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261:, to buy Powder Ridge. In July 2012, the two parties signed an agreement for Brownstone to buy the ski area for $ 700,000, to be paid in $ 100,000 annual increments. Brownstone also agreed to invest $ 2 million into Powder Ridge to restore the ski area, though the company estimated it would cost an additional $ 1.5 million to bring the facilities to current standards. The sale closed on 13 September, and after some delays in the planned reopening for the 2013-2014 season, the park was reopened for skiing in early January 2014. During this time, Powder Ridge created a new rule requiring helmets while skiing/snowboarding on the mountain, making them the only mountain in Connecticut to have this rule in place.
254:. On 22 December 2010, the Connecticut State Bond Commission approved $ 500,000 to be spent on maintenance on Powder Ridge. On 24 May 2011, the town of Middlefield approved a plan to sell the ski area to Alpine Ridge LLC, a Pennsylvania-based operator of ski areas. At the time, Alpine Ridge said it planned to upgrade facilities at the area, with a reopening by December 2013. However, on 25 October 2011, the town of Middlefield announced that Alpine Ridge had on 20 October informed the town's board of selectmen it no longer plans to buy the ski area.
246:. While the ski area later chose to operate that winter, it would permanently close after the end of the 2006-2007 ski season. That spring, Middlefield voted once again to purchase Powder Ridge, but was unable to, and a private operator, Middlefield Holdings LLC, bought the ski area during summer 2008 for $ 2.75 million. On 29 December 2008, though, the town of Middlefield bought Powder Ridge, at a price of $ 2.55 million.
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Powder Ridge has 19 named trails on 80 acres (32 ha) of skiable terrain. Snowmaking is available on 68 acres (28 ha), and night skiing on 40 acres (16 ha). 42% of trails are rated as beginner runs, 37% are intermediate, 21% advanced, and no runs rated as expert. There are a total of 6
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In 1990, Powder Ridge was purchased by a company called White Water
Mountain Resorts, which planned to build the ski area into a year-round resort. As noted above, it already did operate in the off-season, but some local citizens were concerned about the increased numbers of cars projected to run on
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1972, after resolution of local opposition and legal action, Powder Ridge embarked on a major expansion, which included the construction of the first quad chair in New
England, dubbed the "747 lift." It was thus named for the slope it rode over, the 747, known to be one of the area's more difficult
249:
The town planned to sell Powder Ridge to a private company, and in 2009 chose CDF and
Associates, a New York-based company, to operate the area. CDF, however, pulled out of the deal in February 2010, citing the high costs of doing business in Connecticut. The ski area was placed back on the market,
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In the 1980s the ski area had a beginner slope that was 1/4 mile long, the
Middlefield slope, running the full 1/2 mile length of the mountain and was perennially the first slope to open and the last to close each season, the Glade, which was a narrower run than the others and open less frequently,
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In 2001, two chairlifts, the quad chair and a double chair were both converted to triples. At some point during the mid-2000s, White Water's plan to build a water park at Powder Ridge were denied by the town of
Middlefield. White Water subsequently announced it would try to sell the ski area, and
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Powder Ridge operated in the off-season by running a pool club that offered an
Olympic sized swimming pool, kiddie pool, and tennis courts for members. The restaurant also hosted corporate outings, family outings, and the like in the summer to supplement the winter business.
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The park's total area covers 255 acres (103 ha), and includes facilities for freestyle skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, racing, and snowbiking such as rails, jumps, and a full size half-pipe. There is also a restaurant/lodge and a retail store.
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due to the lack of snow making, the 747, which sometimes had moguls near the top and was considered the more
Difficult run, and finally, the Dinosaur, presumably named for the small park of dinosaur foot prints at one of the ski area's entrances.
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and by the spring of 2010 three entities were reportedly interested in buying the property. Plans changed sometime over the summer of 2010, and the town chose to retain ownership of the ski area while leasing it to a separate company,
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Powder Ridge began operations in 1959 under the name of Powder Hill. It was started by brothers Louis and Herman Zemel, who had already operated a successful appliance store in New Haven, CT. It initially operated with only
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The Zemel brothers also started a business called Fan Jet that produced and sold snow making equipment. However, this enterprise was shut down after a patent infringement lawsuit in the mid-1980s.
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When Louis Zemel died in 1981, his half of the business went to his children. His son and daughter-in-law took over the day-to-day management of the ski area and snow making business.
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195:, which was later cancelled. The planners of the festival skipped town with the money, but thousands of young adults showed up at the ski area expecting a second Woodstock.
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On 23 September 2006, it was announced that Powder Ridge would not operate during the winter of 2006-2007, a time when the ski area was more than $ 2.5 million in debt to
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Powder Ridge offers a variety of activities during the summer, including disk golf, synthetic skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, tubing, and zip lines.
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lifts. The vertical drop is 417 feet (127 m) from the summit at an elevation of 800 feet (240 m) to the base at 383 feet (117 m).
