|
“Okemo, Vermont Skiing In Its Own Class”
by Heather R. Burke
Renting a ski condominium for the weekend can be a little
like hitting the jackpot, or being stuffed in the penalty box. During the winter weeks our family scouts trail maps and
gets excited about the upcoming weekend looking at the glossy ski resort
brochures. Come Friday after school and work, we cram in the family van with
equipment, frozen lasagna and snacks to head for the slopes. Along the ride the chatter inevitably turns to speculation
about our weekend lodgings. The gang finds endless amusement comparing the gamut
of past outings from the finest to the “puniest” (my daughter’s word) of
slopeside accommodations we have encountered.
As we turned the key to our unit we were delighted with our
elegant and spacious weekend digs complete with giant foyer, gas fireplace,
washer/dryer, a master bath featuring a giant Jacuzzi tub, all decorated to the
nines. The exemplary lodging turned out to be only the preliminary slice of the
tasteful Okemo experience.
Most of Okemo’s runs are spacious rolling boulevards,
covered with deep snow compliments of one of New England’s most impressive
snowmaking systems, groomed daily to a white carpet consistency. Okemo has
earned its reputation for excellent surface conditions and a modern, efficient
lift system. As an added bonus, outstanding views of the rolling Green Mountains
and the pastoral Ludlow valley sweep below.
Two of Okemo’s thirteen lifts were located right out our
condo door and four ski trails wind their way around the exclusive hillside
homes of Solitude Village. From any of these homes, you can make a few turns and
arrive at the base of Solitude’s new Day Lodge. Ticket sales, a small ski shop, and a convenient satellite
ski school center are all under this roof. It is a luxury to bring your littlest
skiers here for the all-inclusive “Snow Stars” ski day camp, avoiding
Okemo’s busier central base area. Solitude’s Day Lodge also serves as a private health club
for owners and guests. In the heated pool you can swim from indoors to out, then
hurry from your swim to the steamy outdoor hot tub, and if you’re brave enough
- even make a Swedish roll in the snow. The Gables Restaurant occupies the glass-lined top floor of
this expansive lodge, where enthusiastic culinary students impress diners with
their latest concoctions. I can personally attest that the fried calamari makes
a far superior skiers lunch to the traditional burger. This classy Vermont resort is the result of 2 decades of
hands on management by the Mueller family. “Our goal is to guarantee the most
consistently enjoyable, hassle-free time for you to spend with your family,”
says owner Tim Mueller. Okemo is already big, and sits on the verge of one of the
East’s largest resort expansions in history. For 2001, permits allowing, Okemo
will create an entire vacationers’ resort village complete with an all-new
mountain of skiing terrain to be christened Jackson Gore.
With Okemo’s impressive snowmaking system, arguably
the most powerful snowmaking system in Vermont, perhaps in the East, early
season skiing is a great bet at Okemo. The “winter value fun pack” rates are
dramatically less in early and mid December prior to the busy holiday week. A trip to Okemo promises a big mountain with impeccably
groomed, wide-open trails covered in freshly made snow, a fast efficient lift
system and luxurious condominiums. Solitude is my pick for the best on mountain
location, at least until the debut of Jackson Gore. It is refreshing in this day and age of ski resort
monopolies, to find a family like the Mueller’s, providing great quality and
good value for your skiing dollars. During our Sunday afternoon trek home our family of tired
skiers all came to the consensus that Okemo scored high for skiing, friendly
hospitality, and our hats off for “the best condo” of the season. If you go to Okemo:
Okemo Central Lodging can be reached at 1-800-786-5366 http://www.okemo.com
Okemo family factoids: Skiing and riding is free for kids 6 & under. Sister Sunapee
After years of neglect under State operation, the
Mueller’s immediately infused the mountain with a $9 million face-lift. The
installation of two quads, new groomers, a dramatic 24,000 square foot base
lodge and the addition of Okemo-like snowmaking have revitalized this family day
area. Now Sunapee’s 1,500-foot vertical is accessed by 9 lifts
servicing over 50 trails. The cruising terrain gives way to some truly
outstanding views of Lake Sunapee, the White and Green Mountains in the
distance. If you go to Mount Sunapee:
Mount Sunapee’s snow reports are available by calling
1-603-763-4020 Lodging Information for Mount Sunapee can be reached at
1-877-687-8627 Author
Heather R. Burke Images by
Photographer Greg Burke © 2000
by Heather R. Burke. Reproduction of this work, in whole or in part, including
images, without written consent from the author and photographer is prohibited. |
|
TM
Okemo Ski Resort in central Vermont took our top honors
this winter for the classiest ski condo of the season. We arrived at Okemo’s
vast 20-year-old resort property and checked in at the ski area base. A winding
3-mile drive across the mountain brought us to Solitude Village, which is a
resort unto itself, perched high above the charming town of Ludlow.
Nearly 100 trails wrap around the broad faced 3,344-foot
Okemo Peak. 520 acres of skiing terrain hosts a pleasantly tame trail network
that is sprawling while at the same time very manageable. Families can ski
together or explore independently knowing that all trail pods lead to one of
seven convenient quads that whisk you back up for another 1,000 feet of
vertical. I could cruise the kids down the perfectly manicured and scenic Dream
Weaver while my husband surged down Wild Thing on the South Face.
A few classic New England style glades offer skiers some
variation, and a little challenge. The “Nature Zone” gives kids a chance to
glide through the trees and search out wildlife prints. Lift attendants can
provide a special guide to the Snow Tracks. Kids love this alpine version of a
guided “nature walk” on skis, complete with deer rubbings and bear claw
marks.
The blueprints outline a top-notch hotel with units for
sale in a quarter share fashion, and a surrounding pedestrian village with
shops, services and eateries. The on-slope expansion calls for 16 trails, a
six-passenger gondola and two detachable quads. The location for this village is
prime; train service connecting with Amtrak may ultimately deliver skiers from
New York City right to the new base area in a few hours time.
For those in the Greater Boston area or southern New
Hampshire who cannot venture on the overnight trip to Vermont, try Okemo’s
little sister ski area. One-hour east, across the border in New Hampshire is
Mount Sunapee. In 1998, the Mueller’s took over the operation of Mount Sunapee
from the State of New Hampshire.