Lake Placid Olympics

This week in class we have discussed tourism in the 20th century in the Adirondacks, and more specifically we have focused on Lake Placid as a hub for tourism in the park. The Olympic games held in Lake Placid, both in 1932 and 1980, show the power of olympic games to create future tourism and improved infrastructure in the cities that hold the games. In the 20th century, it seems that the two Olympics held in Lake Placid were some of the most important events in the Adirondacks for both improving the local economy and boosting tourism. After reading up on the two Olympic games held in the park some notable events at the two games include- the introduction of the winner's podium occurred at the 1932 games and of course the 1980 games featured the "Miracle on Ice" in which the US national hockey team, comprised entirely of amateur/college players, defeated the world-renowned Russian hockey team amid the Cold War. The successes of these olympic games beg the question of whether Lake Placid, and the left-over 1980 facilities, would be suitable to host a future olympics?