Olympic authority spending $6.3M to upgrade Lake Placid training center

Another $96 million may be fast-tracked for Mount Van Hoevenberg

By James M. Odato

The operators of the state’s alpine and Nordic skiing facilities in the Adirondacks plan to spend $6.3 million on a new kitchen and cafeteria at the Olympic training center in Lake Placid.

Olympic Regional Development Authority officials say the spending is in line with its priority to promote amateur winter sports.

“We’ve got an Olympics coming up in 2026 and the facility will be used for training,” said Joe Martens, chairman. “This is part of the mission.”

The training center is used by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Committee, which pays ORDA about $600,000 a year, Martens said. 

Athletes who train at the center, which was opened in 1982, sleep, eat and work out at the center.

RELATED READING: Lake Placid picked as backup site for 2026 Olympic sliding events

The upgrade will be timed for periods when ORDA expects lower use of the center but temporary dining will be set up for the many athletes expected to come to Lake Placid to prepare for the Winter Olympics in Italy in 2026.

The cafeteria project is the latest multi-million project approved the ORDA board.

The board also authorized ORDA to spend $96 million upgrading Mount Van Hoevenberg, including installing a new refrigeration system. 

Photo at top: The artist’s rendering of the new dining hall at the Olympic training center in Lake Placid. Photo Courtesy of the Olympic Regional Development Authority

This story has been edited to remove speculation about Lake Placid being chosen as backup host for 2026 Olympic sliding events. See related article with the latest updates here.