8 Places In Lake Placid That Will Bring Out The Olympian In Everyone
By Lea Monroe|Updated on May 27, 2024(Originally published February 09, 2018)
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Lea Monroe
Author
Writer for Only In Your State. Scribbling about all things New York and Buffalo related while also keeping you updated on the latest travel news! Inquiries: Lmonroe@onlyinyourstate.com
There’s a reason why so many people are interested in checking out Lake Placid for themselves. Are you wondering “How many times has NY hosted the Olympics?” then you’ve come to the right place! Hosting the Winter Olympics not once but twice, our small Adirondack town was where everyone came to see these legendary games in 1932 and 1980. Today the town is still a destination that athletes from all over the world come to visit, using our historic sports complexes for practice as they prepare for the Lake Placid Olympics.
With pieces of our Olympic history still decorated all over Lake Placid, here are some of the most amazing places that you can visit in town that will bring out the Olympian in you!
1. Ski Jumps
Olympic Ski Jump Tower, 52 Ski Jump Ln, Lake Placid, NY 12946, USA
You'll feel like a true Olympian when you stay at Mirror Lake Inn. It's full of history! Many people may be familiar with the fact that Mirror Lake Inn has been around for quite some time. Known for being one of the best lakeside hotels in New York, Mirror Lake Inn was rented out by the entire Norwegian Team during the 1932 Winter Olympics. Guests who stay at this inn will feel like true royalty of Lake Placid with easy access to award-winning waterfront restaurants and unforgettable views that past Olympians have enjoyed.
Dog sled rides onto the lake will make you feel like an Olympian without having to do much work! Once Mirror Lake freezes over for the year, you'll find people offering dog sled rides along Lake Placid's Main Street. At the 1932 Winter Olympics, there were dog sled races, with seven participants hailing from the U.S. and the remaining five racing for Canada. So if you're not a fan of ice skating but want to get out on the frozen water, this may be the perfect way to do so.
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4. Herb Brooks Arena
Herb Brooks Arena, 2634 Main St, Lake Placid, NY 12946, USA
One of the most important places to visit in Lake Placid is the Herb Brooks Arena, where the famous 1980 Miracle on Ice happened. If you're curious about Olympic arenas in NY, this is the right place to visit! This arena is a part of the Olympic Center, and you won't find a more exciting piece of history within Lake Placid. The famous arena where the USA hockey team beat out the Soviet Union, it's the only ice skating rink in New York that holds so much history. Today, visitors can check out the Herb Brooks Arena to see local ice skating competitions, hockey games, and other fun shows that are put on out on the ice.
5. The Lake Placid Olympic Museum
Lake Placid Olympic Museum, 2634 Main St, Lake Placid, NY 12946, USA
Dive into the past and surround yourself with actual pieces of history at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. This quaint museum is another incredible piece of the Lake Placid Olympic Center. It's one of the many local attractions that you can visit for free if you purchase your own Olympic passport. The museum features all sorts of fascinating exhibits that will give you a glimpse into the history of the Winter Olympics. It allows you to see how things like the torches and clothing have changed over the years. You'll love walking through time at this museum. Find more details and get tickets to the Lake Placid Olympic Museum soon! It's one of the best museums in New York.
James B. Sheffield Olympic Skating Rink is easy to spot off of Main Street. Take your ice skates out onto the lovely rink. This location is where the speed skating events took place at both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Visitors of Lake Placid can now skate around the historic rink to feel like true Olympians. The skating rink is open to the public and features a beautiful view of the town and mountains that most rinks don't have the pleasure of having. If you're a fan of mountain views in New York, this is the place for you!
7. Mount Van Hoevenberg
Mount Van Hoevenberg, Mt Van Hoevenberg, North Elba, NY 12946, USA
Head on over to Mount Van Hoevenberg to experience our Olympic cross-country trails. If you're looking for a magical place to go cross-country skiing within the Adirondack forests, then you must plan a visit to Mount Van Hoevenberg. The skiing center has over thirty miles of trails to check out that will leave you nothing short of impressed. In fact, we think it's one of the most fun places to go skiing in New York!
The bobsled rides at our Olympic Sports Complex will leave you speechless and smiling from ear to ear. They are practically guaranteed to get your blood pumping! The bobsled rides are one of the most thrilling ways to dive into our local history. You'll get more than your daily dosage of adrenaline when you go for a ride at Lake Placid's Olympic Sports Complex. The complex is home to the only combined bobsled, luge, and skeleton track east of the Rockies and offers rides for visitors who are brave enough to see what it's like to ride like an Olympian. Reaching up to 55MPH, the one-minute long ride may be short but you'll surely never forget it. Are you ready to experience this bobsled in New York?
And last but not least, you must check out our Olympic Jumping Complex. Sending you out into crisp mountain air, the Olympic Jumping Complex offers some of the most dreamy views of Lake Placid that you can find in the area. Visitors who aren't actually interested in skiing off of the jumps can take a jaw-dropping elevator ride to the top, where you'll have sweeping views of our Adirondack Park and our Olympic town from above.
So, who's ready to feel like a true Olympian in the breathtaking town of Lake Placid?
When it comes to Lake Placid Olympics attractions, which spot in town is your favorite to check out? Speaking of amazing places in the Adirondacks, check out a cool rural New York Store. If you’re hoping to read up on more great attractions in New York, take some time to look through Bookshop and find some great new books.
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