LAKE PLACID — The Adirondack Mountain Club is now the official owner of the Cascade Ski Center. The club announced on Friday that its purchase of the property had been finalized.

The club purchased the center and its property from the Jubin family, who will run the ski center as-is until ADK officially takes over on April 1.

After the takeover, ADK plans to continue offering cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the center during the winter. The club also has plans to expand current offerings at Cascade to “make the property a four-season destination,” according to a press release from ADK. Details about those expansions are expected to come out as the club develops a master plan for the property.

“In addition to its superb recreational offerings, Cascade Ski Center is perfectly positioned to offer hiker information services, education programs, restrooms, and other public services in an area of great importance to the Adirondack Park,” ADK Executive Director Michael Barrett said in a statement. “As we work through the details, we look forward to working alongside our partners and supporters to ensure that Cascade Ski Center is not only a pillar for ADK, but also the local community and visitors to the region.”

ADK’s board of directors approved a contract to purchase the Cascade Cross Country Ski Center last October. They agreed to purchase the 200-acre property on Cascade Road for approximately $2.5 million, and the club was awarded a $500,000 state grant last December to help with the purchase.

Barrett revealed some ideas last year for how the club might expand its current efforts after purchasing the center. At that point, many of the club’s indoor classes were held in three yurts not far from the Adirondak Loj, and with a limited capacity: the yurts fit about 15 people comfortably, more if there’s a crowd. The club offers all kinds of classes on everything from how to use compasses and maps, to Leave No Trace principles, to environmental education for school children. The ski center’s grand room could hold up to 80 people, Barrett said last August.

He said that the center’s location — on Cascade Road, state Route 73 — would give the club the opportunity to interact with hikers in a more visible space to passersby. He said those interactions would allow the club to spread out hiker impact on resources by directing hikers to less busy locations. Barrett said ADK was also motivated to purchase the ski center because they want to expand their educational efforts.

Another factor in the club’s decision to purchase Cascade was housing for its employees. Much like almost every other business and nonprofit organization in the Tri-Lakes region, a lack of affordable housing in this area has constrained the club’s ability to bring on new staff.

ADK Deputy Executive Director Julia Goren said in a statement that engaging with stakeholders will be key in how ADK moves forward with offerings at the center.

“In the coming weeks and months, ADK will hold a number of forums to hear from various constituencies on what they would like to see at this location,” she said.