Ikea on steroids

The first of six (or more) containers of mountain coaster parts has arrived from Germany. It looks to me like an Ikea purchase on steroids. The container includes parts and pieces, and boxes of widgets and thingamajigs ... all labeled in German. I hope the assembly instuctions have pictures as good as Ikea's. ;-)

Stay tuned for construction updates.

Learn more about Okemo's new Mountain Coaster.

the new carpet lift is here ... the new carpet lift is here!

There's a chill in the air and signs of the changing seasons are all around us. One of those signs was delivered today on the back of a flat-bed truck. The shiny, silver metal sections of Okemo's newest lift arrived this morning.

In the heyday of surface lifts, Okemo was renowned for its network of Pomalifts. Okemo even boasted the longest Pomalift in North America. The Upper Lift, later renamed the Red Poma, measured 6,207 feet in length. Pomalifts consist of a round rubber disc at the end of a long pole connected to an overhead cable. This winter, Okemo’s final vestige of that era will be dismantled and mothballed to make room for a newer, more user-friendly surface lift for young children learning how to ski. The Snow Star Poma, located in the Galaxy Bowl Learning Area at Okemo’s Clock Tower Base Area, is being replaced with a180-foot, magic-carpet-style surface lift.

“The new carpet lift will help shorten the learning curve for beginning Snow Stars participants,” said Okemo Ski + Ride School Director Dan Bergeron. “When ready, children will transition from the smaller Skywalker Carpet lift without having to learn how to ride a new style of lift. As a result, children will be able to move up to the larger Galaxy Bowl slope sooner than before. The new carpet lift will also have greater capacity, meaning more ski time for Okemo’s youngest new skiers!”

US Air Force Band of Liberty

One never knows what kind of music will be at our Friday Night Concert Series at Jackson Gore. You know its going to be great music, but what kind? This summer we ran a full slate of fine musical entertainment. We kicked off the summer with the smooth sounds of Dr. Burma and then threw ya right in to the Jam band world with Twiddle.
We covered all different types of music from funk to reggae to blues to rock. The power of music can be measured in many ways. Music can take you on a journey. It can heal,relax, party, worship and energize. We hope this weeks Band will excite! The US Air Force Band of Liberty's sounds will inspire Air Force members and the great nation they serve, producing innovative musical programs and products, and communicating Air Force excellence throughout New England and around the globe.
The weather is looking good, so pack up your chairs and head on over to Jackson Gore this Friday for some inspirational tunes! Show time is @ 6:30pm with the festivities ending around 8pm. This is a FREE concert open to everyone - rain or shine!

these are a few of my favorite wings

What goes better with beer at a brew fest than wings? This year, Okemo is making a good thing better by introducing a Chicken Wing Championship to it's lineup of fabulous festivities on Aug. 7. The Hops in the Hills Brew Fest will feature a dozen local and regional breweries offering samples of their finest. And this year, for the first time ever, several local restaurants will be vying for the highly coveted title of Okemo Valley Chicken Wing Champion.

The fun begins at 1 p.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Bluesman Chris Kleeman will get the music rolling and warm up the crowd for bluegrass sensation Possum Haw. $20 includes a pint glass and 4 beer tickets. Additional beer tickets can be purchased at 4 tickets for $5. Wing tickets are 6 for $5 or a voting package includes 12 tickets and a vote for $10.

This is a rain-or-shine event. The location is the Paleo Indian site at Jackson Gore. In case of rain, the event will move under cover at the Jackson Gore Ice House.

He's not a lawyer, but he plays one on TV

You may know him as the skeezy lawyer on Scrubs, but at Friday night's Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series performance, Sam Lloyd showed a crowd of Beatles fans what he can do with a bass guitar. Sam and his friends from Syracuse University, aka The Butties, rocked the house with one Beatles tune after another. Most were well known, but the band showed that they really know their Fab Four history with a few obscure tunes as well.

The performance was peppered with appearances from friends doing vocals, playing drums, french horn, and a special appearance by Sam's dad, Sam Lloyd, Sr., as "The Admiral" for a heartwarming rendition of Yellow Submarine.

And if you think Sam, Sr., looks a little like Jim from Taxi or Doc Brown, from Back to the Future, just chalk it up to a family resemblance. Sam is the brother of Christopher Lloyd.

Join us this Friday night in the Jackson Gore courtyard for The Pete Kilpatrick Band. The concert is free and the music starts around 6 p.m.

OVGC in the News

Links Magazine named Okemo Valley Golf Club one of New England's Top 25 Golf Courses You can view the entire collection of their favorite places to play online.

And speaking of links, it's shaping up to be a fantastic weekend to get out on the links here at Okemo. The course is in superb shape and the patio at Willie Dunn's Grille is a wonderful place to enjoy lunch or an after-play beverage.

Tater Hill is a short and scenic drive from the resort. The cottage-style flower gardens are near peak bloom and the views of the surrounding hillsides will make play this weekend simply spectacular.

Spring House Open House

Saturday June 26th 7:00 AM-7:00 PM

Why wait until 3:00 PM- Okemo's Flip Flop Festival to kick off the summer?

Instead, kick off your flip flops and go for a swim in the pool, or ride the slide into the cool water. Maybe bring the youngsters for a splash in the fountains of our 18" splash pool, or get a good workout on the treadmill.

All for FREE.

The Spring House, Okemo's pool and fitness center will be free for the public from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM. including group fitness classes like Zumba, Hatha Yoga and Power Yoga. If you've been wondering if you should try to get fit or try out a class, Saturday 6/26 is the day! Of course, if you like it, we'd love to have you back and will be happy to tell you about membership rates and day pass prices to fit all budgets. Sorry...can't resist.

See you Saturday June 26th, tell a friend!