Big Rock (ski resort) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bigrock |
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Bigrock in the Summer
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| Location | Mars Hill, Maine, United States |
| Nearest city | Presque Isle, Maine |
| Coordinates | 46°31′20″N 67°49′40″W / 46.52222°N 67.82778°W |
| Top elevation | 1,590 feet (480 m) |
| Base elevation | 670 feet (200 m) |
| Runs | 28 |
| Lift system | 3 |
| Website | www.bigrockmaine.com |
Bigrock Ski Area is a fun place to ski and snowboard in Mars Hill, Maine. It's located on the side of Mars Hill mountain. Bigrock is one of the bigger ski resorts in the State of Maine. It has two chairlifts, 26 trails, and lots of snowmaking. You can even ski at night! The mountain has a big drop of almost 1000 feet, which means long, exciting runs.
Exploring the Slopes
Most of the ski trails at Bigrock are for intermediate skiers. This means they are good for people who have skied a bit before and are comfortable on blue trails. These trails are reached by the North Star Double Chair, which is a type of chairlift.
The mountain also has a special lift called a poma lift. For beginners, there's a special area with easier trails. This area is served by the South Star Triple Chair. About 58% of the trails are for intermediate skiers. Around 30% are for advanced skiers, who like more challenging runs. The remaining 18% are perfect for beginners who are just learning.
A Look at Bigrock's Past
Bigrock Ski Area first opened in the 1960s. In the year 2000, a group called the Maine Winter Sports Center (MWSC) bought Bigrock. They were able to do this with help from grants, which are like special funds, from the Libra Foundation in Portland.
After MWSC took over, they added new things to Bigrock. They created trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. They also built a fun snow-tube park where you can slide down hills on tubes! The main lodge at Bigrock was also made bigger and now includes a new cafe where you can grab a bite to eat.
Wind Turbines on the Mountain
Mars Hill, where Bigrock is located, is also home to Maine's very first wind farm. A wind farm is a place where many large wind turbines are set up to create electricity from the wind. In the fall of 2006, 28 big wind turbines were put on top and along the northern part of the mountain. These turbines are very tall and can be seen from far away, even from Canada! Each turbine can make 1.5 megawatts of power.
