ORDA says Gore Mountain saw higher visits this winter; zip coaster work under way

Representatives from the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) updated the Johnsburg Town Board on Gore Mountain’s winter season and summer plans, highlighting increases in visitation and local youth participation.

Ashley Walden, introduced by the board as an ORDA representative, said the mountain hosted 136 ski days and “we welcomed over 260,000 skiers and riders,” up from about 242,000 the prior year. Walden credited improvements to mountain infrastructure — including the new station lodge — and growth in lessons and youth programs as drivers of the rise in visits. She said the station lodge opened Jan. 9 and Timber and Time began serving guests on Jan. 15.

Bong Baze, also representing ORDA, outlined summer programming that will operate largely from the Ski Bowl this year: chairlift rides on the Hudson chair, a music series, a car show, food trucks, and community races. He also described larger events planned for the season and said contractors were back on-site installing towers for the zip coaster project but that “we don’t as of yet have an opening date” for that attraction.

Board members pressed ORDA on how the 260,000 figure is calculated; Baze said counts come from electronic gate systems at lift bases and are cross-checked against ticket sales. The board also discussed use of resident punch cards and free skiing for residents 18 and younger who are school-aged Johnsburg residents under the town’s agreement. The presenters said the punch-card program and expanded youth participation are part of ORDA’s effort to tie the ski facilities more closely to the community.

The presentation closed with the board thanking ORDA for the season and the presenters indicating they will return to future meetings as needed.