LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Three Olympic venues open this weekend as the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) ramps up a full slate of family fun and activities throughout the summer and fall seasons.

The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, in Wilmington, N.Y., kicks off the openings on Friday, May 18. The Highway, stretching eight miles, from Wilmington to the summit, allows visitors to drive to the top of New York State’s fifth-highest peak. Once at the summit, guests can enjoy unparalleled views of the Adirondack High Peaks and visit a castle made of native stone. The Highway is open weekends only through May 28, then daily, from June 1 through October 8.

The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex, home of the combined bobsled/luge/skeleton track and the 1932 and 1980 Olympic bobsled track, opens Saturday, May 19, for venue tours.  The one-mile long combine track has become a regular stop on the bobsled, luge and skeleton World Cup circuits, while the 1932 and 1980 Olympic bobsled track is listed with the National Register of Historic Places.  

The Olympic Jumping Complex, home to the 90-meter and 120-meter ski jump towers and the freestyle aerial training facility, opens for chairlift and elevator tours on Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will be open daily through October. The complex offers a 26-story elevator ride to the sky deck atop the 120-meter tower for spectacular views of the Adirondacks. As you tour the venue, check out the high flying athletes training for their chance at Olympic greatness.

The Lake Placid Olympic Museum is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. providing a complete overview of Lake Placid’s Olympic heritage, including the 1980 Miracle on Ice.

Visitors can enjoy many of these activities for one low price, when purchasing the single use Olympic Sites Passport, for $40 or the unlimited access, Gold Pass, for $89.  Both passes give guests access to everyone of ORDA’s Olympic venues—from Whiteface to the Olympic Sports Complex and everything in between.

For more information on ORDA and its Olympic venues or how to purchase the Olympic Sites Passport or Gold Pass, visit www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.

-- 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.