01.1.2008

WatervilleValley Media Kit

CONTENTS:

Take a Hike…or a Bike

Think Links

Summertime, Summertime

Not Your English Teacher’s Shakespeare

The Summer of a Lifetime

The Place Curiosity Calls Home

Winter’s Wonderland

Meeting for Business…or Pleasure

Look! Up on the slopes! It’s the Silver Streaks!

Fast facts about WatervilleValley

Lodging

Dining

Quick Links and Contact info

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[INTRO] WatervilleValley - Escape from the Outside World

Friendliness and love of nature are a way of life in WatervilleValley

[column quote] "Mountains, forest, peace; old friends, a welcoming inn with familiar ways."

                                                                        Nathaniel Goodrich

A half century ago, Nathaniel Goodrich extolled the virtues of WatervilleValley, a historic New Hampshire town surrounded by 700,000 acres of national forest. "Superficially it changes, as all things must," Goodrich wrote. "But basically it remains the same."

Today, WatervilleValley is a fully-featured resort area with world-class skiing, golf, nationally-ranked tennis courts, a skateboard park, year-round ice arena, hiking, biking, water sports, boating, and cultural activities that range from bluegrass festivals to Shakespeare under the stars. What it doesn't have are fast-food places, stoplights and big box stores. WatervilleValley is a unique combination of resort area, historic town, and nature-lover's paradise, with an emphasis on family and community that brings people back year after year.

In the 1800s, visitors came to the valley by stagecoach to escape the heat of the city and enjoy an abundance of natural beauty. These days, visitors arrive by car, wending their way along the picturesque MadRiver, which surges over boulder-strewn rapids on its way to a pristine resort of 500 acres surrounded by the White MountainNational Forest. It’s a breath-taking experience--or perhaps "breath-releasing." Time and again, visitors describe turning off the highway and heading to the valley as a letting go of the outside world and a deep-seated sense of heading home.

Arriving WatervilleValley, many visitors park their cars and forget them; the Town Square is a pedestrian-only zone, and most activities are within walking distance or a short ride on the free open-air trolley that serves the valley. And activities there are, in abundance: year-round sports of every imaginable variety, for everyone from absolute beginners to experts; arts and education programs for children and adults; outdoor theater, gardening, and clubs. In WatervilleValley, the words "I'm bored" are rarely, if ever, heard.

"There is something about this place that has drawn people to return year after year, and their children also, their grandchildren, and now even their great-great-grandchildren," wrote Nathaniel Goodrich in 1952. "In a world of change and upheaval, in times when so many shift from place to place till they have no roots anywhere, Waterville has come to seem one place that is home to them, is changeless. It comes down to this: Waterville is continuance."

Take a Hike…or a Bike

Hikers have been exploring WatervilleValley since the 1800s, when a group of guests at Greeley's Hotel formed the Waterville Athletic and Improvement Association. The club's mission was to care for the valley's many trails, but they also put on shows, skits and other activities for the amusement of summer visitors.

The association is still in existence today and continues to oversee Waterville Valleys 100 miles of trails, which range from easy walking paths to sweat-drenching ascents. Want a short jaunt to work off the fettuccine alfredo you just had at one of the WatervilleValley's restaurants? Take a stroll around Corcoran’s Pond at the center of town and enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains. Feeling a bit more adventurous? Wander through the woods and wildflowers on the valley floor, or hike past the scenic waterfalls of Cascade Brook. Ready to work up a sweat? Head up the 4,315-ft. summit of MountOsceola for stunning views of the entire valley. If you're really daring, you can take on the three peaks of MountTripyramid, the highest points in the valley. There are trails for the brave, the bold, and the beginners at WatervilleValley.

