Liberty Mountain Resort

Stay Connected With Liberty Mountain

2011-07-25T14:40:00.010-04:00

We here at Liberty Mountain always want to make sure we let everyone know the latest news and information from around the resort. In the past we have felt our blog was a great way to do that. However, with the growth of other social media sites we have decided that the easiest way to keep you up to date is through the use of those sites and not our blog. We hope everyone will continue to follow everything going on here at Liberty and we can't wait to see you around the resort!

Here are links to our website as well as the other social media sites where we will continue to give you the latest news, info, pictures, videos, specials, and more!

Website: http://www.LibertyMountainResort.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/libertymtn

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skilibertymtn

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibertyMountainPA

Liberty Set to Open for Skiing & Snowboarding on Friday, December 10 at 9am!

2010-12-08T11:31:00.015-05:00

After all the hard work put forth by the snowmaking team the past few days and nights as well as the colder temperatures, Winter looks like it will be arriving early for skiers and snowboarders! As the weather has gotten colder, snowmakers have been able to greatly increase the volume of snowmaking throughout the past week, which will allow the resort to open for skiing and snowboarding this Friday morning, December 10, 2010 at 9am!

As of Wednesday, the resort anticipates opening with a minimum of 7 trails with more terrain becoming available as snowmaking operations allow. There will be terrain open for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, from the beginner to the advanced, as well as the popular West Side Terrain Park. Boulder Ridge Snow Tubing will not be open this weekend, however snowmaking hopes to reach there soon and we will annouce opening day for Tubing as soon as we know! Continue to stay tuned to the webcams and snow report for up to date conditions.

As a special to kick-off the start of the season, Liberty is offering some great deals through December 23, 2010. For guests ages 8 and older interested in Learning to Ski or Snowboard, we are offering a special $39 rate for the First Class beginner package. Regularly priced at $84, the all inclusive package includes a beginner area lift ticket, ski or snowboard rental equipment and a class lesson – everything a person needs for a great first day on the slopes. For those with some previous slope experience, class lessons at all ability levels ages 8 and older are available for only $10 throughout the same time period.

So, incase you haven't already, it's time to dust off your gear and get it waxed and ready for the slopes. You don't want to miss out on the first runs of the season at Liberty Mountain! See you Friday!

http://www.skiliberty.com/
http://www.facebook.com/libertymtn
http://twitter.com/skilibertymtn

Cold Temperatures have Arrived and Snowmaking has Begun!

2010-12-02T12:56:00.017-05:00

Mother Nature has finally brought us the cold temperatures we have been anticipating! As some of you may still be recuperating from the extra baggage you put on from Thanksgiving Dinner, there is no time to rest now! As temperatures and conditions were looking favorable for making snow, the snowmaking department headed out and began to cover the slopes last night, December 1st. While conditions weren't quite cold enough for much accumulating snow last night, the forecast shows many more opportunities in the near future. At the current time no specific date has been set for opening day, but we will let everyone know as soon as we know!

Temperatures may not have dropped as low as we would have liked, however the first night of snowmaking was still a success! It was a perfect night for training and to warm up the guns from their long summer vacation and to make sure all the equipment was performing as it should. The snowmaking team did a wonderful job with the conditions they had and now can look forward to many more nights of snowmaking ahead of them. Click here to take a look at an awesome video showcasing Liberty Mountain’s snowmaking team hard at work!

As we look ahead, the forecast continues to look good for more snowmaking for the next few nights, so snowmaking will resume tonight as soon as temperatures allow. You can continue to watch our webcam and check our snow report for daily updates of snowmaking and conditions. Stay tuned and get your gear ready! The season will be here before you know it!

http://www.skiliberty.com/
http://www.facebook.com/libertymtn
http://twitter.com/skilibertymtn

Anticipation of Opening Day in the Upcoming Weeks

2010-11-24T13:31:00.020-05:00

As we all will be spending the next few days celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday together with friends and family as well as eating too much turkey and stuffing, many of you can't help but look forward to the first snowfall of the winter season. With snow brings the opening of ski resorts and the chance to finally get out your gear and hit the slopes! Even if Mother Nature doesn't provide our area with snow soon, Liberty Mountain is anticipating temperatures to begin to drop soon, which will then allow snowmakers the ability to begin the snowmaking process on the slopes.

There are a few key factors and elements however, that will be needed to cooperate with us in order to allow the resort to begin snowmaking, such as cold temperatures and low humidity to name a few. Once the conditions are suitable, our snowmakers and groomers will be hard at work in order to get our guests out on the slopes as soon as possible. One improvement the mountain has made in the offseason that will benefit snowmaking is the addition of several new automated snow guns. This new au

tomated, computerized snowmaking system will allow us to cover the slopes much more quickly and efficiently. Therefore, once conditions become optimal for snowmaking you can be sure that our resort will be open soon after the weather allows us!

In the mean time, feel free to visit Liberty Sports Shop, which is open every day. Now is the perfect time to get new gear and prepare yourself for the upcoming season! Also, don't forget Christmas is right around the corner. Do all your holiday shopping now, so it doesn't interfere with your time on the slopes later! Liberty Mountain Gift Cards and Tubing Passes all make wonderful gifts for everyone in the family!

Hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday and look forward to seeing you out on the slopes very soon!

www.skiliberty.com

www.facebook.com/libertymtn

Tons of Upcoming Events at Liberty Mountain!

2010-09-24T12:35:00.019-04:00

What an exciting time of year! The weather is starting to cool reminding us that another great winter is on the way, golfers are on the course enjoying some of the best days of the year, and everyone at Liberty has been super busy planning some amazing upcoming events! We can't wait to let you in on everything going on around the resort in the coming months!

