Hidden Valley (New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hidden Valley |
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 Hidden Valley
Location in Sussex County, New Jersey
Hidden Valley
Location in New Jersey
Hidden Valley
Location in the United States
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| Location | Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, United States |
| Nearest city | New York City 1 hour southeast |
| Coordinates | 41°11′8.16″N 74°28′50.16″W / 41.1856000°N 74.4806000°W |
| Vertical | 620 ft (189 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,435 ft (437 m) AMSL |
| Base elevation | 815 ft (248 m) |
| Runs | 15 total - 25% easiest - 30% more difficult - 45% most difficult |
| Longest run | Browse Along 0.75 miles (1.2 km) |
| Lift system | 3 chairlifts - 1 triple - 2 doubles 1 surface lift |
| Lift capacity | 3500 per hr |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Night skiing | 100% |
Hidden Valley was a ski resort in Vernon Township, New Jersey. It was located about an hour's drive from the George Washington Bridge. This made it easy for many people to visit.
Since January 2016, the area has a new purpose. It is now the National Winter Activity Center. This center helps teach groups of kids and teens how to ski and snowboard. It focuses on those who might not usually get to try winter sports.
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History of Hidden Valley Ski Resort
Hidden Valley ski resort first opened in 1975. It was built by Jack and Peg Kurlander. For many years, the resort tried to compete with a much larger ski area nearby called Mountain Creek.
In 2007, Hidden Valley faced financial difficulties. It was sold at an auction. A group of investors bought it. They hoped to turn it into a big, all-inclusive resort.
However, after a very warm winter in 2011 and other problems, the resort was put up for sale again in 2013. It did not sell at that time. Because of this, it did not open for the 2013-2014 ski season.
In February 2014, the National Winter Activity Center (NWAC) started using the old Hidden Valley site. Schone Malliet led the idea for this new center.
The Mountain's Features
Hidden Valley's highest point, called its summit elevation, was 1,435 feet (437 meters) above sea level. The bottom of the mountain was at 815 feet (248 meters). This means the vertical drop, or the height difference from top to bottom, was 620 feet (189 meters).
The resort had 15 different ski trails.
- 25% of the trails were for beginners, meaning they were the easiest.
- 30% were for intermediate skiers, which were a bit more difficult.
- 45% were for advanced skiers, making them the most challenging.
The longest trail was called Browse Along. It was about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometers) long. The mountain had three chairlifts to take skiers up. It also had one surface lift.
Famous Skiers from Hidden Valley
Many talented skiers trained at Hidden Valley.
Olympic Gold Medalist Donna Weinbrecht
Donna Weinbrecht is a champion freestyle skier. She won an Olympic gold medal in moguls. Donna learned to ski and practiced a lot at Hidden Valley.
The Schneider Brothers
The Schneider brothers, David Jr., Drew, and Todd, were also alpine skiers who trained here.
- David joined the U.S. training squad when he was 17.
- Drew was invited to the U.S. Ski Team at just 14 years old.
- Todd later raced for the U.S. Ski Team in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Their father, David Schneider, started the alpine training program at nearby ski areas before Hidden Valley opened. He was also Donna Weinbrecht's first coach.
Nolan Kasper's Early Start
Nolan Kasper is a slalom racer for the U.S. Ski Team. He started skiing at Hidden Valley when he was only three years old in the early 1990s. His father was a ski instructor at the resort.
