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Lake Placid's Olympic
Legacy
Ice harness racing, ice skating, and hockey were
the first winter sports enjoyed by Lake Placid
residents. But it was Melvil Dewey at the Lake
Placid Club who kept his famous summer resort open
during the winter of 1904-05 for guests to
experiment with winter fun on skis, snowshoes, and
toboggans. Interest in recreational and competitive
winter sports grew over the years. As the community
hosted sporting events, Lake Placid became
recognized nationally as a leader in winter sports,
and as a producer of fine winter athletes. For
example, at the first Olympic Winter Games in
Chamonix, France, Lake Placid resident Charles
Jewtraw won the first gold medal of the Games, and
the USA bobsled team medaled in 1928.
Lake Placid's success with and interest in winter
sports led the townspeople in the 1920s to bid for
the 1932 Games, with two main goals in mind: To
construct or upgrade winter facilities, and to
become recognized as a leader in the resort and
sports world. Both of these goals were accomplished
with the 1932 Games.
In the late 1920s and early '30s, sports
facilities, including the first indoor ice
arena, were constructed. The township surrounding
Lake Placid developed a funding mechanism that
continues today: a Park District town tax that
provides an ongoing source of revenues for facility
maintenance. Though the Olympic venues are managed
and operated by the New York State Olympic Regional
Development Authority, formed after the 1980
Olympics, the, township retains ownership of the
Olympic Center, speedskating oval, and Olympic
Jumping complex.
From 1932 to the 1950s, Lake Placid hosted more
international sporting events and produced more
athletes on U.S. Olympic teams than any other town
in the U.S.
The Olympic Winter Games brought worldwide
recognition to Lake Placid and led to increased
tourism, the backbone of the economy here in the
Adirondack Mountains. The success of the 1932 Games
expanded the summer tourism season here, and the
meetings/convention business was launched. The Games
also drove investment to this area during the Great
Depression.
The bid process for the 1980 Games actually began
in 1954. A total of 13 bids were presented to the
United State Olympic Committee (USOC) and the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the
years, resulting in the awarding of the 1980 Games
in 1974. Again, the community's goals were to update
sports facilities and bring international
recognition to Lake Placid, and again, those goals
were met with the 1980 Gaines.
The years following the 1980 Olympic Winter Games
saw Lake Placid develop more of a year 'round
economy, with tourism business extending into the
spring and fall months. While there were no major
hotel developments, many area businesses have been
expanded or upgraded over the years. Tourism into
the area has increased by I 00 percent since pre-
1980. And the community welcomed the USOC's decision
to establish Lake Placid as an official Olympic
training site.
Lake Placid's ties to the Olympics span nearly 80
years. There is a movement to once again pursue
hosting of an Olympic Games. The newly formed
Adirondack Sports Commission is working to bring
another Olympic Winter Games back to Lake Placid and
the Adirondacks sometime in the 21st century.
Article and Pictures Courtesy of
Lake Placid Essex County Visitors
Bureau
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