The events kick off next month with our annual Fall Festival on October 17th from Noon - 4pm. Not only are we bringing back the Cannonball Chili Cookoff but we also added a microbrew tasting to the list of events! We will have beers from the Lancaster Brewery, Troeg's, and Dogfish Head just to name a few. We'll also be offering special Liberty Mountain tasting glasses!

There are plenty of other activities during fall festival that are perfect for people of all ages! Come build a scarecrow, paint pumpkins, take a fall chairlift ride, or ride the zipline all while listening to the Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band! So come enjoy all the fun activities and also take a moment to pick up your pass for the season! New and renewing pass holders will eat free at our BBQ lunch! Don't forget October 31st is the last day to get your passes at the early season rate! For all the information on Fall Festival please visit here.

If you are unable to make it to Fall Festival and want to speak with one of our reps please check our Show Schedule to see when one will be in your area.

After the season kicks off there are activities planned throughout the entire season! One of the exciting new events is the resort wide New Year's Eve Celebration!

Our NYE celebration will include late-night skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing until 1am, fireworks at midnight, live music from the Freddie Long Band at McKee's tavern, a New Year's Eve Gala with singer-songwriter Ronnie Dove in the ballroom, family friendly DJ's and entertainment at both the main lodge and Boulder Ridge, and more! There's something for everyone and every age!

Reservations and tickets are required for some events so make sure to read all about everything going on New Year’s Eve and get your tickets here.

We could go on all day about even more events but we want to give you time to get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. So make sure to check our Event Calendar Page for a listing of all events!

See you around the resort!

http://www.skiliberty.com/
http://www.facebook.com/libertymtn
http://twitter.com/skilibertymtn

Summer Celebration at the Mountain {Liberty Mountain Resort - Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-07-21T09:40:00.008-04:00

So what can you do at Liberty Mountain in the summer? Is there anything going on at Liberty when the snow isn't falling and the chairlifts aren't running? The answer is YES!

Folks often wonder what exactly goes on at Liberty during the warmer months when the skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers aren't visiting the mountain. We are a four-season resort offering amenities and activities all year round. Of course our "bread and butter" is the winter season when we offer nearly four months of skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing fun for people of all ages. But we also like to entertain during the off-season when the weather is warm and the grass is green. We have 99 hotel rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, the Boulder Ridge Challenge Course, lots of space for meetings and banquets, a tavern and restaurant for dining, an 18-hole championship golf course, and a beautiful, lush mountain just waiting for visitors!

This summer, we invite you to come see what we do during the off-season and give our mountain the visitors it's yearning for! Join us for a relaxing, fun, mountainside evening at the first ever Summer Celebration at the Mountain!

On Saturday, August 7th from 5 to 10pm, the outdoor base area at Liberty will be open for our special event where you'll find something for everyone. The outdoor swimming pool will be open to all guests and the grass area will be available for kids and families who want to throw a football, play cornhole and enjoy other lawn games. The BBQ will be cookin' on the Alpine Patio and beer and other beverages will also be available for purchase.

The main highlight of the event is the highly anticipated return of the Kelly Bell Band! They'll be joining our celebration with some Phat Blues entertainment from 7 to 10pm. The band has played at both Liberty Mountain and Carroll Valley resorts several times and have become a local favorite. The band's high energy performances and eclectic blues style has got everyone excited for this upcoming musical performance. Learn more about the Kelly Bell Band here.

We're excited to be hosting this summer event and hope that you will join us for an evening under the stars at our mountain! You'll be surprised to see what Liberty looks like during the off-season...see you on August 7th!

Tickets for the event are $10 each and will be available for purchase at the ticket gate/event entrance. You can also purchase your ticket ahead of time online. Tickets include entry to event, use of outdoor swimming pool and the Kelly Bell Band show. We encourage all guests to bring blankets and lawn chairs - seating will not be provided, but some picnic tables will be available on the Alpine Patio. No outside food, beverage or coolers are permitted. Rain location: Jacqueline Ballroom at the Inn at Carroll Valley.

July 4th in Carroll Valley {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-06-23T11:39:00.004-04:00

Summer is officially here and one of the season's most popular holidays is just around the corner! What are you doing this year to celebrate the 4th of July?

How about a 4th of July with Liberty Mountain?

You could plan a mountain getaway complete with lodging at the Liberty Hotel, meals at our resort restaurants, a round or two of golf at the Carroll Valley Golf Course, swimming in our outdoor pool, and of course a day spent enjoying local 4th of July activities, including the famous Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment.

The Reenactment will take place from July 2-5 in historic Gettysburg, just 8 miles from Liberty Mountain. Events will include mortar fire demonstrations, live music, living history programs, and plenty of exciting battles to witness. Tickets are still available and a full detailed schedule is available at the Reenactment's website.

More interested in playing some golf? Check out our July 4th Golf Special! As we help introduce our sister resort, Whitetail Golf Course, we'd like to offer FREE rounds of golf! Play a round of golf at Carroll Valley Golf Course between July 2 and July 5, and earn a FREE round of golf at Whitetail Golf Course in the same time frame. Don't just play one round of golf this holiday weekend, play two! More details on the golf special can be found on our website.

Of course you don't need to be a mountain getaway guest or golfer to enjoy the 4th of July at Liberty Mountain. The local activities, like the Gettysburg Reenactment and celebration at Carroll Valley, are well-suited for a day trip!

On Sunday, July 4th from 2:00 to 10:00pm, the Carroll Valley Community Park will celebrate the holiday with tons of free activities! "Keeping History Alive Encampment", free hayrides, free children's rides, classic car show, live entertainment, and more will be taking place just a hop, skip and a jump away from Liberty. The Park is located on Rt. 116 just a short drive, or walk, from the Liberty Mountain Resort entrance. The celebration will come to a close with a fireworks display set off from the top of Liberty Mountain. More details here.

