Ski Industry Rallies To Resurrect Shuttered New York Ski Area
Hickory Ski Center, located near Lake George, NY, hasn't spun its chairlifts in eight seasons. That's about to change thanks to a partnership between ski media site Unofficial Networks and The Indy Pass.
Check out the exiting announcement made via Instagram below:
The Indy Pass, which is now owned by Entabeni Systems, got involved in the project after a call from Unofficial Networks' founder Tim Konrad.
Konrad, like many skiers who frequent the Adirondacks, enjoyed ski touring at Hickory over the last few seasons, but sprung to action when he learned that the ski area needed just a bit of assistance to reopen its lifts.
According to a press release shared with POWDER, Konrad called Entabeni and Indy Pass CEO Erik Mogensen to make the deal happen.
Mogensen, who also stepped in to save Black Mountain in New Hampshire this Fall, doubled down on his commitment to preserving small, independently run ski areas:
“After Tim called, we did a quick assessment and decided that Entabeni would step in on this one. It is important to recognize the collaboration between Entabeni, Indy Pass, and Unofficial Networks. The more organizations we can get involved to stabilize these small, independent areas, the better our chances of scaling this movement,"
Indy Pass
Sue Catana, Hickory's manager and daughter of founders Fran and Hans Winbauer, expressed her gratitude for Konrad's and the Indy Pass' involvement in resurrecting Hickory:
“We have been working with our Hickory skiing community to help overcome the financial obstacles that could prevent the opening of the lifts at Hickory. The emergence of Tim and Erik with their lifeline has put us in a position to operate this season with lift certification, and hopefully for many more to come,”
Hickory will need to get its lifts inspected and wrap up a few operational tasks before it can once again open to the public. A targeted opening day has not been stated, but it's clear that they intend on opening this season.
FACEBOOK/Hickory Ski Center
Mountain Gazette (MG), a larger-than-life print publication, is also stepping in to help bring Hickory back to life through the sale of limited edition merchandise.
The 'I Helped Save A Small Ski Area' collection, emblazoned with the Hickory Ski Center logo, is currently available for purchase with 100% of the proceeds going to the Hickory Legacy Foundation.
MG's Editor Mike Rogge is personally invested in bringing back Hickory as it's where he "learned to ski powder", according to a text message he sent about the initiative.
It's clear that Hickory has left an impact on some of the largest names in the ski industry, and they're not willing to let it die without a fight.
Kudos to Tim Konrad from Unofficial Networks (my former boss!), Indy Pass/Entabeni Systems, Mountain Gazette, and everybody else who has worked hard to bring Hickory back from the dead.
Skiing needs small ski areas more than ever. It's refreshing to see one get the love and care it deserves.
FACEBOOK/Hickory Ski Center
Hickory Ski Center Stats/Info:
Vertical: 1,200 ft.
Skiable Terrain: 225 ac.
Average Snowfall: 80 in.
Lifts: 4
Trails: 18
Night Skiing: YES
Mega-Pass: Indy Pass
Related: Indy Pass Rescues Struggling Ski Area From Uncertain Future
Don't miss another headline from POWDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing.
We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging ski-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on POWDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality ski videos.
