Powder Ridge Ski Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Powder Ridge Park |
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View downhill from the Middlefield ski slope at sunset in Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort.
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| Location | Besek Mountain |
| Nearest city | Middlefield, Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°30′07″N 72°44′14″W / 41.502006°N 72.737172°W |
| Vertical | 550 ft (170 m) |
| Skiable area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Runs | 20 |
| Snowfall | 60 inches (150 cm) |
| Website | http://powderridgepark.com/ |
Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort is a fun place to ski and snowboard in Middlefield, Connecticut. It first opened its slopes on January 22, 1961. After closing for a few years in 2007, it reopened in 2013. You can find it on Besek Mountain. Powder Ridge Park is connected with the Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park, which is in nearby Portland, Connecticut.
Contents
The Story of Powder Ridge Ski Area
How Powder Ridge Started
Powder Ridge began as "Powder Hill" in 1959. Two brothers, Louis and Herman Zemel, started it. They already owned a successful appliance store. At first, the area only had simple surface lifts to take skiers up the mountain. Between 1963 and 1965, they added three new double chairlifts.
In 1970, the ski area changed its name to Powder Ridge. That year, a big music event called the Powder Ridge Rock Festival was planned. However, the festival was cancelled. Even so, many people still came to the ski area. A singer named Melanie Safka was the only performer who showed up and sang for the crowd.
Growing Bigger and Better
In 1972, Powder Ridge made a big upgrade. They built the first "quad chair" lift in all of New England. This lift was called the "747 lift." It got its name from the challenging "747" ski slope it went over.
The Zemel brothers also had a company called Fan Jet. This company made and sold equipment for making snow. This helped Powder Ridge and other ski areas have snow even when nature didn't provide enough.
After Louis Zemel passed away in 1981, his children took over his part of the business. His son and daughter-in-law managed the ski area and the snowmaking company.
Fun All Year Round
Powder Ridge wasn't just for winter fun. In the warmer months, it had a pool club. This club offered a large swimming pool, a smaller pool for kids, and tennis courts. The restaurant also hosted parties and events during the summer.
In the 1980s, Powder Ridge had several different ski slopes. There was a long beginner slope, perfect for learning. The Middlefield slope was half a mile long and often the first to open and last to close. The Glade was a narrower run. The 747 slope was known for being more difficult. Finally, the Dinosaur slope was named after some dinosaur footprints found nearby.
Powder Ridge also offered night skiing. The slopes stayed open late on Friday and Saturday nights. They also worked with schools in Connecticut to create ski clubs for students.
Changes and Challenges
In 1990, a company called White Water Mountain Resorts bought Powder Ridge. They wanted to make it a year-round resort with even more activities. Some local people worried about more cars on the small roads.
Later, in 2001, two of the chairlifts were upgraded from double chairs to triple chairs. White Water also wanted to build a water park, but the town of Middlefield did not approve the plan. White Water then decided to sell the ski area.
Powder Ridge faced financial difficulties and closed after the 2006-2007 ski season. The town of Middlefield bought the property in 2008. Over the next few years, different companies tried to buy or lease Powder Ridge.
A New Beginning
In February 2012, Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park bought Powder Ridge for $1 million. Brownstone agreed to invest $2 million to fix up the ski area. The sale was completed in September 2012.
After some work and delays, Powder Ridge reopened for skiing in early January 2014. When it reopened, Powder Ridge made a new rule: everyone skiing or snowboarding on the mountain had to wear a helmet. This made it the only mountain in Connecticut with this rule at the time.
Mountain Details
Powder Ridge has 19 named trails for skiing and snowboarding. These trails cover about 80 acres (32 ha) of land. They can make snow on 68 acres (28 ha) of the mountain. Night skiing is available on 40 acres (16 ha).
About 42% of the trails are for beginners, which are easy runs. Another 37% are for intermediate skiers, meaning they are a bit more challenging. The remaining 21% are advanced trails for experienced skiers. There are no trails rated as expert.
The mountain has a total of 6 lifts to take you up. The highest point is 800 feet (240 m) at the summit. The base of the mountain is at 383 feet (117 m). This means there is a vertical drop of 417 feet (127 m) from top to bottom.
Fun Features at the Park
The entire park covers 255 acres (103 ha). It has special areas for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. You can find rails, jumps, and even a full-size half-pipe. There are also areas for snowtubing, racing, and snowbiking.
The park has a restaurant and lodge where you can relax and eat. There's also a retail store if you need to buy gear or souvenirs.
The Mattabesett Trail, a hiking path, crosses the very top of Powder Ridge Mountain.
Summer Adventures
When the snow melts, Powder Ridge still offers lots of fun activities. You can try disk golf, which is like golf but with frisbees. They also have synthetic skiing and snowboarding, so you can practice even without snow. Other summer activities include mountain biking, tubing, and zip lines for an exciting ride!