Whether you're a local fan, frequent visitor, employee, friend or lodging guest, we invite you to celebrate the holiday in Carroll Valley. There's lots to do and lots to see! We'd love to have you!

Memorial Day Weekend Specials {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-05-26T11:00:00.006-04:00

Consider this blog post a two-for-one special.

We've got two new things to share with you: Liberty Mountain recently purchased neighboring Carroll Valley Resort and Memorial Day Weekend Specials have just been announced!

First, we'll share the details on Carroll Valley Resort...

It was official on May 12, 2010! Carroll Valley Resort & Golf Course became an official operating entity of Liberty Mountain Resort. You may or may not be surprised to find out that years ago the two properties were actually designed to operate as one. With the resorts conveniently located across the street from each other, the combined operation should work out very nicely.

The acquisition of Carroll Valley Resort means more hotel rooms, more amenities and more year-round attractions for visitors. As stated in the press release announcing the purchase agreement, "the combined resort will now include 100 hotel rooms, a wide variety of dining options, extensive meeting and banquet space, over 100 acres of ski terrain, and an 18-hole championship golf course."

We are very excited about this new ownership and hope our guests will find even more joy in visiting us for their mountain getaways! Here's a peek at some of the new amenities at Liberty Mountain Resort...

Well-known Carroll Valley championship golf course:

Casual dining morning, noon or night at Tavern on the Green:

The Terrace Dining Room - great for group gatherings!

The Fireside Dining Room - open daily for dinner!

Now for the Memorial Day Weekend Special...

What else besides hot dogs and hamburgers goes hand-in-hand with Memorial Day Weekend? GOLF! Starting at $29 per person for 18 holes of golf, consider spending some time with friends and family at the Carroll Valley Golf Course at Liberty Mountain. The weather is supposed to be very nice this weekend, so it'll be perfect for a round of golf or mountain getaway. We also have Stay & Play Packages available that include golf, hotel accommodations, breakfast, dinner, and more! Click here for more info.

Whether you're a golfer, vacationer, diner, or skier, we hope to see you soon at the newly improved Liberty Mountain Resort!

Alison Krauss, Union Station and Kevin Eubanks to Perform at Gettysburg Festivals {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-05-06T09:22:00.005-04:00

Spring is officially here and summer is quickly approaching. It's time for fun in the sun, outdoor activities and local festivals!

Who doesn't love a good festival? Good food, good drinks, good vendors, good entertainment. Lucky for Liberty, there are tons of great festivals in the area from now until October. From the Pennsylvania Lavender Festival in June to the Catoctin Colorfest in October, there's a long list and wide variety of festivals that are worth adding to your calendar. You can keep up with all the festivals by visiting our online event calendar.

There are two festivals in particular that have something a little extra to get excited about. The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival and the Gettysburg Festival will both feature famous, nationally-known entertainment artists that are sure to attract many.

First up, the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station. Since beginning her music career at the age of 14, Alison has become one of the most well-known artists in contemporary bluegrass. She has earned 27 Grammy awards which is the most for any female artist in history. Alison & Union Station have released many CDs with their first being in 1989.

On Sunday, May 16th at 7pm, Alsion Krauss & Union Station will return to the main stage at Granite Hill Campground in Gettysburg. Considered the "bluegrass supergroup", they'll be joined by other bluegrass artists throughout the week. Tickets have gone on sale and can be purchased online. The festival is from May 13-16 at Granite Hill Campground.

Next to perform is "The Tonight Show" star Kevin Eubanks at the Gettysburg Festival in June. Eubanks is the widely-known and very entertaining band leader on Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show." For the past 18 years, Eubanks has played 'America into commercials' and has become a household name. He is a gifted musician and composer, and the Gettysburg Festival is delighted to have him as part of their jazz line-up. Eubanks has announced that he is leaving "The Tonight Show" and his June 26th performance at the festival will mark one of his first post-NBC appearances.

Kevin Eubanks will perform on Saturday, June 26th at the Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College. Tickets to the show can be purchased online. The Gettysburg Festival is from June 18-27 at various Gettysburg locations.

If you aren't going on vacation this year, or if your vacation is months away, consider spending time in our area by visiting some of the local festivals. Liberty is located just 8 miles from Gettysburg and with hotel rooms available, you can sty with us and be at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival and the Gettysburg Festival in minutes. Visit http://www.skiliberty.com/ for more information.

Happy festival season!

During the warmer months... {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-04-01T16:35:00.007-04:00

Now that the ski season is officially over and spring has sprung, a lot of people ask, "What's there to do at Liberty during the warmer months?" We happily respond with, "There's lots to do at (and around) Liberty all year round, even when it's warm outside!" Here's a look at what you can do at Liberty when it's not snowing...

The Liberty Hotel: Open year-round with mountainside views and a quiet atmosphere, perfect for summer getaways! More details about getaway packages, spring and summer rates, and availability here. There are also rooms for meetings for groups of 15 to 450! Check out our conference and meeting facilities/services here.

The Liberty outdoor swimming pool: Swim mountainside at this Olympic-size swimming pool; open to all hotel guests.

Regional Golf: Complete a summer getaway with a round or two of golf! There are lots of golf courses within driving distance of Liberty - Carroll Valley golf course is actually right across the street! Check out our list of regional golf courses here.

Nearby Historic Gettysburg: No spring or summer trip to Liberty is complete without a visit to Gettysburg! Only 8 miles from our resort, Gettysburg offers tons of activities for people of all ages. Take a tour of the battlefield, visit one of many museums, check out the downtown shopping and restaurants - you won't be disappointed! We even have special Explore Gettysburg Packages at the Liberty Hotel to help you plan your next getaway. Check out the details here.

