The Mountain Times

Hawk Mountain Resort closes inn, restaurant and spa for season

Access to Hawk Mountain Resort amenities for daily and nightly visitors will cease at the start of the new year for this winter season, according to the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

While rumors swirled for the last month about the possible demise of the rural Route 100 resort in Plymouth, between Okemo and Killington, OVCC Chief Executive Officer Marji Graf said Friday that Hawk will close its 50-room inn for nightly rentals, restaurant and spa operations to the public this season because of a financial decision the resort had to make.

Graf would not elaborate, only saying that Jim Nielsen, general manager of Hawk, told her Hawk homeowners will still have access to the pool and other amenities.

She also said she believed all operations would be back and running in the summer of 2013.

Graf said she did not know how many locals would lose their full- or part-time jobs there.

A message left for Nielsen Friday afternoon was not returned. A call to the resort's main reservation line resulted in a woman saying that if Nielsen wanted a story on it, he would call the press.

Graf said the impact from the Hawk closures on local economy in the region could be bad or good, depending on who you talk to.
On one hand, she said, the region is losing another 50-room inn for daily use.

"But the other inns and resorts will pick it up. It could be good for the other lodging," Graf said.

Cristina Kumka can be reached at cristina_kumka@yahoo.com