Published February 20, 2007 07:00PM
LUDLOW, Vt. Feb. 20, 2007 (Press Release)—In a year when winter arrived late and skier visits have been down all across the Northeast, Okemo Mountain Resort has seen a remarkable turnaround in business levels and recorded its biggest day in the 51-year history of the resort.
Sunday, February 18, saw skier visits 10 percent ahead of the same day last year and 2.2 percent better than the best day on record. The record was previously set on February 20, 2005, also on the Sunday of President’s Day Weekend. Prior to the Valentine’s Day snowstorm that dropped more than two feet of powder on the southern Vermont resort, nearly 90 percent of Okemo’s terrain was open, thanks to snowmaking efforts that created a snow base of up to 30 inches. On the day following the storm, Okemo was 100 percent open.
“It’s amazing what a snowstorm leading up to a three-day holiday weekend can bring when it doesn’t affect travel, says Okemo Director of Marketing Scott Clarkson. “A lot of pent up demand was released in the marketplace and Okemo’s reputation for optimal conditions made it a destination of choice this week.
In reviewing skier visits for entire week that included the President’s Day weekend, Okemo was 11 percent ahead of the same period last year.
Resort areas that saw the greatest increase in participation over the three-day weekend were ski and snowboard lessons — up eight percent over last year, and daycare — up 16 percent. Snow tubing, a new offering at Okemo, has been very well received with participation exceeding expectations. Additional activities that visitors have been enjoying are ice skating at Jackson Gore’s new Ice House, horse-drawn wagon rides, swimming at the new Spring House fitness and aquatic center, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, spa services, and more.
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