'Trail of Lights' to illuminate changes at Peek'n Peak
BY JIM CARROLL
jim.carroll@timesnews.com [more details]
FINDLEY LAKE, N.Y. -- Skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers will all find something new at Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa this season.
But visitors only need to take a chair lift ride to take in the Peak's brightest attraction.
The golf and ski resort located about 45 minutes from Erie is getting ready to show off the "Trail of Lights," a month-long holiday display from Nov. 23 to Dec. 23.
"It is going to be spectacular," said Chip Day, vice president of brand management for the resort. "We think this is going to start our season off with a bang."
Lights For All Seasons, an Oregon company that bills itself as North America's premier decorative lighting company, has been commissioned to create 14 large colorful and animated theme displays along one of the Peak's ski slopes.
Visitors take a 20-minute-long chair lift ride up and down the slope to view the display below. Tickets will cost $5.
"This company does lighting displays for big venues, major resorts, but this is the first time they will do a display on an actual ski trail," he said. "This will be the only one like it."
But other new facilities at the Peak this season are not built for leisurely rides.
The peak started cutting 15 new slopes in 2006.
"We are going to open about five new slopes every year for the next three years," Day said.
The first five should be available for skiers this season.
When those 15 are finished, the Peak will have a total of 41 slopes and 12 chair lifts, Day said.
That is all part of the Peak's multi-million-dollar, 10-year expansion plan.
The resort opened two terrain parks for freestyle skiers and snowboarders last winter.
Snowmobilers will also have easier access to the Peak. This year a snowmobile trail from Chautauqua County will extend to the resort.
"At the end of March, we want to have a huge snowmobile ... event," he said, explaining the plan is to set up motocross-type races for snowmobilers.
And improvements at the resort are attracting plenty of interest, said Mike Maring, owner of Findley Lake Sporting Goods.
"Everyone is excited about the new ownership of the Peak. That seems to have generated renewed enthusiasm," Maring said.
Ohio-based developer Paul Kiebler purchased the resort in January 2006.
"It seems as though the Peak is taking a very intelligent planned course of improvement. Everyone is looking forward to see what the new improvements will be. It gets everybody excited and interested," Maring said.
And that interest extends across the Pennsylvania border to Erie tourism officials.
John Oliver, president of the VisitErie tourism agency, said improvements to the nearby ski resort adds to Erie's wintertime attraction. "It definitely has an impact here when you are talking about winter activities," he said.
Peek'n Peak is big enough and close enough to benefit Erie hotels and retail stores, Oliver said.
"It is drawing people to the region," he said.
Oliver said Erie tourism officials are working to build up the local tourism seasons beyond the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day peak summer season.
Attractions like Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park, Presque Isle Downs & Casino and Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa are helping extend the local tourism season, Oliver said.
Day said the Peak has had a solid summer and fall this year, and is looking forward to a strong winter season, as well.
But before you have a winter season, you need winter, and no where was Tuesdays' snowfall more welcomed than at Peek'n Peak, especially after 2006's abbreviated winter.
"Six inches of snow, and the day has just begun," Day said in an e-mail Tuesday morning.
The Peak has web cams available on its Internet site -- www.pknpk.com -- to show real-time conditions. And the resort also has the $2 million state-of-the-art snowmaking system it installed in 2006 for when Mother Nature doesn't come through.
JIM CARROLL can be reached at (814) 724-1716, 870-1727.
jim.carroll@timesnews.com [more details]
 Skiers brave the slopes at Peek'N Peak Resort on Saturday, January 20. (Janet B. Campbell / Erie Times-News) |
FINDLEY LAKE, N.Y. -- Skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers will all find something new at Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa this season.
But visitors only need to take a chair lift ride to take in the Peak's brightest attraction.
The golf and ski resort located about 45 minutes from Erie is getting ready to show off the "Trail of Lights," a month-long holiday display from Nov. 23 to Dec. 23.
"It is going to be spectacular," said Chip Day, vice president of brand management for the resort. "We think this is going to start our season off with a bang."
Lights For All Seasons, an Oregon company that bills itself as North America's premier decorative lighting company, has been commissioned to create 14 large colorful and animated theme displays along one of the Peak's ski slopes.
Visitors take a 20-minute-long chair lift ride up and down the slope to view the display below. Tickets will cost $5.
"This company does lighting displays for big venues, major resorts, but this is the first time they will do a display on an actual ski trail," he said. "This will be the only one like it."
But other new facilities at the Peak this season are not built for leisurely rides.
The peak started cutting 15 new slopes in 2006.
"We are going to open about five new slopes every year for the next three years," Day said.
The first five should be available for skiers this season.
When those 15 are finished, the Peak will have a total of 41 slopes and 12 chair lifts, Day said.
That is all part of the Peak's multi-million-dollar, 10-year expansion plan.
The resort opened two terrain parks for freestyle skiers and snowboarders last winter.
Snowmobilers will also have easier access to the Peak. This year a snowmobile trail from Chautauqua County will extend to the resort.
"At the end of March, we want to have a huge snowmobile ... event," he said, explaining the plan is to set up motocross-type races for snowmobilers.
And improvements at the resort are attracting plenty of interest, said Mike Maring, owner of Findley Lake Sporting Goods.
"Everyone is excited about the new ownership of the Peak. That seems to have generated renewed enthusiasm," Maring said.
Ohio-based developer Paul Kiebler purchased the resort in January 2006.
"It seems as though the Peak is taking a very intelligent planned course of improvement. Everyone is looking forward to see what the new improvements will be. It gets everybody excited and interested," Maring said.
And that interest extends across the Pennsylvania border to Erie tourism officials.
John Oliver, president of the VisitErie tourism agency, said improvements to the nearby ski resort adds to Erie's wintertime attraction. "It definitely has an impact here when you are talking about winter activities," he said.
Peek'n Peak is big enough and close enough to benefit Erie hotels and retail stores, Oliver said.
"It is drawing people to the region," he said.
Oliver said Erie tourism officials are working to build up the local tourism seasons beyond the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day peak summer season.
Attractions like Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park, Presque Isle Downs & Casino and Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa are helping extend the local tourism season, Oliver said.
Day said the Peak has had a solid summer and fall this year, and is looking forward to a strong winter season, as well.
But before you have a winter season, you need winter, and no where was Tuesdays' snowfall more welcomed than at Peek'n Peak, especially after 2006's abbreviated winter.
"Six inches of snow, and the day has just begun," Day said in an e-mail Tuesday morning.
The Peak has web cams available on its Internet site -- www.pknpk.com -- to show real-time conditions. And the resort also has the $2 million state-of-the-art snowmaking system it installed in 2006 for when Mother Nature doesn't come through.
JIM CARROLL can be reached at (814) 724-1716, 870-1727.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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