Paoli Peaks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paoli Peaks |
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|---|---|
| Location | Paoli Township, Orange County, Indiana, U.S.  |
| Nearest city | Paoli, Indiana |
| Coordinates | 38°33′28″N 86°30′37″W / 38.55778°N 86.51028°W |
| Vertical | 300 ft (91 m) |
| Runs | 15 - 25% beginner - 55% intermediate - 20% advanced |
| Lift system | 5 chairs: 1 quad, 3 triples, 1 double 3 surface lifts: 1 rope, 2 carpets |
| Lift capacity | 11,200 passengers/hr |
| Terrain parks | 2 |
| Snowfall | 18 in (46 cm) |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | Yes |
Paoli Peaks is a fun place for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing! It's a ski resort located in Paoli Township, near the town of Paoli, Indiana. People have been enjoying the snow here since the 2006-2007 season when they added a special tubing hill.
The resort is built on a natural hill that is about 900 ft (270 m) high. The skiing area has a vertical drop of 300 ft (91 m). Paoli Peaks has 17 different runs and many chairlifts and tows to get you up the hill. Even though it doesn't get super cold all the time, Paoli Peaks uses special machines to make sure there's always plenty of snow for everyone.
The resort is owned and run by a company called Vail Resorts. It is located just north of the Hoosier National Forest.
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Exploring Paoli Peaks Facilities
Paoli Peaks has a large building called a day lodge, which is about 45,000 square feet. It's located right at the top of the hill.
What You'll Find in the Lodge
Inside the lodge, you can grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria or pizzeria. There's also a special shop where you can rent ski and snowboard gear. If you need new equipment, there's a pro shop too. For any accidents, there's a first aid station run by the ski patrol. You can also buy tickets, sign up for lessons, or arrange group visits.
Paoli Peaks is a "day lodge" resort. This means there are no places to stay right at the ski area. However, you can find many hotels and resorts nearby if you want to stay overnight.
Fun at the Snow Tubing Hill
A short drive from the main ski area is the exciting snow tubing hill. It has up to 10 lanes where you can slide down 700-foot-long slopes. To get back up the hill easily, there's a 400-foot "Wonder-Carpet" that carries you. The tubing hill also has its own small day lodge.
Learning to Ski or Snowboard
If you're new to skiing or snowboarding, or if you're a child, you can take lessons. Friendly instructors are ready to teach you on the beginner slopes.
The Paoli Peaks Ski Patrol
Paoli Peaks also has a ski patrol. These are trained people who help keep everyone safe on the slopes. Most of them are volunteers who give their time to help. They work alongside a smaller group of paid patrollers.
The Paoli Peaks Ski Patrol has about 85 members. They have all completed a special course called Outdoor Emergency Care. They also practice their skills every year to stay ready. These patrollers come from all over the area and often have other full-time jobs. They volunteer their time to help people at the resort.
How Paoli Peaks Makes Snow
Paoli Peaks has over 110 special towers and machines that make snow. When the temperature is around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, they can create 12 inches of machine-made snow over the entire ski area in just 24 hours! This helps make sure there's always enough snow for skiing and snowboarding.
More About Paoli Peaks
- Average Slope: The slopes at Paoli Peaks usually have a gentle incline of 10% to 15%.
- Terrain Types:
- 25% of the slopes are for beginners.
- 55% are for intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
- 10% are for advanced riders.
- 10% is dedicated to freestyle terrain parks.
- Lifts: There are 7 lifts in total. This includes 1 quad chairlift, 3 triple chairlifts, 1 double chairlift for beginners, 1 rope tow, and 2 carpet lifts.
- Lift Capacity: The lifts can carry up to 11,200 skiers every hour.
- Average Snowfall: The area gets about 18 inches (460 mm) of natural snow each year.
Night Skiing Fun
Paoli Peaks is one of the few resorts that offers a lot of night skiing. During most of the ski season, they stay open after dark until 9:00 PM on weeknights. On many weekends, they have "Midnight Madness sessions" that last until 3:00 AM! On other weekends, they close at 10:00 PM. They also traditionally have a "Midnight Madness" session on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, they had "Old School Midnight Madness." For these events, they would close for one hour at 11:00 PM to groom the slopes. Then, they would reopen at midnight for skiing and boarding until 6:00 AM! This was a fun way to bring back their original "Midnight Madness Sessions."
Spring Carnival Celebration
Like many other resorts, Paoli Peaks holds a "Spring Carnival" near the end of February or early March each year. It's a way to celebrate the season and end it with lots of fun! The carnival has many exciting events. In recent years, these have included a cardboard sled race, a bikini ski race, and a slosh pit.
