WATERTOWN, NY; September 22, 2021 –
The latest documentary in WPBS-TV’s “Park It!” series explores the Adirondack region, highlighting it’s history and activities, while encouraging the preservation of the Adirondack Park.
Through stunning aerial and land videography, “Park It! Adirondacks” captures the natural beauty of the Adirondacks. Created in 1892 as one of the first Forever Wild Forest Preserves in the United States, the Adirondack Park is a one-of-a-kind wilderness area. Spanning more than six million acres, the Park is the largest protected natural area in the lower 48 states. Unlike other wilderness areas, the Park is home to over 100 communities.
The documentary visits several locations throughout the Park, exploring some of the many things to do and see in the Park.
At Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, the documentary takes viewers through the air and over the awe-inspiring beauty of the Adirondack Mountain range on the Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride. The Gondola ride transports visitors from the base of Whiteface Mountain to the peak of Little Whiteface. The Gondola ride offers a scenic view of Lake Placid, Lake Champlain, and some of the most massive peaks in all of New York State.
The documentary explores Lake Placid’s Olympic history at the Lake Placid Olympic Center’s Olympic Museum. Lake Placid was host to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. The museum’s exhibits include the famous Herb Brooks Arena where the “Miracle On Ice” game was played and the speed skating Oval where many Olympic and other international speed skating competitions have been held.
The Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake gives visitors a true taste of the Adirondacks. The museum features over 20 buildings on 120 acres overlooking Blue Mountain Lake. Hands-on exhibits offer opportunities to experience the Adirondacks, such as rowing an authentic guide boat, breaking up a log jam, climbing a classic ADK fire tower, or a hike to Minnow Pond.
The documentary climbs aboard the Adirondack Railroad in Thendara, New York, near Old Forge. Through a leisurely train ride, viewers can enjoy the picturesque beauty of the Adirondack forests and lakes.
Finally, for the more adventuresome, the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course in Lake George allows visitors to traverse through a treetop obstacle adventure course and zipline park. The WPBS production crew grabbed their cameras and experienced the course first-hand.
The documentary is produced by WPBS-TV Producer-Director, Ryan Proven. “I really wanted to bring the amazing beauty of the Adirondacks to the living rooms of our viewers. In the process, it was a personal goal of mine to raise awareness about the value of public lands. The Adirondack Park is a very special region of New York State, and it’s important to promote respectful and responsible recreation.”
“Park It! Adirondacks” airs on WPBS-TV on Wednesday, September 29 at 7:30 pm and repeats Sunday, October 3 at 12:30 pm. It will be available to watch online at watch.wpbstv.org for two weeks free of charge, starting September 29. WPBS members can also watch anytime on WPBS Passport.
WPBS-TV’s Park It series includes “Park It! Exploring the Outdoors,” produced in 2019, and “Park It! Celebrating Our Region’s Finest,” produced in 2009.
About WPBS
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inform and engage our two-nation region with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of extraordinary public media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and borders.