If you prefer wheels to hiking boots, bring your mountain bike to WatervilleValley, or rent one there. Once again, you can take it as easy or as hard as you like. Whether its a leisurely ride around town or a dirt-kicking expedition through the woods, you'll find plenty of trails to suit your mood--over 30 miles of them! You can even take a chair lift to the top of Snow's Mountain and ride your bike down through the National Forest. Everything from meandering dirt fire-roads to gnarly single-track is available. With over 30 miles of marked, well-maintained trails, WatervilleValley is a Mecca for mountain bike enthusiasts.

Didn’t bring your bike? No problem--the AdventureCenter, located in the Town Square, provides well-maintained rental bikes for all levels of riders, and instructors to help you get started, make sure your bike is comfortable, and suggest trails to explore. If you've never biked before, it's a great, non-threatening way to begin.

Think Links

When they weren't hiking, WatervilleValley's early guests were playing games, and golf was an early favorite. Summer visitors built the first, impromptu course in front of the Eliot's Hotel back in 1898. That evolved into the Waterville Valley Golf Club, where beginners, duffers, and scratch golfers have been playing for over a century. It's a family-friendly course surrounded by glorious 360-degree views of Mounts Tecumseh, Osceola and Sandwich.

The spirit of Waterville permeates the course, in contrast to more high-pressure clubs. "It's more relaxed, not intimidating," says Jim Wefers, manager of the Golden Eagle Lodge. On a summer day, you're likely to see as many families with children playing as adult foursomes. And on summer evenings, adult visitors are invited to join locals in the popular Twilight League.

"Anyone can play," says Bill Cantlin. "You just show up and we put names in a hat and pick foursomes." Afterwards, players head to the clubhouse for $1 beers. It's a welcome retreat for vacationers who want to escape from the family for a little while. "Those are some of the happiest guys I've seen," says Cantlin.

By the way, don't mistake "friendly" for "unchallenging." The club recently completed a half-million dollar renovation designed to maintain the charm of the original course while adding new holes to challenge more experience players. "We wanted to create a course that would provide a good golfing experience for all levels of players," says Cantlin.

The club recently added a new clubhouse, designed by award-winning architects Samyn-D’Elia from Ashland, New Hampshire. The clubhouse features a spacious screened porch offering spectacular views of MountOsceola, MountTecumseh, and the 9th hole. In line with WatervilleValley’s love and respect for nature, the columns at the entrance of the pro shop are timbers harvested from nearby slopes, hand-peeled and finished, resting on rocks taken from an old stone wall. The shop's 24- by 24-foot screened porch provides magnificent views of Mounts Tecumseh and Osceola, as well as the new 9th hole, whose green is nestled inside the new pond.

These days, visitors to the WatervilleValley course play 16,000 rounds of golf a year. On a typical summer day, you'll find as many families with children playing the WatervilleValley course as adults. How do Waterville’s old-timers feel about the improvements? Ask Howard Grimes, 86, who has played the WatervilleValley course since 1950. “I think it’s just outstanding,” says Grimes. “I think the course right now is better than it has ever been.”

Summertime, Summertime

WatervilleValley in the summer is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with activities for every age and interest. A favorite activity since the valley’s earliest days is tennis. Back in 1884, the valley had only one court. Today there are 18 courts, and they are among the best in the country. Tennis Magazine ranks the WatervilleValleyTennisCenter as one of the top 50 tennis resorts in America, and Tennis Resorts Online rated it the #2 spot in America for its glorious setting amidst the White Mountains. Players as widely-known as two-time Grand Slam champion Rod Laver have enjoyed the red clay courts, along with beginners.

Nearby is the Adventure Center—headquarters for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing in the winter—and the summertime home of Waterville Valley Super Park, a skateboard and inline skate park featuring a 10-foot-high half-pipe, vert ramp, street court, pyramids, grind rails, and more. Young skaters can also attend the Waterville Valley Skate Camp, which provides day and overnight campers with a safe environment for improving their skateboard skills, having fun, and making new friends.

