Story reprinted from article first appearing in the April 8, 2006 issue of Adirondack Journal.
Gore connection closer to reality. By Nancy O'Brien

  NORTH CREEK – His dream is finally coming true, and Bill Thomas is now figuring out the details.
    The Johnsburg Supervisor recently got word that the state legislature has included $5.5 million to help fund the connection between Gore Mountain and the Ski Bowl Park, also known as Little Gore, in North Creek.
    State Sen. Betty Little called Thomas as soon as the bill was passed, and when she was told that Thomas was in a meeting, she asked that he be pulled out of the meeting to hear the news.
    “She was so excited,” Thomas said. “She’s been working very hard for us and she came through.”
    Gov. George Pataki visited the Ski Bowl Park last summer and seemed very supportive of the project, which also has the support of a private developer. FrontStreet Corporation has purchased the land at the ski bowl with the intention of investing $200 million in townhouses, single family homes, restaurant, inns and a golf course. Mac and David Criklair, owners of FrontStreet, were very excited when they heard the news about the money, Thomas said.
     The $5.5 million was passed as part of the state budget that has yet to be approved by Pataki, according to Sen. Little’s spokesperson Dan MacEntee.

       “The legislature has agreed to this funding and is passing bills for the budget,” MacEntee said. “It is subject to the governor’s consideration and he had 10 days to sign or veto, but we’re very hopeful. This project has a lot of support and enthusiasm.”
   Thomas said the money would be used to replace the lift at the ski bowl that stopped running in 1976. The old ski bowl trails will be upgraded and the new trails will be cut as well.
   “We’re hoping we can make a connection to Gore with the money, but we really need another $6 million to make the trail from Little Gore to a new lift on Burnt Mountain,” he said. A trail could be cut within a short distance to the main lodge at Gore Mountain with a small lift to bring skiers there.
   “It’s not a great downhill trail, but it would be a way for skiers to get there,” he said. The ultimate plan is to develop Burnt Mountain on Gore, and build a lift to the summit of that mountain. Skiers from Little Gore would have a more direct route to Gore Mountain when that project receives the needed funding and is complete.
   “This is a culmination of what I have been working on since I’ve been supervisor and I’m in my 17th year’” Thomas said. “We’re hoping to have some trails cut before fall.”



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