New and cozy accommodations, festive special events, and upgrades at ski areas guarantee an incredible winter getaway
New York, NY – January 5, 2023 – As the winter season kicks into high gear, New York State welcomes visitors from near and far to enjoy high adrenaline ski adventures, après ski drinks in igloo bars, and hot chocolate by the crackling fire. Travelers will be greeted with annual events from spectacular light displays and magical colorful ice castles, to improved guest experiences at several ski mountains and resorts, helping couples, families and friends make unforgettable memories this winter.
I LOVE NY Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “Whether you’re an outdoor adventurer ready to brave the snowy mountains or a luxury traveler craving the ultimate wellness retreat, New York offers it all. Heading into this wonderful time of year, over 50 ski areas across New York – more than any other state – offer fantastic ski experiences with improvements like high-speed quad chairlifts, new trails and snowmaking systems. Residents and visitors are invited to come be a part of the snowy magic and find what they love during winter in New York State.”
Here’s a sampling of what to experience this winter:
Icy Attractions Not to Miss
Perfect for visitors of all ages, the state has exciting indoor and outdoor activities:
- Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games (Lake Placid and surrounding communities) – January 12 - 22, 2023 – New York State is hosting the largest winter collegiate sporting event – the 2023 Lake Placid FISU World University Games. Student-athletes from 600 universities and 50 countries, will compete in 12 winter sports including ice hockey, ski jumping, and snowboarding, at venues throughout northern New York including Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Wilmington, North Creek, Canton and Potsdam.
- Lake Placid Olympic Facilities & Museum – Revel in the glory of Olympic heroes from the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games during a visit to the newly-reopened Lake Placid Olympic Museum. Facilities have been rebuilt and modernized, including a complete upgrade to “Miracle Plaza” with dining options, a large shopping area, and unmatched views of the majestic Adirondack mountains.
- The Sagamore Resort’s Glacier Ice Bar (Lake George) – January 20 - 21 & January 27 - 28, 2023 – As colder air hits New York, the Sagamore converts its outdoor patio into an elaborate Glacier Ice Bar. More than 18,000 pounds of crystal-clear ice transform this historic hotel area into one of the “hottest and coolest lounges” in the Adirondacks. This year’s theme is “Arctic Wild” and will feature polar bears and penguin vignettes, along with festive cocktails, tasty chili and chowder, fireworks, and picturesque scenes.
- Ice Castles (Lake George) – Ice Castles returns to New York State at Charles Wood Park in Lake George. Each castle is built by hand and takes thousands of hours to create, measures approximately one acre in size and consists of more than 25 million pounds of ice. The attraction, featuring ice displays with colorful LED lights, is open six days a week – Tuesdays are dark.
Winter Wonderlands for Memorable Moments
Check out these spectacular combinations of snow, ice, and lights.
- Cooperstown Winter Carnival – February 2 - 5, 2023 – This family-friendly event kicks off with hot cocoa, fireworks, a craft fair, fun activities at Lake Front Park, and an ice-skating party.
- Saranac Lake Winter Carnival – February 3 - 12, 2023 – Visit the Adirondacks for this week-long festival celebrating its 126th winter carnival. The signature ice palace is built by volunteers from solid blocks of ice, and the event offers a variety of shows, concerts, ski and snowshoe races, art shows, and a closing fireworks display.
Cozy Lodging for Snowy Weekends
Get a full night’s rest at one of New York State’s newest properties:
- Bluebird Lake Placid – The 90 rooms and suites designed with Scandinavian and Japanese influences imbue a relaxed and inspirational feeling to the modern boutique hotel. Some suites host up to eight guests, including a family dog. Simple comforts and modern amenities make it a perfect landing spot after a day of adventure, and the new Après Only bar and tasting room celebrates classic New York ski culture. (Opening January 11, 2023)
- Eastwind Oliverea (Big Indian) - Featuring 30 intimate accommodation options, this new hotel offers sweeping views of the Catskills region. With direct access to the McKinley Hollow Trailhead and on-site wood barrel saunas, the hotel ensures a mix of adventure and relaxation. (Opening January 6, 2023)
- Richardson Hotel (Buffalo) - Formerly known as Hotel Henry, this National Historic Landmark is reopening with 88-rooms, a refreshed entry, ballroom, and Forest Street Bistro. (Open now to guest bookings)
Ski Mountain Upgrades For All Levels
Get ready to hit the slopes at one of the more than 50 ski areas across the state. Improvements to the guest experience include the following by region:
Adirondacks
- Gore Mountain (North Creek) features a new 60-foot wide intermediate trail from the top of Burnt Ridge Mountain, and 230 additional snow guns to keep more trails open longer. An 18,000+ square foot base lodge is being added to the Ski Bowl. Expected to be complete this year, the lodge will feature a restaurant, a tavern, and two levels of patios with scenic views.