When it's too hot for outdoor skating, visitors head over to the Waterville Valley Ice Arena, a great place to cool off on a summer day. Open year-round, the newly-renovated arena provides open skating, rentals and lessons for all ages. Youngsters and adults who dream of Olympic glory can also sign up for figure skating and hockey lessons, along with youth hockey league tournaments. The arena is also home ice for the Plymouth State College hockey team, so locals and visitors can be found there throughout the season cheering for the PSC Panthers.

Across the street is the White Mountain Athletic Club, where visitors can take a swim in the indoor and outdoor pools, work out in the cardio room, lift some weights, or run a few laps on the indoor track. For after-workout relaxation there’s the hot tub, sauna, and steam room, or a meal at the Coyote Grill restaurant upstairs.

Waterville Valley's recreation department hosts an active day camp program (see “The Summer of a Lifetime”), as well as bingo, ice cream socials, sports of all kinds, yoga, cooking, crafts, and many more activities for children and adults. There are special community events for all ages, such as Family Play Day, a day of traditional fun including a fireman’s BBQ, watermelon toss, giant obstacle course and a pie-eating contest. The annual Paws on Packard’s Field features events especially for dogs and their people, and the Community Lau lights up the valley with tiki torches, live music and good food.

Want to introduce your kids to a world of fun and fitness? Waterville Valley Sports Camp, for children ages 8 to 14, offers instruction in tennis, golf, hiking, mountain biking and swimming, all surrounded by the natural beauty of the White Mountain National Forest. With quality instruction typically found only in intensive sports camps, kids learn by developing their skills at their own pace—and have fun doing it—so they will continue to pursue these activities for the rest of their lives. Waterville Valley Sports Camp offers one and two week overnight sessions, and special lodging packages for parents who want to enjoy all the valley has to offer while their kids are at camp.

Maybe you want to perfect your arpeggios more than your underhand. The Waterville Valley Music Camp offers instruction for string players of various levels ages 10 and up, including adult amateurs. Groups are formed according to instrument and ability, and will work with a suitable repertoire. The two-week camp includes a private lesson each week, ensemble coaching and master classes with world-renowned performers and teachers. Group sessions focus on in-depth musical interpretation and the development of chamber music skills. There’s time each afternoon to enjoy the valley’s leisure and sports facilities, and evenings feature workshops, orchestra rehearsals, lectures and informal concerts.

WatervilleValley’s central Town Square is a beehive of activity throughout the summer. On Wednesday afternoons, the Children's Theatre Company performs classic fairy tales and folk tales. On Sundays, naturalists from the SquamLakesScienceCenter present live animal programs. Then there’s the free outdoor concert series at the Town Square courtyard. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, sit back and enjoy the music.

[Are they going to do Summer Unlimited? Do we need to adapt this?]

Throw in swimming, kayaking, paddle-boats, and you've got more activities than most folks can choose from. To make it easier, WatervilleValley offers its Summer Unlimited package. From Memorial Day to Columbus Day, visitors can pay one price and enjoy everything the valley has to offer: 9 holes of golf a day; unlimited court time at the tennis club; an hour of canoe, kayak or pedal boat rental daily; two hours of bike rental daily; unlimited use of the facilities at the White Mountain Athletic Club, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, whirlpools, saunas, weight rooms, and cardiovascular room; admission to the town recreation department's open gym program; a day at camp for kids age 6 to 12; and even a ride up on Snow's Mountain chair lift to view the scenery. The choice is yours, and you won’t have to keep reaching into your pocket every time you want to do something.

[SIDEBAR] Not Your English Teacher’s Shakespeare

In the summer, visitors to WatervilleValley rub elbows with locals at star-filled evenings sponsored by Shakespeare in the Valley, a professional troupe that presents the Bard's works under the stars, with the majestic White Mountains as a backdrop. The company uses Renaissance staging techniques following the model set by Shakespeare’s original acting troupe: minimal sets and props, small ensemble casts and cross-gender casting. The actors often speak directly to the audience and the audience is not only encouraged but expected to respond in turn. The result is a fast-paced, exciting evening that guarantees you'll walk away never seeing Shakespeare the same way again. As the troupe’s motto goes, “We put the ‘shake’ back in Shakespeare!”

