By Sarah Thorson & Killington Resort
posted
Aug 22, 2012
When we received word that a tropical storm was heading towards
New England, Killington Resort crews began preparing on Thursday,
August 25. While the preparations were helpful and alleviated the
extent of damage in some locations; we were in awe of the amount of
water flowing down the regional brooks and rivers eventually
flooding the surrounding area.
Our region lost dozens of homes, miles of road and a number of
bridges, yet surrounding communities came together to help one
another. In three short months, nearly all the regional
infrastructure was repaired and the entire state truly became
"Vermont Strong."
Local Vermonters kindly volunteered their time, their physical
and emotional strength, their construction equipment, and more to
help those in need; it was remarkable to witness the strength of
our community - whatever needed to be done, was done with no
questions asked. Families and residents of the surrounding areas
who needed a temporary home were invited to stay at the Killington
Grand Resort Hotel.
There were many people and businesses that needed support across
the state including farmers, so the Resort created an online
auction, "From the Ground Up," to assist Vermont farms that
sustained damage from the tropical storm. All proceeds from the
auction went directly to the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund to
help local farmers begin to rebuild.
We were incredibly grateful for the generous auction items
donated by local businesses, Resort partners and sponsors. The
auction lasted for two weeks and we were able to donate nearly
$30,000 to Vermont farmers.
Fortunately, most of the Resort's infrastructure received only
moderate damage; Irene destroyed K-1 Lodge's Superstar Pub and has
since been replaced with the Roaring Brook Umbrella Bars and
deck.
With the help of many contractors, our crews were able to get
things back in order allowing Killington Resort to be the first
resort on the East Coast to open daily for skiing and riding, just
two months after Irene on Saturday, October 29. For the 2011-12
winter season, our guests enjoyed 177 on-snow days, the most in the
East; a lift served Tubing Park, the Motor Room Bar, Snowcat-Drawn
Sleigh Rides, the Winter Dew Tour and much more.
After the snow melted, our crews were back in action. This
summer has given us the opportunity to pick up where we left off
last fall with construction of the new Peak Lodge. In July,
in-house crews completed the excavating of rocks and crushed them
up on the mountain to 1 and 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch gravel that will
be used as the base material for the lodge's first floor.
Crews have finished pouring the concrete footings and are
setting up the stem wall forms for the first floor walls. By
September, the exterior walls of the first level of the new
building will be completed and crews will put the structure to bed
for the upcoming winter. When spring arrives, crews will return to
the Peak and begin standing steel to build the next level of the
building. Construction will continue through the summer of 2013 and
the new Peak Lodge will debut in December of 2013.
As we move forward, we remember the strength of our communities,
the kindness of our neighbors and the hard work from all the
volunteers across New England; after all we are "Vermont
Strong."
Tagged:
hurricane irene, recipes, reflections
