As the nation limps through a tenuous summer start more and more opportunities are presenting themselves at ski resort communities that were not even certain they would be prepared for summer customers just a short time ago. Some have started summer operations and others soon will be in the mix. All are taking a cautious approach due to the current state of affairs. Following is a selection of reopening from different parts f the country as reported on saminfo.com.
As noted in a previous article, Michigan’s Boyne Highlands reopened lodging on May 29. Resort pools and the spa remain closed, per state guidelines, but dining options are available. Lift-served mountain biking and Adventure Center activities, including zip lining and horseback rides, begin June 19. The resort is implementing new face-mask guidelines for entering and exiting parts of the operation, social distancing protocols in lines, and daily health screenings for staff.
Another Boyne property, Maine’s Sugarloaf is planning a “phased in” opening. The golf club opens June 5. Limited food and beverage service and retail outlets will follow. The hotel opens June 19. Sugarloaf will not offer zip line tours, Segway tours, or guided activities. Paddleboard and kayak rentals and disc golf will be available. Scenic chairlift rides are still being determined as of June 4.
New Hampshire’s Waterville Valley opened its golf club, tennis center, and Corcoran Pond Beach Memorial Day weekend for NH residents and out-of-state customers who have quarantined. In addition, bike rentals and disc golf are available at the resort’s Adventure Center. Waterville is encouraging guests to hike and bike “low and local,” per New Hampshire’s state guidelines. Guests are required to wear a mask inside the adventure center, and the resort has implemented new social distancing and rental sanitation guidelines.
Vermont’s Jay Peak has opened its championship golf course, outdoor dining and access to the outdoor pool.
The resort has launched its new EverClean Program, a set of stringent sanitizing protocols meant to maximize employee and guest safety. The new protocols include public Wellness Stations with hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, physical-distance markers in public spaces and many other precautions.
In PA, Camelback Resort plans to reopen June 11 its hotel and two on-mountain attractions, the mountain coaster and the Double Barrel zip lines. The lodge will reopen at 35 percent capacity and guests will be limited on all adventure rides. Later in June, plans call for reopening Camelbeach waterpark, Segway tours, the Zip-Flyer twin zip lines, the mountain slide, and the challenge course.
New York’s Windham Resort opened for golf in mid-May with other summer activities to follow. Monthly and weekly rentals at Whisper Creek and the Winwood Condos start June 12. Windham has also added a new event, the Drive-In Jam, slated for June 27. The event will be a tailgate-style concert in the upper parking lot. A rolling cart will provide drinks and snacks.
Operations at New York’s Lake Placid were cited in a previous article.
In the west, Utah’s Deer Valley lodging reopened June 1. Park City’s Main Street retail shops reopen June 19. Lift-served mountain biking, hiking, and scenic rides start June 26. Outdoor dining and take-away food will also be available from three restaurants during summer operations.
In Colorado, Aspen Skiing Company reopens its resorts for summer on June 12. The Silver Queen Gondola will be running to allow for sightseeing, disc golf, hiking, nature programs with the Aspen Center for Environmental studies, and access to the children’s play area. Food and beverage services will also be available.
Snowmass will open after on June 21 with the Elk Camp Gondola and the Elk Camp Chairlift and will open most activities in the Lost Forest, including the alpine coaster, the challenge course, and the climbing wall. The bike park will open as conditions permit. The resort will also allow access to hiking trails and open food and beverage options. All activities can be booked online, beginning June 10.
As of June 5, Vail Resorts is still assessing its reopening agenda. Additional details can be found at saminfo.com.
Western Ski Resorts Reopen for Summer AND Snow
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