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is the only performer who showed up and ignored the court injunction banning the festival (she performed on a stage powered by
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between 1963 and 1965. In 1970, the area changed its name to Powder Ridge; during the year, it was planned to host the
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Powder Ridge
Mountain Park and Resort lodge, ski slopes (with lights) from the drop off area and short term parking.
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In
February 2012, Middlefield approved a $ 1 million bid from Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park, based in
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The ski area offered night time skiing, keeping the slopes open to the early morning on Friday and
Saturday nights.
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466:"Connecticut State Bond Commission Approves Expenditure that Could Revive Powder Ridge Ski Area"
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View downhill from the Middlefield ski slope at sunset in Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort.
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166:. Powder Ridge Park is affiliated with the Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park in the
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158:. It began operations on January 22, 1961, closed in 2007, and reopened in 2013 as
734:"Mattabesett Trail Route 68 to Route 66 Beseck Ridge - Connecticut, United States"
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3.6 million and lease it to White Water, it later voted against the plan.
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The ski area partnered with Connecticut schools to host ski clubs.
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543:"Conn. Town Approves New Proposal to Reopen Powder Ridge Ski Area"
390:"Connecticut's Powder Ridge Ski Area to Remain Closed This Winter"
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though the town initially agreed to purchase the Powder Ridge for
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598:"Middlefield Sells Powder Ridge; Skiing Promised By End Of 2013"
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491:"Voters Approve Sale of Connecticut's Powder Ridge Ski Area"
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392:. First Tracks!! Online. 23 September 2006. Archived from
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Buildings and structures in Middlesex County, Connecticut
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419:"Hope Remains for Connecticut's Powder Ridge Ski Area"
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Tourist attractions in Middlesex County, Connecticut
668:"Skiing, Snowboarding & Tubing in Connecticut"
796:Powder Ridge - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
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572:"Connecticut Town Signs Deal to Reopen Ski Area"
949:Sports venues in Middlesex County, Connecticut
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16:Ski area located in Middlefield, Connecticut
786:2014 Powder Ridge Music Festival with Music
545:. First Tracks!! Online. 20 February 2012.
441:"Brayshaw: 3 competing to buy Powder Ridge"
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519:. First Tracks!! Online. 27 October 2011.
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468:. First Tracks!! Online. 23 December 2010
574:. First Tracks!! Online. 1 August 2012.
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791:Powder Ridge - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com
781:Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
600:. Hartford Courant. 13 September 2012.
160:Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
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756:"Spring, Summer & Fall activities"
626:. The Middletown Press. 3 January 2014
624:"Five Trails Now Open at Powder Ridge"
497:from the original on 28 September 2011
493:. First Tracks!! Online. 25 May 2011.
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604:from the original on 3 December 2015
523:from the original on 30 October 2011
443:. The Middletown Press. 1 April 2010
421:. First Tracks!! Online. 20 May 2010
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320:"Powder Ridge ski area, Connecticut"
294:crosses the summit of Powder Ridge.
712:"Powder Ridge opens for the season"
692:. The Newtown Bee. 23 February 2014
578:from the original on 15 August 2012
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670:. Connecticut Office of Tourism
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517:"Deal for Powder Ridge Is Off"
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903:Brooksvale Park Ski Tow Rope
646:"Powder Ridge Park Overview"
187:, but constructed three new
168:Portland Brownstone Quarries
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139:http://powderridgepark.com/
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193:Powder Ridge Rock Festival
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365:. New England Ski History
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848:Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
714:. WFSB. 27 December 2014
231:the small country road.
156:Middlefield, Connecticut
101:550 ft (170 m)
53:Middlefield, Connecticut
322:. Gotta go it snows.com
129:60 inches (150 cm)
82:41.502006°N 72.737172°W
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892:Ski area and location
868:Powder Ridge Ski Area
837:Ski area and location
758:. powderridgepark.com
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259:Portland, Connecticut
172:Portland, Connecticut
148:Powder Ridge Ski Area
109:80 acres (32 ha)
87:41.502006; -72.737172
840:Currently operating
265:Mountain statistics
162:. It is located on
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396:on 31 January 2010
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49:Nearest major city
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913:Woodbury Ski Area
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252:Alpine Associates
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106:Skiable area
878:Ski Sundown
872:Middlefield
862:Plantsville
472:23 December
447:23 December
425:23 December
400:23 December
369:23 December
326:23 December
154:located in
85: /
60:Coordinates
933:Categories
608:1 December
582:1 December
553:1 December
527:27 October
306:References
170:in nearby
73:72°44′14″W
70:41°30′07″N
203:trucks).
917:Woodbury
852:Cornwall
762:23 April
740:17 April
718:17 April
696:17 April
674:17 April
652:17 April
630:21 April
602:Archived
576:Archived
547:Archived
521:Archived
495:Archived
152:ski area
125:Snowfall
98:Vertical
39:Location
895:Defunct
178:History
134:Website
907:Hamden
501:26 May
298:Summer
207:runs.
115:Trails
150:is a
764:2019
742:2015
720:2015
698:2015
676:2015
654:2015
632:2015
610:2012
584:2012
555:2012
529:2011
503:2011
474:2010
449:2010
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371:2010
328:2010
290:The
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