Boulder Ridge Challenge Course: Great for church and corporate retreats, camp groups, family reunions and more! Strengthen teambuilding and communication, all while having fun and enjoying the great outdoors! High and low ropes elements are available for those ages 10 and over. Click here to see more pictures and for all the details.

Liberty Weddings: We offer a unique mountain setting for both indoor and outdoor weddings. Three indoor venues and two outdoor venues are available for ceremonies and receptions, all offering beautiful mountain views. We also offer catering and wedding planning services, and have a large list of preffered vendors - it's a one-stop-shop where dreams of your special day can come true!

Here's the Boulder Ridge Gazebo...beautiful outdoor ceremony spot...

And now the newly redesigned Alpine Room...great for indoor ceremonies and receptions...

Inside the Boulder Ridge Lodge, our most popular reception venue....

Appetizers prepared by our catering staff...

Yummy Blueberry Cheesecake dessert!

Roast Pork Loin...a main dish...

Alpine Patio...our second outdoor ceremony venue...

Regional activities are also a big hit at Liberty! There are tons of festivals like the Apple Blossom Festival in Ardentsville, PA, Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, Gettysburg Festival and Pennsylvania Lavender Festival, all within a short distance of Liberty. The Gettysburg Wine & Fruit Trail is something to note as well as the Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve and Boyds Bear Country, again, all within a short distance of our resort. Pair one of these festivals or unique places with a stay in our Liberty Hotel, and you've got yourself a summer getaway!

For more on what's going at Liberty during the warmer months, check out www.skiliberty.com or sign up for our e-newsletter. We're also on Facebook and Twitter!

We hope to see you at Liberty this spring and summer! Enjoy the warm weather!

Event-Packed February

2010-03-05T12:23:00.006-05:00

One thing is for sure - February was full of snow. The first half of the month gave us record-breaking snowfall which meant snow up past our knees and snow heaven for skiers and boarders. While the second half of February was as snow-packed, it was definitley event-packed with tons of poular and exciting happenings. From start to finish, we certainly kept ourselves busy in February...

February 19th - Bacon & Beer with 98 Rock's Mickey, Amelia and Spiegel. Always a good time.

February 19th-21st - 80's Weekend! One of our most popular events. Totally tubular!

February 21st - 80's Weekend Boarder/SkierCross. We had 92 participants! One of the biggest
turnouts in terrain park history!

February 27th - Liberty Front Nine Terrain Park Outing. A new terrain park event that emphasized learning, gaining experience and just having fun.

March is already shaping up to an eventful month as well. This weekend, March 6 and 7, we've got our second annual Spring Break on the Slopes and Coors Triple Crown Race. Next weekend, March 13 and 14, we're holding one of our most popular events of the season - SPRINGFEST and Pond Skimming! If you can, visit our mountain on these upcoming weekends for a hoppin' good time on the slopes!

Liberty Snowcat Helps BWI Airport with Special Snow Removal {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-02-14T09:26:00.012-05:00

This past week we found out that our snowcats (better known as "groomers") can do more than just make the snow look pretty at Liberty Mountain. They can also help with special snow removal activities at airports...and of course, make their snow look pretty, too.

On Thursday, February 11th, Liberty received an unusual yet exciting request from BWI Airport in Baltimore, MD. The airport received a record 79.9 inches of snow in the back-to-back snow storms of early February and quickly needed assistance in clearing the snow from important airfield navigational equipment. So they asked Liberty, referring to us as "snow experts", if they could use one of our snowcats to help with their snow recovery efforts. Excited, thrilled and intrigued Liberty quickly agreed and hauled the PistenBully 600 groomer to the airport on Thursday evening.

Scott Miller, Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor, and Corey Hesketh, Vehicle Maintenance staff member, accompanied the groomer to the airport and prepared it for action under the lights of the runways. Here are some pictures taken by airport staff during the arrival and assembly of the PistenBully 600...

On Friday, February 12th around 8am, Gene Weikert, Liberty Groomer, hopped in the PistenBully 600 and began working on the near 10 acres of land that needed clearing. They cleared and groomed the snow from near the glideslope antenna, a critical component of Instrument Landing System that assists planes approaching and landing runways. Because of the heavy snow, accuracy was affected and planes were unable to land.

After a full day of clearing and grooming snow, the Liberty grooming staff received a thumbs up from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the important navigation technology was back online at the airport.

Thank you BWI Airport for this neat opportunity and THANK YOU Scott, Corey and Jean for all your hard work!

February SNOW STORM 2010 {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-02-08T11:28:00.006-05:00

WOW! What a winter for snow! First we received nearly two feet of snow in mid-December, then we received inches here and there throughout January and early February, and now we've got nearly two feet of snow again! Mother Nature certainly did bless us this past weekend with TONS of beautiful snow - we recieved 22.5 inches to be exact! How many more "snow storms" do you think we'll get this winter???

Here are some pictures from Saturday, February 6th...

And here are some of the pictures from February 7th after the snow storm...so beautiful!!!

If you haven't had the opportunity to come up and enjoy the fresh, snowy conditions, no worries! Our mountain is covered with lots of beautiful snow and with another "snow storm" in the forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday, we should have even more beautiful snow on the mountain for you to enjoy! Midweek is going to be awesome at Liberty....TAKE A SNOW DAY!

5th Annual Ryan Rail Jam {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley PA}

2010-01-30T12:04:00.007-05:00

Ryan Lichtenberg was a former friend and employee of Liberty Mountain, and he was a frequent visitor to our terrain parks. While snowboarding in Colorado in 2004, Ryan passed away due to a head injury. Ryan's spirit and memory has been kept alive by his friends, family and Liberty over the past five years with the Ryan Rail Jam event.

