This season marks the 90th anniversary of the Snow Train that brought skiers to North Creek, New York, kickstarting generations of winter tourism in the area. Business owners, historians, and ski enthusiasts are commemorating this historic event.
The North Creek Snow Train’s inaugural voyage in 1934 transported 378 skiers from Schenectady to North Creek, kickstarting the region’s winter sports tourism attractions. This winter, in collaboration with the Town of Johnsburg, Gore Mountain, The Tannery Pond Community Center, The North Creek Depot Museum, The Johnsburg Historical Society, Revolution Rail Co., Cunningham’s Ski Barn, Ski enthusiasts, esteemed historians, artists, devoted residents, and local business owners, we unite to honor the rich legacy of this remarkable train.
Throughout the 2023-2024 Snow Season, an array of curated events will illuminate the vibrant history and cultural significance of the North Creek Snow Train. These events include walking history tours of the Train station and North Creek Ski Bowl, screenings of vintage films, presentations, concerts, artwork exhibitions, fun races, and commemorative giveaways, among other activities. Barkeater Chocolates is making a Snow Train chocolate bar and Upper Hudson Coffee is branding the Roosevelt Roast with the Snow Train logo. The full schedule of events is currently in development, with additional information forthcoming.
We encourage all winter aficionados and history enthusiasts to explore the comprehensive schedule of events and immerse themselves in this remarkable journey through time. Discover the story of how the North Creek Snow Train became an indelible part of the “Ride Up- Slide Down” era of Adirondack history and the catalyst for generations of winter enjoyment at Gore Mountain.
HISTORY:
The origins of skiing in the Adirondacks trace back to as early as 1903, with skiing gaining popularity through the 1920s and early 1930s. The 1932 Winter Olympics held in nearby Lake Placid ignited a fervor for winter sports throughout the region, prompting Vincent Schaefer of Schenectady to organize efforts to bring Snow Trains to North Creek. His group lobbied various railroad companies to establish trips to potential ski areas, including North Creek and the burgeoning Ski Bowl. The Olympics inspired leaders of the American Legion in North Creek who built several ski trails on Gore for skiers who came on the Snow Train.
On March 4, 1934, the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company inaugurated the first-ever Snow Train, carrying nearly 400 skiers from Schenectady to North Creek. This affordable round-trip adventure, priced at $1.50 (equivalent to $34.70 today), was met with tremendous enthusiasm, transforming North Creek into a cherished skiing destination. By 1936, Snow Trains were departing from Albany and New York City, ushering in an era of increased tourism that significantly bolstered the local economy during the Great Depression.
Though the Snow Train era eventually concluded during World War II, its impact on the history of skiing remains indelible. Today, we commemorate this storied past and the enduring legacy of winter sports in North Creek and at 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.