- Mt. Van Hoevenberg (North Elba) complements its Bobsled Experience with the new Skeleton Experience. It sends solo riders head-first down an indoor sliding track at 30 mph and is one of the only places on earth guests can try either sport.
- Snow Ridge (Turin) offers up to 33 trails, including two new ones for this season with a fully replaced snowmaking fleet. Little Mountain renovations continue with the dismantling of the old Snowy Meadow Chair to widen Easy Rider, as well as slowing down the running speed of Little Mountain Chair to make it easier to use.
- Whiteface Mountain (Wilmington) welcomes a pair of new trails, Ausable Run and Yellow Dot, and essential trails for major competitions have been widened. More than 150 new low-energy snow guns allow for efficient and sustainable snowmaking efforts.
Catskills
- Belleayre Mountain (Highmount) has improved its snowmaking capacity with 50,000 feet of new pipe, snow guns, and high efficiency pumps. Guests will enjoy a heated patio, new outdoor food service area, extensive pavement, and expanded retail shop on the main level.
- Plattekill (Roxbury) added an all-new beginner trail named "Rascal’s Flats" after the mountain dog. Its most popular beginner trail, "Powder Puff," has added snowmaking abilities and was significantly widened to provide beginners with more room to maneuver. The base lodge welcomes guests with new steps to the deck area, kiosks for walk-up and drive-up customers, plus online enhancements to make rebooking tickets or checking in for lessons seamless.
Chautauqua-Allegheny
- Peek’n Peak Resort (Clymer) has enhanced the guest experience with a redesigned rental shop, new outdoor deck, two new Piston Bully groomers, miles of snowmaking line improvements, and a new cashless system.
Finger Lakes
- Greek Peak Mountain Resort (Cortland) upgrades include a new triple-chair lift, a $700,000 snow-making upgrade and a new family trail ski project. Anyone ages 7 and up can learn to ski with the new Intro2Snow program, and kids ages 7 – 14 can explore more of the mountain’s terrain in a new Mountaineer Ski Club.
Hudson Valley
- Catamount Mountain Resort (Hillsdale) offers expanded night skiing, a new base area courtyard, and re-configured learning area. This is in addition to extensive upgrades to the snowmaking system, and 100 additional snow guns on several mountains. A new snow tubing park debuts this season featuring a magic carpet lift and lights for night tubing.
- Mount Peter (Warwick) recreated its Valley View Learning Center, which now has three progressive trails, each with its own carpet lift. It has also increased its rental fleet by 30% and increased parking capacity by an additional 20%.
- Windham Mountain (Windham) upgrades include a new high-speed quad chairlift, significant upgrades to automated snowmaking, and the purchase of 450 acres of land for expansion.
Perfect for the young skier, the SKI NY Passport Program-Kids Ski Free is back for the 2022-23 season. Kids in third and fourth grades can ski for free with parents or guardian at mountains including Belleayre, Gore, Greek Peak, Holiday Valley, Snow Ridge, Swain, and Whiteface.
For more information on new developments and other happenings in New York State, visit iloveny.com. Media can find press releases and more at iloveny.com/thebeat.
About New York State
New York State is a premier vacation destination with world-class attractions, picturesque natural beauty, locally sourced cuisine and a booming craft beverage scene, an array of accommodations, and iconic, year-round festivals and events. Its 11 diverse vacation regions feature some of the world’s top ranked beaches; two out of America’s top three favorite state parks; breathtaking Niagara Falls; more ski areas than any other state; one of the nation’s longest foliage seasons; multiple Halls of Fame; North America’s longest, fastest and highest zipline; the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States; and the country’s longest multi-use trail. Add in the state’s unique museums, historic landmarks, cultural sites, charming small towns and urban playgrounds, and it’s no wonder New York has been consistently chosen as a top getaway by travel publications and experts.
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Finn Partners
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Empire State Development
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