This ski season, we’re celebrating a special milestone – the 90th anniversary of the legendary North Creek Snow Train. It’s a momentous occasion that marks the beginning of a skiing legacy in North Creek, New York, a tradition that has fueled winter tourism in the region for generations. Enthusiasts from all sectors, including local business owners, historians, and ski fans, are joining together to honor this historical landmark.
Back in 1934, the inaugural journey of the North Creek Snow Train saw 378 ski enthusiasts travel from Schenectady to North Creek, sparking off a winter sports revolution in the area. This year, key local entities and passionate individuals, including Gore Mountain, The Tannery Pond Community Center, The North Creek Depot Museum, The Johnsburg Historical Society, Revolution Rail Co., Cunningham’s Ski Barn, and many more, are coming together to celebrate the enduring spirit of the Snow Train.
The 2023-2024 Snow Season is packed with specially designed events to shine a light on the historical and cultural impact of the North Creek Snow Train. Get ready for a series of engaging activities ranging from historical walking tours at the Train Station and North Creek Ski Bowl, to screenings of classic ski films, engaging presentations, concerts, art exhibitions, exciting races, and unique commemorative items. Plus, local businesses like Barkeater Chocolates and Upper Hudson Coffee are joining the festivities with special Snow Train-themed products.
We invite all ski and history buffs to check out the full lineup of events and dive into this nostalgic journey. It’s a chance to relive the era of “Ride Up- Slide Down” in Adirondack history and recognize the role of the North Creek Snow Train in shaping generations of winter fun at Gore Mountain.
Digging into the past, skiing in the Adirondacks dates back to 1903 and surged in popularity through the 1920s and 1930s. The 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid fueled a regional passion for winter sports, leading Vincent Schaefer of Schenectady to spearhead the Snow Trains initiative to North Creek. This Olympic wave also inspired the American Legion in North Creek to create ski trails on Gore Mountain, catering to the Snow Train’s skiers.
The Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company launched the first Snow Train on March 4, 1934, transporting nearly 400 skiers from Schenectady to North Creek. At just $1.50 per round trip (about $34.70 today), it offered an affordable and exciting skiing experience, establishing North Creek as a beloved ski destination. By 1936, Snow Trains also began departing from Albany and New York City, sparking a tourism boom that significantly supported the local economy during the challenging times of the Great Depression.
Although the Snow Train era ended with World War II, its influence on ski history is unforgettable. Today, we celebrate this rich history and the lasting legacy of winter sports in North Creek and Gore Mountain.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, December 8, to Monday, March 4, 2023
December 8 & 9 | 7 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Warren Miller film “All Time” presented by Tannery Pond Center
January 10 | 5 PM @ Joe Minder Lodge at Gore Mountain Ski Bowl – Unveiling of Pioneer Inductee Plaques
January 14 | 3 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Coffeehouse Concert Series featuring Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys presented by Tannery Pond Center
January 14 | 7 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Unveiling of the restored 1939 drawing by Dorothea C. Loewel entitled “Pictorial Map of North Creek in the Adirondacks,” presented by the North Creek Depot Museum
January 27 | 7 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Jim Schaefer presentation on How Skiing Came to North Creek: Schenectady’s Role
February 10 | 7 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Old Ski Movie Night from the 1930s to the 1950s presented by the Depot Museum
February 17 | 7 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Jim Schaefer presentation on Schenectady’s Women of Winter: Frederica “Freddie” Anderson Pioneer Ski Instructor and Lois Perret (Schaefer), RN The First Aid Committee (Ski Patrol) 1933.
February 22 | 7 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Johnsburg Historical Society presentation on the WWII 10th Mountain Ski Division
March 2-4 @ Gore Mountain will be Celebrating the First Snow Train to arrive in North Creek
March 2 | Time TBD – Ski Bowl Snow Shoe presented by the North Creek Depot Museum
March 3 | 1 PM @ Tannery Pond Center – Johnsburg Community Story Recording Session and launch of Audio Walking Tour of North Creek.
Join the winter sports enthusiasts of the North Country in celebrating this historic milestone, reliving the era of the North Creek Snow Train, and embracing the enduring spirit of winter sports in North Creek and at Gore Mountain.