Historic Adirondack Ski Center to Operate Lifts for First Time in 8 Years
Hickory Ski Center’s Poma lifts and T-bars will once again carry skiers to some of the Adirondack’s most thrilling terrain.
Photos courtesy Hickory Ski Center
Adirondack ski enthusiasts cheered loudly this week with the announcement that Hickory Ski Center outside of Warrensburg secured funding to operate its lifts and be fully operational for the 2023/2024 ski season. Specifically, they’ve attained the required financing to cover their full insurance premium payment of $38,000. That means HIckory’s signature Poma and T-bar lifts will again expedite skiers up the mountain to some of the most thrilling ski terrain in the Adirondacks.
Joining forces to keep Hickory Ski Center in the southern Adirondacks open.
The much-needed lifeline comes from Indy Pass and its parent company, Entabeni Systems, as well as Unofficial Networks, who announced jointly on December 5th that they have combined efforts to provide financial assistance to Hickory Ski Center so the ski area may run its lifts for the first time in eight years.
Indy Pass is the fastest-growing multi-mountain pass in the world. Skiers can purchase a pass and get access to 180+ Alpine and Nordic resorts across the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Passholders are eligible for two days of skiing or riding at the resorts in the network. The resorts in Indy’s network are independent of any major corporate ownership, and many are owned and operated by multi-generational families, providing a uniquely authentic and affordable skiing experience.
Hickory Ski Center will join the Indy Pass network for the 2023/24 season. Current Hickory season pass holders can purchase Indy AddOn Passes at a 30% discount. Indy Pass will close the 2023/2024 waitlist on Sunday, December 10th.
Unofficial Networks, the other partner in the deal, is a leading online destination for mountain adventure, strongly emphasizing skiing and snowboarding. The website boasts a passionate team of contributors who diligently craft, curate, and highlight a broad spectrum of content.
Tim Konrad, publisher of Unofficial Networks, initiated the partnership with Indy Pass. "My family spends much of the winter in the Adirondacks, and I have been ski touring at Hickory since 2015. Over the years, I've been keeping close tabs on their struggle to reopen lifts, and when I learned how far they had come and how close they were to achieving their goal, I knew we had to do something. So I called Erik at Indy Pass to discuss how we could offer our support,” said Konrad.
A new lease on life, 77 years after Hickory’s inaugural season.
Hickory was founded in 1946 by the 10th Mountain Division veterans, a light infantry division in the US Army based at Fort Drum, New York. The Division was the only one of its size in the US military to receive specialized training for fighting in mountainous conditions. It fought in the mountains of Italy in some of the roughest terrain in World War II.
Hickory Ski Center was initially popular among ski clubs in the Albany region and locals from Warrensburg. Over time, the ski area gained a reputation for its exceptional mix of family-friendly and advanced skiing, similar to the legendary Mad River Glen in Vermont. Hickory’s long glades, challenging terrain and gentle learning areas still make it a popular destination for skiers of all levels in New York State.
Visitors also appreciate the mountain’s relaxed atmosphere and the community of like-minded skiers who run the resort. It was (and still is) managed by a board of passionate locals committed to keeping this piece of ski history alive.
While Hickory closed for several years in the mid-2000s, it has been roaring back to life steadily for several years. We’ve been watching their resurrection and are astounded at the dedication of the many passionate individuals working to ensure Hickory returns permanently as a community ski center and establishes itself as a year-round destination for recreational activities.
Supporting independent ski areas, keeping mountain sports welcoming and accessible for all.
Photo courtesy Mountain Gazette
Erik Mogensen, CEO of Entabeni and Indy Pass, one of the partners helping to secure Hickory’s future, believes the partnership will help support and sustain the broader network of independent ski areas. After receiving a call from Tim Konrad at Indy Pass, he says his organization “did a quick assessment and decided that Entabeni would step in on this one. It is important to recognize the collaboration between Entabeni, Indy Pass, and Unofficial Networks. The more organizations we can get involved to stabilize these small, independent areas, the better our chances of scaling this movement.”
The Indy Pass and Entabeni team will also consult with Hickory management on how to streamline operations and become more sustainable. Sue Catana, Hickory manager and daughter of founders Fran and Hans Winbauer, expressed her optimism about this partnership's impact on the area. “We have been working with our Hickory skiing community to help overcome the financial obstacles that could prevent the opening of the lifts at Hickory. The emergence of Tim and Erik with their lifeline has put us in a position to operate this season with lift certification and hopefully for many more to come.”
Four reasons to support Hickory Ski Center right now.
One of the most obvious ways to support Hickory is by buying a lift ticket or season’s pass. But you don’t have to be a skier to be a supporter. With the holiday season upon us, here are several great reasons to support HIckory right now.
Purchase tickets and passes for yourself or give the gift of a unique, authentic skiing experience to someone else.
Contribute to the HIckory Legacy Foundation and get a last-minute federal tax deduction. We did, and so can you.
Buy Hickory merch from their online store – a perfect gift for the ADK skier in your life (and who doesn’t love that cute bunny in the Hickory logo).
Get a limited edition Hickory vintage-style corduroy ball cap from Mountain Gazette, an excellent and stylish stocking stuffer.
We can’t wait to see what else is in store for Hickory Ski Center. For more information and current ski conditions, visit Hickory’s website or Facebook page.
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