Cherry Creek, NY – Police have arrested two teens who have admitted their involvement in vandalism at western New York State’s Cockaigne Ski Area over the July 4th holiday weekend.

Ryan Day, 19, of Ellington, N.Y. and an unidentified 18-year-old male from Falconer, N.Y., were arrested this week by Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal trespass. They both told investigators that the lift buildings they damaged were due to be torn down following the fire that destroyed the ski area’s base lodge in February.

The two reportedly sprayed the lift buildings with graffiti, destroyed light fixtures and removed control knobs from chairlift controls. They also allegedly damaged large trail map signs, removing one completely. All items taken from the ski area were given to sheriff’s investigators by the pair.

The vandalism added insult to injury at the ski resort following the February fire. After the historic structure was leveled by the blaze, community members came forward to lend a helping hand to enable the resort to limp through the remainder of the 2010-11 ski and snowboard season.

The two suspects were given appearance tickets in Cherry Creek Town Court.