Spectators are welcome to watch the epic Black Fly Challenge, this year going from Inlet to Indian Lake (they switch up the start/finish between the two each year), and there’s much more going on around the Adirondacks to check out.
Black Fly Challenge, Boreal Birding Festival & More Fun Around the Park
This week’s featured events include a birding festival, the opening of Hancock House for the season, a classic car show, a townwide garage sale, and of course Americade is happening in the southern Adirondack region.
- Adirondack Boreal Birding Festival: June 9 – 12
- TACC Fundraiser Dinner & Auction: June 10
- Hancock House Opens With Free Program: June 10
- Black Fly Challenge: June 11
- Antique & Classic Car Show at Adirondack History Museum: June 11
- Americade in Lake George: through June 11
- Thurman Town-Wide Garage Sale: June 11 & 12
- Saranac Lake River Cleanup: June 12
- Lake Placid Marathon & Half Marathon: June 12
- Warrensburg Bike Rally: through June 12
Browse the events calendar for more >>
Birds, Art, Business News & More Around the ADK
Bird Study Opens Up to Non-Birding Experts
Bird-watchers in the Adirondacks are asked to report their sightings to the eBird site/app, which is run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The New York Breeding Bird Atlas is currently in the middle of a multi-year, field-data-collecting project that centers around, you guessed it, bird breeding.
Adirondack Explorer reports that prior to this current study, most bird data was contributed by bird experts. Now, they need all the bird data they can get. Some of the species targeted in the study are known for avoiding humans, so those who bird-watch out in rural areas of the Adirondacks may be more likely to experience these rare bird sightings.
Project coordinators are especially interested in sightings of raptors like the Northern goshawk, Cooper’s hawk, the sharp-shinned hawk, and red-shouldered hawk; owl sightings are also appreciated. Please don’t disturb nesting birds. You can check out the app and site at ebird.org.
Cascade Welcome Center is Now Open in Lake Placid
The Adirondack Mountain Club has announced the Cascade Welcome Center is now open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to stop by for info on trail conditions, local events, and more. There are also free public restrooms and essential outdoor gear for sale like maps, bear canisters, and headlamps. The Welcome Center is located along Route 73 between Lake Placid and Keene.
Read more about the new Center here: https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center-opens/
Word of Life Lodge Sold to Spring City Development Group
The Word of Life Lodge, originally known as the Brown Swan Club in Schroon Lake, is under contract to be purchased by Spring City Development Group of Saratoga Springs for $4.3 million, according to the Albany Business Review.
The development group, which is a subsidiary of Bonacio Construction, plans to invest $16 million into the property and turn it into a resort with a restaurant and theater for movies, concerts, and other performances. Although the price tag seems hefty and plans elaborate, developers reportedly want to keep this resort accessible for all. Guests should not expect a high-end, luxury resort but something “geared toward the average Joe.”
They also want to operate within the vibe of Schroon Lake, which is decidedly different from Lake George, Lake Placid, or other Adirondack resort destinations. It will undoubtedly be exciting to see what the new resort owners come up with!
Adirondack Art Association Gallery Celebrates New Space
Adirondack Art Association has moved down the block from their location next to the Pink Pig to 2310 Main Street in Essex, the nonprofit announced via the Essex on Lake Champlain blog.
They’ll take up the main space of the building from July 1 to September 5 (a slightly shorter than normal season for them), and hope to be open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm, depending on coverage. The Book and Leaf, a new bookstore, should open in the same building in 2023.
View top tips on hiking with kids >>
Sources:
- Adirondack Explorer: New York Breeding Bird Atlas requests help from public
- Albany Business Review: The Best-Kept Secret in the Adirondacks
- Essex on Lake Champlain: Adirondack Art Association’s Gallery is back and in a new space!