Since Ryan's passing, helmet usage and awareness has become an integral part of Liberty's safety message and Safety Awareness Week event. Helmets have been highlited during recent Safety Awareness Weeks with helmet raffles and special promotions. This past year, for example, free helmets were given to those participating in Children's Learning Center programs and four winners were chosen to receive free helmets from the Liberty Mountain Sport Shop. "Safe Riding for Ryan" is the motto we use for the Ryan Rail Jam event and it helps to remind people that helmets are a smart choice.

While the weather was not in our favor, this year's 5th Annual Ryan Rail Jam was a success. Ryan's family and friends, including his mom, dad, grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins, all came to the mountain to be part of this special event. Each event participant received a Ryan bandana and sticker to remind themselves of Ryan and the importance of wearing a helmet when skiing and boarding. We hope that the event will continue to grow and encourage more and more people to wear helmets. Ryan's story and spirit will always have a home at Liberty.

Pictures from this year's event...

Ryan's mom Linda and Jonah, good friend of the Lichtenberg family.

A special THANKS goes out to Eastern Mountain Sports and Pitcrew as this year's sponsors. They provided us with some great prizes!

One thing that Ryan was known for and is remembered by...his smile.

Picture with Ryan's grandma.

The whole crew - Lichtenberg family and friends. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, and for your continued support of the Ryan Rail Jam and helmet awareness.

Safety Week Jan 16-24 {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-01-17T09:53:00.004-05:00

Safety Week has officially begun at Liberty. It's a week that highlights slope safety and the importance of safety awareness while skiing and snowboarding. Every season, Safety Week is celebrated not only at our resort, but resorts across the nation as part of NSAA's National Safety Awareness Week. This nation-wide effort is filled with education/learning opportunities, fun activities, helmet giveaways, and more for our guests. Click here for all our event details.

Here are some highlights from the first day of Safety Week at Liberty...

Mountain Safety, Ski Patrol and Ski & Snowboard Instructors all helped out by manning the Safety Booth. They talked with guests about slope safety and the Responsibility Code and awarded extra lift time to those who were well versed in safety tips and the code.

One hour complimentary skiing/boarding added to lift tickets...
Rick the Rescue Dummy made an appearance! Rick is a reminder to guests of the consequences that can occur because of unsafe skiing and boarding. He gets quite a reaction from guests every year.

"Play It Safe" - a new safety initiative for Liberty, Roundtop and Whitetail.

Powder Pig!

As Safety Week continues, here are some safety tips to remember while skiing and boarding:

When skiing and boarding (a sampling from our Responsibility Code and Smart Style safety rules)...

1. Always stay in control.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way.
3. Stop in a safe place for you and others.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield.
5. Observe signs and warnings, and keep off closed trails.
6. Do not ski/ride slopes too difficult for your ability.
7. Look before you leap!
8. Respect gets respect. From the lift line through the park.
9. Easy style it. Start small and work your way up.

Play it safe out there! Happy Safety Week!

Winter Trails and Lots of Smiles! {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, PA}

2010-01-10T10:00:00.010-05:00

WOW! What a great day it was yesterday at Liberty! We enjoyed beautiful bue skies, lots of sunshine, powdery fresh snow and plenty of smiling faces. It certainly was a fabulous day to be on the mountain, and I am pretty sure most everyone can agree.

Not only was yesterday filled with all the goodies mentioned above, but also Winter Trails activities and fun. At no charge, guests had the opportunity to learn about winter fitness and demo snowshoes. People of all ages enjoyed the various activities and learned a lot about having healthy and safe outdoor fun during the winter months.

First up: Nutrition and Hydration. It's important to get a nice balance of carbs, protein and fat before participating in winter fitness activities, like skiing and snowboarding. Good food choices include pastas, potatoes, oatmeal, rice, bread, corn, and fibrous veggies and fruits. Water is also a good choice. Just like other indoor and outdoor sports, winter activities offer great workouts which means the body needs a lot of fluids. Drink water, before, during and after. Read more here.

Now that your body is fueled with good food and water, it's time to stretch and prepare the muscles. How many of you are guilty of not stretching correctly or at all before a physical activity? Winter Trails suggests a good ten-minute stretch before activity and a nice trip to the hot tub or hot shower afterwards to soothe muscles. Hot tub or hot shower - that's an easy one to follow! Read more here.

Dressing warm for winter - probably one of the most common mistakes among people when particpating in outdoor activities during the winter months. Wearing multiple layers gives you the ability to add and remove as your body temperature changes. Winter sports participants typically wear three different layers - wicking, insulating and protection. Don't forget about headwear, sunglasses or goggles and socks - all very important. Read more here.

Special guests, our friends from the local Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve, talked about winter hiking and camping. Why let the cold temps and winter weather keep you from enjoying such activities. Visit Strawberry Hill's website to learn more.

Strawberry Hill also brought their furry friend Norm for Winter Trails.

Now for the crowd pleaser - snowshoeing! Snowshoeing is another great way to enjoy the snow and participate in winter fitness. People use snowshoeing for hiking, aerobic conditioning and recreation. Don't coop yourself up in a gym during the winter months. Try snowshoeing!

The snowshoe reps had lots of snowshoes on-site for our guests to demo.

This group had such a great time snowshoeing, they deserve two pictures!

Smiles for snowshoeing!

Aaahhh...a relaxing winter scene.

After participating in all the Winter Trails activities, guests were awarded a special certificate from the President's Council for completing the President's Challenge.

Visit the Winter Trails website for more info.

Now for the smiling faces of the day. We had some very happy people at Liberty yesterday....

