LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- The Wilmington Historical Society will present “Whiteface Ski History” at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, located in the Olympic Center, on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. The free presentation will include an overview of Wilmington’s Whiteface Mountain ski area history from the 1940’s to the 1980 Olympics.

The slide show will explore the ski area’s original site at Marble Mountain, in 1948, and how Whiteface Ski Center became a much larger ski facility when it moved to its current site in 1958. 

Presenters, Karen Peters, President of the Wilmington Historical Society, and former trustee, Guy Stephenson will discuss how early development planners, local skiers, and celebrities grew the region’s ski industry into an economic driver.  Focus will be on ski history starting in the 1940’s and how the culmination of so many individual’s efforts in the decades following resulted in a successful Winter Olympics alpine venue.  The presentation will show how Whiteface Mountain has emerged as a world-class host and remains a valuable asset of New York State.

The program is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be provided by the Country Bear in Wilmington and beverages will be available.  Those that attend will have an opportunity that evening to view the Lake Placid Olympic Museum’s new exhibit, Name Game: A History of Whiteface.

The Lake Placid Olympic Museum is located at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.  For more information, please call the Wilmington Historical Society at 518-420-8370 or the museum at 518-302-5326 about the event.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.