Cutting ice blocks for the 1958 Winter Carnival Ice Palace is similar to the front page Enterprise photo of Jan. 18, 2025.

The lead story on the front page of Jan. 6, 2000 — under the headline “SPECIAL REPORT — BIG TUPPER CLOSES”; Big Tupper, where Senator Bobby Kennedy skied many times (and where I had my picture taken with him) — stunned the community, although the residents knew it was coming. I guess we all thought it wouldn’t happen. The story is bylined Kelly Fox of the Enterprise news staff.

The following column will contain short takes from local breaking news stories of 25 years ago.

“Tupper Lake residents are missing the Big Tupper Ski Area, but business owners don’t seem to be upset, yet.

With comments like, ‘too early to tell’ and ‘we don’t have the traffic that we used to,’ business people don’t seem phased by the lack of business from the ski trade.

“I’m sure everyone was prepared,” (I don’t think that is accurate based on the Tupper residents I talked to at the time) said Robyn Doolin, owner of Shaheen’s Motel on Park Street.

But you know what else? People have a short memory.

“In August of last year, owners Peter Day, (no, not that Peter Day) and Leroy Pickering decided not to open the slope.

“Day and Pickering bought the mountain in 1992 for $185,000. With their help, Big Tupper expanded from the seven trails created in 1960 by the Town of Altamont to 22 trails the ski area has now.

“Day and Pickering ended up losing $3.1 million of their own money in the process of upgrading Big Tupper and found themselves facing even more debt. In the end, they had to fold.”

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Will Rogers up and running

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“The first retirement community in Saranac Lake is up and running.

“The Saranac Village at Will Rogers was once a famous cure hospital for tuberculosis in the late 1920’s.

“Entering the year 2000, this historic landmark is now a remodeled, 75-unit retirement complex that offers assisted living and other luxuries for its tenants.

“‘We’re trying to stress the idea of a community,” Executive Director Christine Fredericks said. “We’re like a big family and we want to get everyone involved.”

“All of the units are distinctively different, but all contain a bedroom, bathroom, living room and small kitchen. In case of emergencies, each apartment includes an alarm system that tenants can activate by pushing a button that alerts the staff, who on duty 24 hours a day.”

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Placid prepares for Goodwill Games

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“Officials have confirmed the participation of 280 of the world’s best athletes for the inaugural Winter Goodwill Games, scheduled for Feb. 17-20, 2000 in Lake Placid (opening celebration on the 16th). Plans are nearing completion for the event with the confirmation of the majority of the anticipated competitors.

“Many of these athletes are ranked at the top of their World Cup standings this season,” said Vice President of Sports David Raith. “These invited athletes have earned their spot in the first-ever Winter Goodwill Games. We’re looking forward to hosting them in Lake Placid.”

“Games officials were meeting on Thursday considering matters such as security, traffic and even terrorism.

“We are not anticipating anything like that (a terrorist attack) to happen, said ORDA Director of Communications Sandy Caligiore, “but it’s part of the procedure when preparing for an event like this.”

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Keene receives $520,000 grant

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“Marcy Field, located on Route 73 in the Town of Keene, will soon receive a federally-funded, half-a-million-dollar makeover which will include a new, relocated town highway garage. (Now located across from Stewart’s).

“At a Wednesday press conference at the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) headquarters in Ray Brook, APA officials announced Federal Highway Administration awards of $617,000 for two projects within the Adirondack Park, $520,000 of which is earmarked for interpretive and recreational improvements at Marcy Field.

“In addition to the new highway garage elsewhere in the Town of Keene, the improvements to Marcy Field are expected to include bicycle trails, walkways, a park on the AuSable River bank, rest rooms, fishing access for the handicapped and renovations to the 200-year-old ‘Holt House,’ said by Janet Hall of the Keene Historical Society to be the oldest building in the Towns of Keene and North Elba.”

“The other $97,000 of the Adirondack funding will go toward four interpretive roadside pull-offs on Route 28 along the Hudson River in the Town of Johnsburg.”