Dewey Mountain Friends, the all-volunteer group dedicated supporting and enhancing Dewey Mountain Recreation Center, announced that more than 550 households and businesses have contributed $350,000 to the successful capital campaign to construct a new base lodge.

Dewey Mountain Friends is currently working with the town of Harrietstown – which owns the year-round, multi-use recreational center – to prepare the base lodge area for construction. Demolition of two defunct existing structures is expected to take place in June, and the new lodge will be in place by next fall.

“Completion of this capital campaign is a huge step, and we couldn’t have done it without the amazing support we received from people all over the North Country and beyond,” Chris Morris, chairman of Dewey Mountain Friends said. “The wide range of donors – from young children and Olympic champions to seasonal residents and retirees – demonstrates the commitment our community has to investing in this valuable resource.”

The town of Harrietstown has approved the demolition of the two existing buildings. Jan Kibben, a Saranac Lake-based construction manager, has been appointed as project representative.

As site preparation and construction looms, Dewey Mountain Friends and a parents-and-kids group called the Dew Crew Action Team have shifted their fundraising focus to equipping the lodge with furniture, waxing benches, kitchen equipment and other materials needed for the opening this fall. The Dew Crew will have a monthly presence at the Saranac Lake Farmers Market in Riverside Park; volunteers will be sharing information about the recreation center and selling raffle tickets for a variety of items, including one-of-a-kind Olympic memorabilia, a custom ski quilt, and more.

Dewey Mountain Friends is seeking volunteers for portions of the base lodge construction. To sign up, contact Chrissy Hayden at cfordhayden@gmail.com.

For more information about the base lodge project, contact Chris Morris at (518) 524-4320. To make a gift to help furnish the lodge,  see DeweyMountain.com or contact Mary Thill at marythill@verizon.net.

For information about happenings at Dewey Mountain, visit www.deweymountain.com.

Photo: Volunteers have been working in recent weeks to empty out two now-defunct structures at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center. Photo by Jason Smith.