LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2015 LOCALadk Magazine 43 LOCALadk cal area economy with upwards of $20 million annually. It has spawned a number of other businesses in the area, including snowmobile rentals, snowmobile parts and service shops, and lodgings' stay-n-play packages. That business traffic has carried over to restaurants and retail shops, and other winter recreation based businesses. It bolsters the ski area and ski shops, cross-country ski centers, snowshoe shops, and ice fishing. Peo- ple prefer a carnival with dozens of games and activities over a single sidewalk booth featuring whack-a-mole. Old Forge has a wide variety of attractions that appeal to the interest of many. The Town of Webb (TOW) Snowmobile Trail System connects with NY State trails in every direction. TOW partners with Inlet to include Inlet's Hamilton County trails in the system, and employs professional groom- ers who work seven days a week to keep the trails in the best possible condition. In 1976, Old Forge snowmobilers held the first annual SNODEO. The "Snowmobile Rodeo" festival was formed to launch the new snowmobile season. Early every December, Snowmobile manufacturers still gather with equipment and product vendors to service thousands of customers ready to kick off another season. Now in its 39th year, SNODEO also fea- tures youth snowmobile races, vintage snowmobiles, and snowmobile raffles. Industry giants are easy to find at SNODEO. Smith Marine of Old Forge is the leading Ski Doo dealership in the East. Don's Polaris of Old Forge is one of the oldest Polaris dealerships in the country. Big Moose Yamaha/Arctic Cat in nearby Eagle Bay is legendary far beyond the Ad- Kurt Gardner Fourth Lake sunset, Eagle Bay

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