For release at will                                                                                                      Winter 2006/2007

CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF SKIING AT LOON MOUNTAIN

LINCOLN, N.H. - This season, Loon Mountain celebrates 40 years as New Hampshire's premier ski resort destination.  Founded by Sherman Adams, former New Hampshire Governor and chief of staff to President Eisenhower, the Loon Mountain Corporation was established in 1966.  Forty years after Adams recognized the potential that Loon Mountain held as a ski area, his legacy continues and the celebration begins.
       
In honor of a vision and dream that was made reality, the 40th birthday celebration of Loon Mountain will coincide with the annual Independence Weekend Celebration Saturday, January 13 through Monday, January 15.  This annual Loon tradition, which started more than 15 years ago, is a weekend-long celebration to recognize Loon's snowmaking team and their ability to cover the mountain with snow.  With a variety of special events scheduled, Independence Weekend is a festival for all ages.

History
Before Governor Adams' political involvement, he was involved in the lumber business, first in Vermont, and then moved to a paper/lumber mill in Lincoln, N.H.  From 1960 - 61, over 100 sq. miles of wilderness would be opened up along the planned construction route of the Kancamagus Highway from Lincoln to Conway.  Adams saw the potential for a great ski area hidden in the newly-opened area. The knowledge gained from his involvement with the Appalachian Mountain Club trail crew, where he helped locate, cut, and maintain the extensive AMC trail system throughout the White Mountains, and his position as the director of lumber operations for Parker-Young Company in Lincoln aided with finding the right mountain setting for a ski area.  Throughout his exploration, Adams came upon Loon Mountain with fairly gentle inclines suitable for the intermediate skier and its well-sheltered, northeast-facing slope.  This location was close to town and the soon-to-be-built interstate highway making Loon Mountain the ideal setting.

Adams consulted with Sel Hannah, a former Olympic skier and fellow Dartmouth grad who had already planned over a hundred ski areas across the United States.  After two years of preparation, Loon opened for business on December 27, 1966, and over 30,000 skier visits were recorded by that season's end.  Two years later the East Basin, an area Hannah had originally declared too steep to ski, was opened with its own chair lift.  The East Basin area would challenge even expert skiers and this helped establish Loon Mountain's reputation of "having something for every skier."  Throughout the 1980's, Loon nearly doubled its size with more novice and intermediate terrain in the West Basin, along with additional expert trails on North Peak.  Sherman Adams died in 1986 at the age of 87, but his legacy of hard work, quality conditions, and "skier first" service continues today at Loon. 

Loon Mountain currently encompasses 50 trails with 10 lifts and terrain for every level skier and rider.  In November 2005, Loon initiated it's much anticipated South Peak project which will add new lifts, more skiing and riding terrain and create a premier ski-in, ski-out resort community. 

Loon Mountain plans to open for the 40th season on November 22.  For resort information and snow conditions, please visit www.loonmtn.com or call 800-229-LOON (5666).

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