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Article
Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 2:15:31 AM EST
The central village area of Jiminy Peak ski resort in Hancock. The resort has completed a number of new trails and facilities this year, as part of a 15-year master plan. Jiminy Nearing Goals By
Karen Gardner, HANCOCK -- With four new trails and another snowboarding facility added this year, along with plans to break ground on the replacement for its East Lodge next spring, Jiminy Peak is approaching owner Brian H. Fairbank's vision for the ski resort. "This is really coming to the end of that 15-year plan," said Katie Tworek, Jiminy Peak special events coordinator. "We're the largest resort in southern New England, and we want to just make it enjoyable for our guests -- that's the goal. The more we can make attractive for people to come and comfortable, that's really what [Fairbank] is striving for." Over the past seven years, Jiminy Peak has added 30 homes and condominiums, as well as a $12 million complex of 72 time-share villas, called Bentley Brook. In addition, Vacation Village -- a development built for an estimated $16 million to $20 million, located on 64 acres across from the resort on Brodie Mountain Road -- offers more than 100 suites. Two new centers, the 10,000-square-foot Burbank Children's Center and the 8,500-square-foot Paul Major Welcome Center -- both located in the resort's village -- were completed last December. With its new thumbprint recognition system, the welcome center's locker room is at the cutting edge of technology. "The locker room, instead of locks, it has lockers that actually read the thumbprint, which one of our information technology guys came up with so you don't lose your key. It's really unique," Tworek said. "You're storing pretty expensive stuff and you want to feel secure about it, so no one can get in there except for you, with your thumb. So, it's cool." In the Burbank center, up to 350 youngsters may participate in the SKIWee and Explorer programs, and some 40 non-skiers can be accommodated in its playroom. There is also an enclosed cafeteria and plenty of child-sized equipment to rent, just right for the younger skiers. Next year, skiers and snowboard enthusiasts will warm up in J. J's Lodge, to replace the East Lodge, the oldest building on the property. Tworek said J. J's Lodge, another base lodge, will be larger than East Lodge. |