Jr. Development group and their Snowboard Instructors.

Father-son bonding time on the mountain.

Aren't these little girls the cutest? Love their bright colors!

All smiles after a great ski lesson from the Ski Instructors.

More smiles at the Ski & Snowboard School.

Who wins for the best smiles and poses on the mountain?

These guys were great...having so much fun...

Snowball has got a pretty good smile...

These guys were totally excited for a day on the mountain!

Chillin' on the Alpine Patio...

Smiles from the chairlifts.

A great shot to end the day. Snowball and the kids! This one might be the winner...

Thanks everyone for making Winter Trails and January 9th a spectacular day at Liberty!

2009 Wrap-Up {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley PA}

2009-12-31T14:11:00.011-05:00

It's hard to believe that in less than eight hours, we'll be celebrating a new year, a new decade, and a new turn in the page of life and Liberty.

In light of the new year and all the exciting things that happened at Liberty in 2009, we'd like to share some pictures from the past 12 months in a 2009 wrap-up....

In February, Liberty was the East Coast Host to the Burton Women's Super Camp, one of only a few resorts selected to be part of the program every year.

As February ended, we celebrated 80's Weekend, a Liberty favorite. Employees and guests dressed in their best 80's gear to strut their stuff in the 80's Fashion Show. The winner walked away with a $250 gift certificate for the Liberty Mountain Sport Shop.
In March, the terrain park crew put together the 100 Foot Challenge. With a successful ride across the 100 foot rail, Tyler McLeod became the first snowboarder to conquer Liberty's first 100 Foot Challenge.

What's a ski season without Springfest? The 2009 Springfest theme was "Liberty Mountain Hits the Big Screens." Resort departments dressed their areas "to the nines" for famous Hollywood movies.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory...

The Addams Family

Once the season was over, we could concentrate on putting together our new Peak Season magazine. We gave our semi-annual magazine a fresh new look and the first issue was released in May.

The warm months came and the Liberty projects began.

The base area was improved - better view from the Admin offices and more space for on-snow activities and enjoyment.

The outdoor pool received some new fencing and the Alpine Patio was expanded. Great for swimming in the summer and hanging out slopeside in the winter.

The First Class Area bottom chairlift station was raised four feet to improve the loading area for our first timers and beginners.

The Eastwind Quad chairlift on the backside of the mountain was removed and replaced. Improved comfort for our guests!

People of all ages visited the Boulder Ridge Challenge Course for teambuilding exercises and group fun.

The Sales and Food & Beverage staff hit a record number of off-season events, including a TON of weddings. The Boulder Ridge Lodge and Alpine Room were always full of beautiful decorations and delicious food.

One of 2009's most exciting projects was the re-design of the Alpine Room. In an effort to better harmonize the Alpine Room with the Alpine Market and newly rennovated Bakery (mentioned below), warm colors and wood accents were added to the room. Here's a look at the first wedding in the Alpine Room after the finish of the re-design...

Then fall came and Mother Nature delivered the beautiful colors of the season. The ski season was quickly approaching...

The new Bakery was finally finished! The warm colors and wood accents from the Alpine Market and Alpine Room now flow down into the bottom half of our base area lodge.

Snowmaking for the 2009-2010 season offcially began shortly after the first week of December and we were able to announce that we'd be opening on December 12. With continued improvements to the snowmaking system over the warmer months, snowmaking has been a huge success during the last month of 2009.

It wasn't too long after opening day that Mother Nature blessed us with TONS of natural, beautiful snow! On December 19, we received nearly two feet of snow and boy was the mountain giddy! Hopefully Mother Nature will continue to bless us in 2010.

To everyone that visited and worked at Liberty in 2009, we thank you for a wonderful, successful and exciting year. We wish everyone the best in 2010 and cannot wait to see what the future holds. Happy New Year!

Not one, but two! {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley PA}

2009-12-21T15:14:00.008-05:00

Not one, but two FEET OF SNOW is what received from winter's first snow storm! This past weekend was filled with excited people who were eager to get a taste of what Mother Nature delivered. We had fresh powder everywhere which made for some interesting, yet nice skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing experiences. Here are some pictures from our snow-filled weekend:

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley PA}

2009-12-19T09:09:00.004-05:00

How many inches of snow did you have at your house this morning? We've got almost a foot of natural snow here at Liberty and it's still coming down! Here's a picture to prove it:

That's over 7 inches of snow just lying on our outside tables! Add 7 inches to the already 16-24 inch base on the mountain and that equals TONS of snow, and lots of good, fresh powder!

So how much more snow are we going to get? Accuweather is predicting accummulation throughout the day until about 1am tomorrow morning. NOAA predicts totals to reach 9 to 13 inches of snow just for today. It's hard to decide which forecast predictions to follow, especially when they all say something a little different. That's when we bring in Andy Beck - Liberty's unofficial in-house meteorologist!

Andy studied Meteorology and Weather Risk Management at Penn State University and just recently joined our Liberty Hotel staff. As a ski resort, we depend very heavily on the weather so when our "trusty" forecasts are hard to believe, we pick Andy's brain to see what he thinks Mother Nature is going to bring.

This picture of Andy was taken at 4:30pm last night (Friday evening). He was patiently waiting for the first flakes to fall...

We talked with Andy last night about our first winter storm and he said "It's going to be pretty good." And by "pretty good" Andy means we're getting lots of snow. Andy believes we'll receive at least 7 to 10 inches of snow from the storm, and based on the ruler picture above, I'd say he's right so far. Andy says that tracking the storm route is key to predicting how much snow we'll receive - the closer the storm is to the coast, the more snow we'll get. Andy added that "even a 20 mile difference could mean 4 more inches of snow."

