permitting, we'll even toast marshmallows around the campfire. And EVERYONE who attends will receive ONE FREE PASS (Limit 1 per person) to come back for a tour of High Falls Gorge this winter! All guests may enter the free prize drawings. Don't miss this opportunity to network and make new business contacts while exploring one of the gems of the Adirondacks - High Falls Gorge. $2 with a Reservation / $3 without Click here to RSVP or call Kerry Blinn at 524-6974

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.

ROOST in the news The Press-Republican of Plattsburgh details the boost the local economy gets from the Empire State Winter Games.

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