North Elba Showgrounds Long Building nearing completion

LAKE PLACID | The Long Building at the North Elba Showgrounds is nearing completion. The building should be sufficiently complete to be occupied by June 15, according to Town of North Elba Supervisor Richard Preston, just in time for the start of the 57th annual Lake Placid Horse Show on June 23. A central facility used for spectator services, catering, and event operations during the Lake Placid Horse Show and I Love New York Horse Show, the Long Building serves multiple functions beyond those, as it hosts community events and provides essential infrastructure for other activities at the showgrounds, year-round. Once complete, this new modern facility will provide improved amenities, accessible features, and flexible space, featuring accessible restrooms, a commercial kitchen, and emergency shelter capabilities. "There may be minor items, such as finishing landscaping and minor interior carpentry. The largest issue is that the generator providing emergency power to the building has been backordered, with a delivery date of 'early September.' While that will not prevent the building from being occupied, it will delay the emergency shelter status," said Preston. "The reality is that several of the contractors will need to return to the job site following the conclusion of the two-week horseshow to complete the project. So, while the building will be ready for the start of the horseshow, a complete product will become a reality in early fall 2026." This project is part of a comprehensive two-phase renovation of the showgrounds designed to meet international competition standards. Phase 1, completed last year with $2.1 million in investments from the Town of North Elba and Lake Placid Horse Show Association, included arena improvements, new all-weather competition footing, and infrastructure improvements. Phase II began following the conclusion of last year's horse shows. Last June, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $6 million state investment to replace the Long Building, which was what the Town of North Elba originally thought the overall project cost would be. Now, the revised estimated cost to complete the project is $9,627,096, representing a total funding gap of $3,627,096 above the original budget, according to Preston — a gap that was attributable to differences between the original budget assumptions and the actual bid submissions for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC components. "The original estimates did not fully account for the level of redundancy and capacity now required," said Preston during a special meeting on April 22, "including backup power generation and distribution; expanded life safety systems; increased heating and cooling capabilities; and full compliance with applicable building codes and shelter-specific regulations." During this special meeting, the town board discussed and voted on a $4 million BOND/BAN resolution. "We took out a BAN in August 2025 of $3 million to create a fund from which to pull money, as the state grant is a reimbursable grant. This served us marginally until recently, when we discovered budget overruns, and the time was rapidly approaching to pay back the BAN," Preston said. "Without knowing the exact amount of money required to complete the project, our budget office has advised an additional $4 million in the form of a BAN, pay off the original BAN, and then convert the amount needed at the conclusion of the project to a BOND." For more information or updates, visit northelba.villageoflakeplacid.ny.gov.

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North Elba Showgrounds Long Building nearing completion

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