The Summer of a Lifetime

Remember a time when kids were free to roam, discover, and play? At WatervilleValley they still are, thanks to the town’s unique day camp program. With weekly themes, age-appropriate activities, and the natural and cultural resources of the valley to draw on, the WatervilleValley recreation department day camp program provides kids with the summer of a lifetime.

The program welcomes children ages 4 to 12 on a first-come, first-served basis for jam-packed days of indoor and outdoor activities. Children can attend WatervilleValley's day camp for a day, a week, or the entire summer. Although reservations are accepted, they aren't required, which gives visitors the flexibility to make last-minute plans--the kids will have a safe, fun-filled day while mom and dad are playing golf, tennis, or simply enjoying some time alone.

Each week's day camp activities revolve around themes such as Pirate Week, Hero’s Week, Sports Week, Animal Week, Curiosity Week, and more. Half-day specialty camps are also available for children with a special interest in soccer, karate, science, or acting. Other day camp add-ons include before and after camp care, swim lessons, field trips, and transportation.

[COULD CUT THIS FOR LENGTH] For children ages 4 to 6 there's WINGS (Waterville Instruction in Nature and Games), a hands-on program ideal for kids with lots of energy. Children aged 7 to 9 can SOAR (Summer Outdoor Adventures in Recreation) through a variety of outdoor excursions such as swimming, hiking, canoeing, and organized games. PEAK (Positive Environmental Activities for Kids) leads kids aged 10 to 12 on adventures in a variety of natural areas in the southern White Mountains, from hiking to remote swimming holes to kayaking on Corcoran’s Pond, along with unique cooking and crafts.

In addition to its day camp program, WatervilleValley's recreation department offers a full slate of activities for children and adults, including bingo, ice cream socials, sports of all kinds, yoga, cooking, crafts, and more. The center's "open gym" program provides a cool place to play on a hot summer day, and a multipurpose room hosts events on rainy days.

The Place Curiosity Calls Home

WatervilleValley is more than just an outdoor paradise. It's also an artistic and cultural center, a tradition that stretches back to its earliest days. Poets and painters have long frequented the region, and in the late 1950s, the creators of the immensely popular Curious George books, H.A. and Margret Rey, made it their summer home.

The Reys were drawn to WatervilleValley because H.A. was revising a popular astronomy book and needed a place away from the glare of city lights to do observation. They quickly fell in love with the valley and spent the next twenty summers there, writing, drawing, and charming the community.

Today, the Rey's spirit lives on in the Margret and H.A Rey Center, which hosts nature walks, literary groups, writers workshops, discussion clubs, a monthly lecture series, art shows, and activities for children. Among the most popular is the Curious Kids program, which takes children and families into the White MountainNational Forest around surrounding WatervilleValley for learning experiences.

H.A. was a Renaissance man, versed in history and natural history. Margret was a potter, photographer and expert gardener. Villagers and visitors were drawn to their little home--now known as the Curious George Cottage--which soon became a magnet for local children and an intellectual and creative center for the town.

Children would come and watch as H.A. drew new adventures for George or his other characters. At other times, Hans would take the children on nature walks and delight them with his talent of throwing his voice. "We would have conversations with imaginary people as we walked through the woods," says Nat Scrimshaw, who first met the Reys in when he was 2 years old.

Today, the spirit of curiosity and exploration lives on in the Margret and H.AReyCenter, whose mission is to honor the Rey's legacy by recreating the rich intellectual and creative environment they provided.  It does this through nature walks, literary groups, writers workshops, discussion clubs, a monthly lecture series, art shows, and of course, activities for children. The Curious Kids program takes children and families into the White MountainNational Forest surrounding WatervilleValley for learning experiences. "Kids are naturally curious," says Scrimshaw. "So are adults. Waterville’s forest and mountains are full of wondrous things -- all you have to do is pay attention."

