Rejuvenation in the Deerfield Valley and at Mount Snow

Rejuvenation in the Deerfield Valley and at Mount Snow
Release Date: Saturday, September 8th 2007
For Immediate Release:
Contact Mount Snow Valley Chamber for more info
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Southern Vermont - Renaissance, revival, rebirth, resurgence, and revitalization: these are all words to describe the atmosphere in the southern Vermont mountains of the Deerfield Valley. No less than eight community groups, countless volunteers and dozens of businesspeople have come together to complement the attention and capital investment at Mount Snow by their new owners, Peak Resorts. Some examples:

• The Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce had what they hoped was an ace up its sleeve for the coming summer months, eliciting the support of area businesses, artists and schools to create the summer long “Bears in the Valley” project, similar to Bennington Vermont’s “Moosefest” and the Ludlow Llamas. The project oversaw the creation of hand painted life sized bears placed around the valley, each with individual designs and back stories. The bears have been a hit with visitors, with the chamber issuing over 25,000 bear maps, and the live auction being held Columbus Day Weekend promises funds for the area events being planned next summer.

• “When looking at organizing the second Taste of the Deerfield Valley (a festival gathering of area eateries where visitors can try sample items) the business community was so supportive, we almost felt like we had too many sponsors. That’s a fantastic problem to have," said Michael Allen Chair person of Celebrate the Valley. This not for profit community based group puts on events to showcase the valley, including December’s “Walk of the Santas”, recently named by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing as a “Top Ten Winter Event” in Vermont, and the extremely well received Great Race Memorial Day Weekend.

• The Tri-Town Economic Development Committee has orchestrated unprecedented support between the towns of Wilmington, Whitingham and Dover creating both long and short term plans, including making all three town centers free wifi zones, and long range plans to shore up and grow the tourism and non-tourism components of the area economy.

• A survey of second-homeowners is the first project of the newly formed Dover Economic Development Committee, so that proceeds from the recently approved 1% local option tax can be spent appropriately. Surveys of residents, businesses and visitors will follow.

“The community was pretty thrilled to be getting new owners at the mountain,” said business owner and President of the Chamber of Commerce Bruce Korb. “Knowing that Tim Boyd and Peak Resorts were going to significantly invest in snowmaking and renovations, we knew recovery in the area was underway.”

Korb’s assumption has proved to be right on the mark.

“The excitement around Mount Snow is almost palpable right now,” stated Meri Spicer, long time Deerfield Valley resident and Director of Marketing for Mount Snow. Everyone is upbeat about the coming winter season, and it is reflected in pass sales, lodging bookings, media attention, and feedback from our guests.”

Summer activities continue to be a focus of the resort. The USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships, held at Mount Snow in July and scheduled again for July of 2008, brought over 10,000 visitors, as well as national media attention, to the valley.

John Reagan, owner of popular Dot’s Restaurant in Wilmington Center says his customers have noticed the area changes, and his summer numbers have taken an upturn; Dot’s was up 15% in July.

“Our customers keep talking about how much nicer it looks in town, all the flowers the town beautification group added, and the bears, and even how much better it looks at the entrance to town where the new sign from the high school shop class sits.”

Bartleby’s Book Store in Wilmington saw a 50% increase in July business. Owners Lisa Sullivan and Ariel Redden, both active participants with the chamber of commerce activities, are seeing the results of their community efforts increase their business bottom line. “The enthusiasm we have seen this summer has been infectious, and we are really optimistic about the future of the valley.”

“We understand that business owners not only need to take the initiative to drive their own business, but also support those efforts which drive business to the valley in general,” said Magnus Thorrson, owner of the Gray Ghost Inn in West Dover, and a founding member of the Dover Economic Development Group. The Gray Ghost Inn, up 40% in July over last year, has captured the niche market interest of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the New England and Mid Atlantic Region, and the inn, has started booking out for Summer 08.

Laura Sibilia, Executive Director of the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce says the enthusiasm and cooperation in the area is unprecedented.
“The sheer volume of people focused on working together to grow and improve the valley has been inspirational. The select boards, business owners, civic groups, parents, and schools all putting in this kind of time and effort, the scale of the improvements being put in at the mountain, and the thumbs up we’re getting from our visitors, it’s a little like watching a slot machine hit the jackpot – everything keeps lining up, and paying off.”