Holiday Valley’s President and General Manager, Dennis Eshbaugh recently announced the Ellicottville resort will be reinvesting $5.3 million this year to expand and improve winter and summer operations. Holiday Valley’s major projects include construction of Sky High Outdoor Adventure Park, a new quad chairlift, snowmaking upgrades, a new grooming machine and expansion of the pool area at the Inn at Holiday Valley.

The $2.5 million Sky High Adventure Park is being built in the Tannenbaum area of the resort. An Aerial Adventure park and a Mountain Coaster will be completed this summer. Beginning May 21 visitors to the Aerial Park can explore the tree top courses; cross bridges, climb ladders, navigate obstacles and soar on zip lines. There are eight different courses that increase in difficulty as they rise in height above the ground. The Mountain Coaster, scheduled to open in early July, is similar to a roller coaster with cars that ride on a track. One or two riders load a car adjacent to the Tannenbaum Lodge and ride up the hill parallel to the Spruce Lake lift. At the apex the car begins its thrilling descent zigzagging and spiraling down through the woods. Riders can accelerate or decelerate using handles on the sides of the car.

The Holiday Valley Mountain Crew will construct a quad chairlift to replace the existing SnowPine double chairlift. This new lift doubles the capacity of the lift and allows ski-in, ski-out access to the SnowPine Village condominiums. Bear Cub, a beginner trail that was constructed for the 2010-11 season is serviced by this lift and will be outfitted with snowmaking pipeline and hydrants for the 2011-12 season. The lower section of Bear Cub is being extended for easier access to the base of the SnowPine lift.

An automated snowmaking system will be installed on the mile-long Mardi Gras slope. Weather stations on the upper and lower slope monitor temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed and direct a computer to turn on or off the snowguns, or increase or decrease the air and water flow. The goal of automation is to increase efficiency and energy savings while providing the best possible manmade snow.

Holiday Valley will purchase a new grooming tractor to bring the newest technology in grooming to Holiday Valley’s slopes and trails. Holiday Valley’s fleet of seven groomers resurface the ski slopes each night using a hydraulic tiller that grinds the top layer of snow and lays it down as a soft corduroy new surface. The machines also have a hydraulic blade on the front, which can be used to smooth the snow surface or to add moguls or shapes.

The very popular pool area at the Inn at Holiday Valley will be expanded with a larger deck and a second hot tub. The pool facility at the Inn also includes an indoor/outdoor year ’round pool where guests can swim outdoors in the wintertime and watch the skiers glide by.

Plans for the reconstruction of the main Clubhouse Chalet and relocation of the Holiday Valley Road continue to make progress, with construction of the new lodge slated for summer of 2012.

Holiday Valley is a four-season full service resort located in Ellicottville, New York, 50 miles south of Buffalo. Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and conferences. Summertime visitors enjoy golf, swimming, mountain biking, hiking conferences and weddings.

For information contact:
Jane Eshbaugh
Director of Marketing
Holiday Valley Resort, www.holidayvalley.com
[email]jeshbaugh@holidayvalley.com[/email]
716-699-3904