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 (the brother of Adirondack conservationist Paul Schaefer) to organize efforts to bring Snow Trains to North Creek in Warren County.
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 Mountain 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 378 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, and helped transform North Creek into a 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.
This season marks the 90th anniversary of the Snow Train that brought skiers to North Creek in Warren County, kick-starting generations of winter tourism in the area. Business owners, historians, and ski enthusiasts are commemorating this historic event.
Throughout the 2023-2024 Snow Season, an array of curated events illuminated the history and cultural significance of the North Creek Snow Train.
Those events included 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 made a Snow Train chocolate bar and Upper Hudson Coffee branded its Roosevelt Roast with the Snow Train logo.
For more information about these events and to stay updated on future activities, visit The Tannery Pond Center’s Schedule of Events.
The events were a collaboration between 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, historians, artists, residents, and local business owners.
Photo: The North Creek Ski Train arrives in North Creek ca. 1930s-40s.
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