Powder Ridge Ski Area
| Powder Ridge Ski Area | |
|---|---|
| Location | Besek Mountain |
| Nearest major city | Middlefield, Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°30′07″N 72°44′14″W / 41.502006°N 72.737172°W[1] |
| Vertical | 500 ft (150 m) |
| Skiable area | 88 acres (36 ha) |
| Trails | 18 or 19 |
| Snowfall | 60 inches (150 cm) |
Powder Ridge Ski Area is a currently non-operational ski area located in Middlefield, Connecticut. It began operations in 1959, and closed in 2007. It is located on Besek Mountain.[2]
History
Powder Ridge began operations in 1959 under the name of Powder Hill.[2] It initially operated with only surface lifts, but constructed three new double chairs between 1963 and 1965.[2] In 1970, the area changed its name to Powder Ridge; during the year, it was planned to host the Powder Ridge Rock Festival, which was later cancelled.[2] In 1972, after resolution of local opposition and legal action, Powder Ridge embarked on a major expansion, which included the construction of the first quad chair in New England, dubbed the "747 lift."[2]
In 1990, Powder Ridge was purchased by a company called White Water Mountain Resorts, which planned to build the ski area into a year-round resort.[2] In 2001, two chairlifts, the quad chair and a double chair were both converted to triples.[2] At some point during the mid-2000s, White Water's plan to build a water park at Powder Ridge were denied by the town of Middlefield.[2][3] White Water subsequently announced it would try to sell the ski area, and though the town initially agreed to purchase the Powder Ridge for $3.6 million and lease it to White Water, it later voted against the plan.[3]
On 23 September 2006, it was announced that Powder Ridge would not operate during the winter of 2006-2007, a time when the ski area was more than $2.5 million in debt to TD Banknorth.[3] While the ski area later chose to operate that winter, it would permanently close after the end of the 2006-2007 skin season.[2] That spring, Middlefield voted once again to purchase Powder Ridge, but was unable to, and a private operator, Middlefield Holdings LLC, bought the ski area during summer 2008 for $2.75 million.[2] On 29 December 2008, though, the town of Middlefield bought Powder Ridge, at a price of $2.55 million.[2]
The town planned to sell Powder Ridge to a private company, and in 2009 chose CDF and Associates, a New York-based company, to operate the area.[4] CDF, however, pulled out of the deal in February 2010, citing the high costs of doing business in Connecticut.[4] The ski area was placed back on the market, and by the spring of 2010 three entities were reportedly interested in buying the property.[5] Plans changed sometime over the summer of 2010, and the town chose to retain ownership of the ski area while leasing it to a separate company, Alpine Associates.[6] On 22 December 2010, the Connecticut State Bond Commission approved $500,000 to be spent on maintenance on Powder Ridge.[6]
Mountain statistics
Powder Ridge has either 18 or 19[4][1] trails over a total of 250 acres (100 ha).[4] Of the trails, 25% are rated easy, 50% are rated intermediate and 25% are rated as advanced.[1] The area has a total skiable terrain of 88 acres (36 ha) and a vertical drop of 500 feet (150 m).[1] Powder Ridge receives an average of 60 inches (150 cm) of snow per year.[1] There are a total of five lifts at the ski area.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Powder Ridge ski area, Connecticut". Gotta go it snows.com. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Powder Ridge". New England Ski History. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ a b c "Connecticut's Powder Ridge Ski Area to Remain Closed This Winter". First Tracks!! Online. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Hope Remains for Connecticut's Powder Ridge Ski Area". Fisrt Tracks!! Online. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ "Brayshaw: 3 competing to buy Powder Ridge". The Middletown Press. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ a b "Connecticut State Bond Commission Approves Expenditure that Could Revive Powder Ridge Ski Area". First Tracks!! Online. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.