ELLICOTTVILLE, NY ??” Holiday Valley, named by SKI Magazine Readers as 3rd best in the East, has invested $3 million to improve the resort for the upcoming winter season. This investment features expansion of the popular Tannenbaum Lodge, increased snowmaking, a new Bombardier Groomer, a new Zaugg Pipe Cutter, increased parking and improvement of the beginner’s Boardwalk area. The total investment in improvements and expansions over the past 10 years is over $35 million, proof of Holiday Valley’s commitment to excellence.

Tannenbaum Lodge’s popularity exploded last year with the installation of the Tannenbaum High Speed Quad. Patrons of the Lodge this year will find almost double the seating capacity on the second floor, an enlarged food service area similar in set up to the Yodeler Lodge’s Marketplace, a fireplace on the second floor, a ski-in ski-out deck on the second level, a small coffee and snack bar and restrooms on the second floor. And as before, picnickers will still be able to lay out their magnificent spreads throughout the building. A second tier has been added to the Tannenbaum parking lot resulting in an additional 100 spots.

The ongoing yearly snowmaking expansion includes more pumping power and 25 additional HKD tower guns, as well as progress on the reservoir project at the top of the mountain.

The new groomer is a Bombardier MP Terrain Master with a hydraulic powered blade and tiller that refreshes the snow surface. The Zaugg Pipe Cutter is an auger-type attachment to a groomer used to carve out a half pipe shape from mounds of manmade snow. The Swiss made Zaugg cutters are some of the best in the business and are used for world class parks. The start area for the half pipe on Foxfire will be improved as well.

The Boardwalk area, for first time skiers and riders was relocated last year to an area removed from other skiers/riders. The first timer skiers??в„ў area will be redesigned for more efficient use of the space and skier comfort.

Information on 2004-2005 season passes and money saving multiple week programs is available on line at www.holidayvalley.com. If the upcoming winter has any relation to the wet summer, we are in for some major snowfall. The Farmer??в„ўs Almanac has predicted a ???wild??? winter ahead, and that is good news for Holiday Valley fans!