H.A. Rey was known for his chalk talks, in which he would entertain visitors as he drew.  (A few lucky children got to take a drawing home with them.) Today, Nat Scrimshaw continues the tradition as resident artist and Executive Director of the ReyCenter, where he is working on a new series of books featuring one of H.A.’s characters, Whiteblack the penguin. He also coordinates a full slate of cultural activities for children and adults, part of the Rey Centers’ Arts in the Mountains program--theater, music, art classes, literary discussions, readings, exhibits, and more.

The ReyCenter also organizes weekly hikes, including "walk-talks," with an invited speaker on topics such as the glacial history of White Mountains and alpine ecology. At times, hikers take part in the Appalachian Mountain Club's “Mountain Watch” program, identifying and cataloging wildflowers as a way of tracking changes in the mountain habitat. Three times a month, the center hosts astronomy nights under the dark skies that first drew H.A. Rey to the valley. Local amateurs lead the stargazing sessions, along with a monthly visit by an expert from the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord.

The Rey's love of nature is reflected in the Center's strong environmental and conservation bent. Volunteers from the Center work alongside the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Waterville Valley Athletic and Improvement Association doing trail work. It's heavy-duty work, says Scrimshaw, but worth it to maintain the oldest hiking trail system in the Northeast.

Margret Rey was an avid gardener, a passion the ReyCenter celebrates through a program called Margret's HatGarden, in which volunteers adopt one of several flower plots located around the valley and care for it. There are also community garden plots next to the Curious George Cottage where locals can plant gardens, and a cooperative farm called CuriousGourdsGarden just down the road. Volunteers buy shares in the farm, work the garden, and enjoy a bounty of fresh vegetables in the summer. The farm also sponsors a farmer's market and provides food to local restaurants.

The Rey Center is about to break ground on a new home, which will feature an earth and sky observatory with a telescope that can project the stars on a screen, making them visible to a larger audience. The million-dollar structure will be a "green building" in honor of H.A. Rey's interest in alternative energy, with solar arrays, geothermal technology, rain gardens, constructed wetlands, and a landscape that maintains and interprets the mountain environment.

Visitors and vacationers are welcome at all of the ReyCenter's events, where they will often find themselves rubbing elbows with locals. Today, as in the past, WatervilleValley welcomes the curious, the adventurous, and the inquisitive--young or old, human or monkey.

Winter’s Wonderland

In the early 1960s, U.S. Olympic skier Tom Corcoran flew over Waterville Valley and knew he’d found what he was looking for—the perfect place for a planned community free from the urban sprawl of fast-food restaurants and big box stores, a place where families could come to enjoy the outdoors in a safe, healthy environment.

The beginning of Corcoran's vision was the WatervilleValley ski area, whose motto ("Altitude without the Attitude") echoes the fun, family-friendly atmosphere of the valley. The resort features 2 high-speed detachable quads, 2 triples, 3 doubles, 5 surface lifts, and trails for skiers of every ability.

WatervilleValley has hosted 13 World Cup skiing events. It's also home to the WatervilleValleyAcademy ski school--an academic sports program for competitive skiers and snowboarders--as well as the Black and Blue Trail Smashers ski club, whose members have won several major awards in regional championships. There are individual and group lessons for all ages, as well as lessons for family groups. Seniors have their own group, the Silver Streaks, the longest-running senior skiing program in the country. (See the related article on the Silver Streaks.)

WatervilleValley’s TerrainPark features a signature ExhibitionPark, as well as small, medium and beginners parks for snowboarders of all ability levels. At the AdventureCenter in Town Square, the focus of winter activities is cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; WatervilleValley has 120 KM of groomed trails, almost all of which are 16-feet wide, with a classic track on the outside. The trails are nationally ranked in ski guides, with extraordinary grooming.

No one gets left out of the fun at