Andy is predicting the heaviest of the storm to come tonight. "We could see 1 inch per hour rates of snow fall and that's heavy", Andy shared. Can you imagine 1 inch of snow per hour on top of everything that we've already received and will receive as the day progresses? It'll be interesting to see what the rest of the storm brings us...

Thanks for taking the time to share your predictions, Andy! Stay tuned for more winter storm updates. TAKE A SNOW DAY!

The New and Improved Bakery {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley PA}

2009-12-17T16:19:00.004-05:00

One Liberty project that we are particularly excited about is the redesign of the Bakery. Over the summer, our Base Area Operations Team worked hard to get the Bakery tore down, rebuilt and ready for the new season.

The goal was to get the Bakery to look more like a Starbucks or a Panera. It's probably safe to say "mission accomplished." The Bakery looks totally different - the warm colors and wood accents give the area a relaxing, welcoming feel and definitely harmonize better with the Alpine Market and newly redesigned Alpine Room. We hope our guests get the feel of Starbucks or Panera as they enjoy Bakery goodies and Starbucks coffee. What do you think?

Here's a look at some before and after:

Lots of red and white!

No more red and no more white! Warm, rich colors!

Check out the new Bakery mural and display case!

Happy workers in their new Bakery.

Check out the new seating area in the Bakery! High tables have been placed along the windows so you can enjoy baked goodies, coffee and the mountainside view! This guy's got it right!

The next time you visit Liberty, make sure you pay the new Bakery a visit. It looks totally different and we like it! We hope you like it, too! ENJOY!

'Twas The Night Before Opening Day {Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley PA}

2009-12-11T17:34:00.005-05:00

Well, folks, it's finally here. Opening Day for the 2009-2010 Winter Season officially starts TOMORROW, Saturday, December 12th. From 9am to 10pm, half the trails will be open, half the lifts will be running and snow sport enthusiasts will be jumping for joy.

We've been working very hard the past two days preparing for our big start and things are finally starting to wind down a bit. Before we close for the day and go home to rest for the new season, we'd like to share a little poem, both in honor of the winter season ahead and the Christmas holiday that is present. Enjoy!

'Twas the night before Opening Day, when all through the house

Not a Snowmonster was stirring, not even a mouse.
The skis and boards were hung by the ceiling with care
In hopes that snow sport enthusiasts would soon be there.

The (Liberty) workers were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of snow days danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ski jacket, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a short winter's nap.

When out on Liberty Mountain there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But eight tired snowmakers and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old snowmobile, so lovely and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his Mountain Team they came
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Ron! Now Rusty! Now Jason and Corey!
On Tom! On Scott! On Brad, on John!
To the top of the Alpine Patio! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Santa sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he frove out of sight,
"Happy Opening Day to all, and to all a goodnight!"

THE SNOW IS HERE!

2009-12-07T09:31:00.005-05:00

You asked, you waited patiently and you asked again: "Liberty Mountain, when's the snow coming?"

Well, y'all, the SNOW IS HERE! Snowmaking began on Saturday night and has been in progress since. The trails are taking shape, the mountain looks beautiful dressed in white and the season is almost here! We went outside this morning to capture a few shots of the winter beauty and new snow....

And just so it feels and looks a little more like winter, here's some more shots of the resort...

Signs are being hung...Who's hungry for Sneaky's Pizza, the Alpine Market and McKee's Tavern?

The new bathrooms are looking stellar! Some claim they are some of the most automated, touch-free bathrooms around.

You'll definitely want to check these out - touch-free hand dryers! Just stick your wet hands down the middle of the dryer and be amazed as the overwhelming power of air blows the water right off! Pretty darn cool!

The Basket Check and Locker Room areas are shaping up and getting ready for the season...

And the Admin Office is dressed for Christmas. Check out our gingerbread house made by Tracy, our Administrative Assistant. Thanks Tracy!

We'll keep you updated on snowmaking and opening day plans as things progress. The resort is definitely gearing up and almost ready for a new season, so don't worry, we'll be open as soon as possible. It's almost time to TAKE A SNOW DAY!

"Liberty Mountain, when's the snow coming?"

2009-12-03T09:40:00.009-05:00

It's a question that's on the minds of many. The anxiousness and excitement for the start of the snow guns and a new winter season are continuing to fill our emails, phoneroom and Facebook wall. We talked about these feelings for snow and opening day in our last blog post, and the wonderment remains. Naturally, the anxiousness and excitement are still here. So again we, along with many others, ask, when is opening day?

Before we can try to answer "When is opening day?", we first need to answer "When can we make snow?" There's no opening day or winter season without snow, so we need that fluffy white stuff, and we need a lot of it!

As you all probably know, making snow depends heavily on the cold temperatures (wet bulb temperature to be exact) and the length of time such temps stick around. Cold temps could sweep the area two nights in a row, but if that's followed by a couple warm days with 50 degree temps, especially in the beginng of snowmaking stages, snowmaking opportunities are unfortunately lost. Sometimes the cold temps don't appear on the thermometer until 4 or 5 in the morning, leaving no time to produce snow before the warmer temps arrive for that day. Of course natural snow is always welcomed when trying to blanket the mountain, but is that predicted to arrive anytime soon? And more importantly, is it predicted to stick around?

"Meteorologist Madness", as they like to call it over at Accuweather, is building excitement on Accuweather.com. The meteorologists are gearing up for the snow and rain storms around the U.S. that are marking the beginning of the winter season. Meteorologist Henry Margusity posted a snow potential map for the U.S. yesterday. Here's what he's seeing for this weekend:

So is Carroll Valley and Liberty Mountain included in that little piece of blue that is brushing the southeastern corner of PA? It looks pretty darn close.

