At 95, William Shatner Is Still Boldly Going—Back to the Adirondacks

An entirely accurate reproduction of the Star Trek Bridge in Ticonderoga.

At 95, William Shatner is still going where few television legends have gone before. And one of his regular destinations happens to be a small town in the Adirondacks.

The actor who made Captain James T. Kirk a household name returns to Ticonderoga November 13–15, 2026, for William Shatner Weekend, a three-day celebration at the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour. The event brings fans face-to-face with Shatner aboard a remarkably faithful recreation of the USS Enterprise located in a town on the shores of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Coast.

For a man whose television career helped define science fiction in mid-century America, returning to the captain's chair might seem like familiar territory.

But something extraordinary is happening: a 95-year-old actor is still engaging with generations of fans nearly six decades after the original series ended.

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The captain shows no signs of slowing down.

When Star Trek premiered in 1966, few could have imagined that its fictional starship would still command such devotion 60 years later. Fewer still could have predicted that its leading man would be traveling the country, meeting fans, and discussing his adventures well into his tenth decade.

Yet Shatner remains remarkably active. His calendar includes convention appearances, speaking engagements, and opportunities for fans to hear firsthand stories from a career spanning more than seven decades.

His November visit follows another appearance in Ticonderoga earlier this year. In fact, Shatner has become something of a regular at the Set Tour, returning repeatedly to the Adirondack attraction.

For fans, these appearances offer more than an autograph or a photograph. They offer a connection to a television era whose original stars are becoming increasingly rare.

And Shatner, apparently, has no intention of retiring from the conversation.

Get ready to be transported at the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour in Ticonderoga.

How the USS Enterprise landed in Ticonderoga.

Ticonderoga is better known for Revolutionary War history than intergalactic exploration. Situated between Lake George and Lake Champlain, the town has long attracted visitors to Fort Ticonderoga and the region's historic landscapes.

But inside a former grocery store on Montcalm Street, an entirely different chapter of American cultural history comes to life.

The Star Trek Original Series Set Tour was created by James Cawley, a lifelong fan who spent years meticulously recreating the sets from the original television series.

Visitors can walk through the Enterprise's Bridge, Transporter Room, Sickbay, and familiar corridors, surrounded by the colorful control panels, blinking lights, and unmistakable design of 1960s television science fiction.

Unlike a conventional museum, the experience invites visitors to step directly into the fictional world. And when Shatner enters the Bridge, the distinction between television history and the present becomes especially compelling.

A relationship that keeps bringing Shatner back.

Celebrity appearances at fan conventions are hardly unusual. What's different about Ticonderoga is the setting—and Shatner's repeated willingness to return.

Rather than meeting fans in a cavernous convention center, he can interact with them inside a recreation of the very starship that helped make him famous.

The Set Tour has hosted Shatner numerous times, developing a recurring event that draws devoted Trekkies and curious visitors to this corner of the Adirondacks.

For Ticonderoga, the benefits extend beyond a weekend of celebrity sightings. The attraction introduces travelers to a town they might otherwise overlook, giving them another reason to explore its restaurants, shops, historic sites, and Lake Champlain surroundings.

It's an unlikely pairing: a small Adirondack community and one of television's most enduring franchises. Somehow, it works.

The OG Captain Kirk in Ticonderoga.

What fans can expect in November.

William Shatner Weekend offers several ways to experience the Enterprise and meet its most famous captain.

Scheduled activities include guided set tours, intimate Bridge conversations with Shatner, photo opportunities, autograph sessions, and special presentations.

On Saturday, November 14, Shatner will make a live appearance at Ticonderoga Elementary School, along with a presentation by Set Tour creator James Cawley.

For devoted fans, the opportunity to stand on the Enterprise Bridge with the original Captain Kirk is understandably the main attraction. Others may find the stories, personal encounters, and shared enthusiasm just as memorable.

The weekend also demonstrates the appeal of experience-driven travel. Visitors aren't simply collecting memorabilia; they're seeking a personal connection to something that has mattered to them for decades.

And in an era when so much entertainment is consumed through screens, there's something appealingly old-fashioned about meeting the people who helped create it.

ADK Taste recommendations.

Plan around the experience, not just the dates. The November 13–15 program includes activities scheduled across multiple days, and photographs and autographs may take place on different days from associated tours or conversations.

Review ticket packages and schedules carefully before booking accommodations. Saturday is expected to be particularly busy, so allow additional time for parking, registration, and moving between the Set Tour and Ticonderoga Elementary School.

Visitors unfamiliar with the region should consider making a weekend of it. Fort Ticonderoga, Lake Champlain, and the southern reaches of Lake George provide plenty of reasons to explore beyond the Enterprise.

For the latest schedule and ticket information, visit the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour.

ADK Taste perspective.

The Adirondacks have never been defined by a single kind of experience. Alongside wilderness adventures and historic landmarks, the region has long attracted artists, inventors, collectors, and people determined to pursue an unconventional vision.

James Cawley's Enterprise belongs comfortably within that tradition.

And William Shatner's continued visits give that vision something no recreation, however meticulous, can manufacture: a living connection to the original story.

At 95, Shatner remains an extraordinary link between television's past and its enduring cultural influence. For three days in November, that connection will once again be found not in Hollywood, but on Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga.

The Adirondacks may be a long way from the final frontier. Apparently, they're still worth the trip.

Discover more fascinating people, unexpected places, and experiences worth the journey. Subscribe to In Good Taste for ADK Taste's weekly Adirondack recommendations.

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