Phase Two Underway at Fort Ticonderoga

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. - March 21, 2013 - PRLog -- (Ticonderoga, NY, March 20, 2013) – Phase two of Fort Ticonderoga’s three-phase master plan is underway as America’s FortTM begins to develop new, innovative, and exciting guest experiences.

Phase two, the product development phase, kicked off in mid-February as the Fort’s leaders of interpretation, collections, education, management, and board met with PGAV Destinations, the firm developing the destination’s 10-year-master plan, to begin designing new and bold offerings.
“Product development is the most exciting part of a destination’s master plan,” says PGAV Destinations VP and project lead, Tom Owen. “It’s where we collaborate creatively with their team to push the envelope in all areas of their operation, to stretch everyone’s thinking, and generate ideas that will shape the future of Fort Ticonderoga.”
The team will spend the spring and summer investigating new ideas that would impact all aspects of the guest experience – including interpretation, exhibits,  events, retail, dining, guest flow, and more. PGAV and the Fort hope to begin testing these concepts with the public starting in late summer 2013.
Initially, the team is concentrating on developing major themes and drawing from the Fort’s unique assets, which include 2,000 acres of pristine Adirondack landscape overlooking Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont. One of the early planning sessions highlighted the importance of integrating all of the Fort’s properties into a unique destination experience that utilizes trails, water, and other modes of transportation. Early planning also emphasized further development of the “learning campus” concept which includes physical, off-site, and virtual initiatives.
“The goal of this phase is to envision new features that will simply create an exemplary experience for all of our guests for decades to come,” says Beth Hill, president and CEO at Fort Ticonderoga. “By constantly innovating and improving what our visitors and long-time supporters engage in at Fort Ticonderoga, we can generate higher attendance and income, thereby fueling more investment and improvement as well as best serving our educational mission.”

About PGAV Destinations                                                                                                    
PGAV Destinations is a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations. Now in its fifth decade, the practice has evolved to become the ideal destination-consulting partner, skilled at developing growth-oriented master plans and translating those plans into successful projects. No other firm offers such an integrated approach to destination planning.  

PGAV’s key clients include industry leaders such as Delaware North Companies, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, the Biltmore Companies, Bass Pro Shops, Ameristar Casinos, Universal Studios, The Gettysburg Foundation, the Saint Louis Zoo, and many others. Recent assignments include planning and design at many of the world’s “must see” destinations, including the Grand Canyon, Biltmore Estate, Kennedy Space Center, Hearst Castle, the Georgia Aquarium, the Hoover Dam, and SeaWorld Adventure Parks.  www.PGAVDestinations.com

About Fort Ticonderoga: America’s FortTM
Located on Lake Champlain in the beautiful six million acre Adirondack Park, Fort Ticonderoga is a not-for-profit historic site and museum that ensures that present and future generations learn from the struggles, sacrifices, and victories that shaped the nations of North America and changed world history. Serving the public since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 70,000 visitors annually and is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Fort Ticonderoga’s history. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Fort Ticonderoga offers programs, historic interpretation, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits throughout the year and is open for daily visitation May 17 through October 20, 2013. The 2013 season features the Fort’s newest exhibit “It would make a heart of stone melt” Sickness, Injury, and Medicine at Fort Ticonderoga which explores early medical theory, practice, and experience as each relates to the armies that served at Fort Ticonderoga in the 18th century. Visit www.FortTiconderoga.org for a full list of ongoing programs or call 518-585-2821. Fort Ticonderoga is located at 100 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga, New York.