Venue Accessibility

The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) aims to ensure venues are accessible and inclusive for all. As a global leader in developing and maintaining the highest quality venues for winter sport and recreation, ORDA meets or exceeds all ADA requirements for accessibility.

Along with major recent investments to upgrade all venues, the ORDA team incorporated accessibility into the design of its new and improved facilities.

ORDA is committed to ensuring venues are accessible for all people, regardless of disabilities. In addition to entrances and access, visitors may notice thoughtful design in restrooms, signage, spectator seating areas, dining facilities, service counters, website features, and other elements critical for accessibility.

Navigate through the tabbed content to find key details for disabled visitors to know when accessing activities and events at the venue:

Gore Accessibility

Gore Mountain strives to ensure reasonable access for our guests to enjoy our facilities and programs. Gore Mountain allows using adaptive devices or other manually powered mobility aids on the slopes. Gore Mountain also offers adaptive lessons & equipment to individuals with physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities.

Winter Season

In common use at Gore are adaptive devices or other “manually powered mobility aids” for use on the slopes. Adaptive devices are any specialized equipment designed and manufactured primarily for use by individuals with disabilities, including without limitation, mono skis, bi skis, outriggers, etc. The Gore Snow Sports Center stocks such devices and more, including instruction with adaptive instructors.

Adaptive Lessons: 

Gore Mountain offers ski and snowboard lessons to individuals with physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities. Trained staff work with those who are hearing or visually impaired, those with developmental or intellectual disabilities, and/or physical disabilities. All lessons are private, one-on-one with an instructor/coach, to better meet the participant’s specific needs. Mountain staff can coordinate the best lesson opportunity to fit one’s needs, and adaptive equipment is included.

Service Animals

In accordance with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act and NYS Human Rights Law, ORDA welcomes service animals and service animals in training who have been trained to assist a person with a disability. This helps assure access by individuals with disabilities to the ORDA venues, programs, activities, services, and events that are open to members of the public. No other animals are permitted. For more information, please reference ORDA’s Service Animal Policy.

Designated Parking 

Designated parking spaces for the disabled are located at the entrance of the Base lodge and at the North Creek Ski Bowl.

Buildings

All buildings and services at the Gore Mountain Base Area are accessible with ground level entrances and ramps. An elevator provides access to the second floor of the Northwoods Lodge.

Use of Mobility Devices in Pedestrian areas:

Gore Mountain allows individuals with mobility disabilities to use wheelchairs and manually powered mobility aids, such as walkers, crutches, canes, braces, or other similar devices designed for use by individuals with mobility disabilities in areas open to pedestrian use.

Non-Winter Operations

Gore Mountain is open to the general public during the summer and fall (July through October).

Although our accessible and fully enclosed eight-passenger Northwoods Gondola is scheduled to provide scenic Skyrides each day we’re open during the summer and fall, this lift is subject to substitution without notice due to heat index and other safety variables. Our alternative is the open-air 4-passenger chairlift, Adirondack Express II.

Scenic Skyride Policy

  • Adult passengers carrying children in their arms, backpacks, or other carrying devices, may ride in gondola cabins but not on chairlifts.
  • On chairlifts, all riders must be able to approach the loading area unassisted and be able to sit uprightin their own seat. All riders must stay in their own seat for the duration of the ride (no lap sitting).
  • It is recommended that chairlift riders be at least 52 inches tall to ride on a chairlift alone and be able to raise and lower the restraint bar under their own power.
  • For the benefit of both guests and employees, we reserve the right to make the final decision regarding the eligibility and safety of a rider.
  • No smoking is allowed while on the Skyride.
  • Pets are not allowed on chairlifts or gondolas. For ORDA’s full Service Animal Policy read here.