Henry Margusity also posted a video this week discussing his predictions for snow for this weekend. Towards the four minute mark of the video, he does say that the Philadelphia area could get 3 inches of snow this weekend. About 20 seconds later he says that the "snow lovers" of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. could see 1-3 inches as well. He finished his video with a few quotes - "I got a feeling the big ones are coming!", referring to the larger amounts of snow that will hit us sometime this winter season, and "Winter is here and winter is here to stay." Both are comforting remarks as we descend upon another ski season. Check out Henry's video by clicking on the picture below.

While Accuweather gives us hope that some natural snow may fall on our mountain this weekend, what are they saying about cold temperatures? Cold temps = snowmaking. Here's what Accuweather predicts for the next ten days (just click on the images to visit the website)...

That may be a lot of weather talk to digest, but it's what's on all our computer screens here at Liberty. We are just as anxious and excited about the approaching season as you are so we want to get the snow guns going soon, but when it's most beneficial to the mountain. As forecasts change, we'll be better able to predict snowmaking and an opening day sometime in the near future. Keep watching for updates and announcements at skiliberty.com.

Anxious For Snow

2009-11-23T10:25:00.005-05:00

Christmas songs are on the radio, stores have stocked the shelves with Christmas candy and some folks have already decorated their homes with lights. The only thing that seems to be missing from our early Christmas season cheer is the fluffly white stuff. So where is the snow and when is it coming?

While Joe Bastardi predicted that the snow would be coming early and there'd be lots of it, we aren't seeing it in the forecast for our area just yet. With our snowmaking system at Liberty, however, we can make the snow appear sooner than Mother Nature. Favorable snowmaking temps are not in the forecast for this week. What about next week?

Looking ahead, Mountain Manager Ron Crozier likes what he sees in next week's forecast. Favorable snowmaking temps are predicted to hit the area which may be enough to get the snowmaking equipment ready. After that, we'll need 2-3 nights of good snowmaking and then we'll be able to get the groomers out. However, in the early stages of snowmaking, one turn of cold-to-warm temperatures could bring all snowmaking efforts to a standstill, and the snow that was already made could quickly disappear.

Since the weather forecast for next week could change drastically between now and then, it's hard to say when exactly snowmaking will begin at Liberty. With the Christmas season near full swing, it's definitely time for some snow, and we hope to get some on the mountain soon!

Read all about snowmaking - how it works and what it takes - by visiting our Snowmaking 101 page on the website.

And because posts are much better with pictures, here are some pictures of last year's snowmaking at Liberty.

Everyone wants to know...

2009-11-09T11:17:00.004-05:00

When Liberty will be open for the 2009-2010 winter season! It's the hot question right now - "When is opening day?" Our most recent sampling of cold temperatures and early winter-like weather conditions combined with Joe Bastardi's prediction of an early, cold, snowy winter, caused quite a stir amongst the snow sport enthusiasts. It was only natural for people to begin asking the ever-popular opening day question. So when will opening day be for Liberty Mountain?

Our goal is to be open by the first weekend in December. If cold temperatures return and we're able to make snow sooner than later, the season could begin in late November. However, it's not just cold temperatures that allow snowmaking to occur. With the right combination of certain weather elements (low humidity, compressed air and others), including cold temperatures, our snow guns can get to work and start covering the mountain for the season.

Our snowmaking system can actually make 1,175 tons of snow per hour! Pretty cool, huh? There's lots of cool stuff involved in snowmaking and you can learn more about it by reading our "Snowmaking 101" page on the website. Or you can read the Baltimore Sun's most recent article about skiing and the upcoming winter season. In the article, our mountain manager Ron Crozier discusses the different elements of snowmaking and how it all works. If you need your winter/snow sport excitement fix for the day, you should definitely check it out!

Don't forget to check out our website often for more updates on the start of snowmaking and opening day for the new season. Before you know it, we'll be seeing you on the slopes!

The Olympic Torch Has Been Lit!

2009-10-29T13:25:00.004-04:00

On October 22nd, the Olympic Torch for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games was officially lit in Olympia, Greece. Since being lit in a traditional ceremony, the torch has been exchanged between representatives of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games while traveling throughout the country of Greece. Tomorrow, October 30, the torch will leave Greece and make its way to North America and land in Victoria, British Columbia. From there, it will begin the 106-day journey across Canada in preparation for Olympic opening day on Friday, February 12, 2010.

*Image courtesy the official website for the 2010 Winter Olympics, www.vancouver2010.com.

The Olympics are a time to celebrate excitement, enthusiasm and progression in sports. It's a time to celebrate the coming together of countries and the outstanding performances of the world's best athletes. It's a time and an event that the entire world can enjoy.

With the winter sports of skiing and snowboarding both represented at the Winter Olympic Games, it's only fitting that we celebrate the Olympics here at Liberty! We'd like to celebrate with the athletes and the world by creating our own Olympic excitement and awareness at the resort. From February 12-28, we plan on holding various activities and events in conjunction with and in celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. So until then, we encourage you to get a jump start on the Olympic excitement by following the interactive map of the torch's relay on the 2010 Winter Olympics website.

Before you know it, the torch's journey will end and the biggest and best celebration of sports like skiing and snowboarding will be at an all-time high! Become a fan of the Winter Olympics now! The season is not that far away...

8 weeks, 56 days, 1344 hours, 80640 minutes

2009-10-26T10:32:00.003-04:00

That's how much time we've got left until winter officially begins. For those of you who aren't quite ready for the cold and snowy weather of winter, such numbers may make the season seem too close. But for those snow-sneeking enthusiasts out there, the season may seem far away. Too far away. So which sounds shorter? 8 weeks, 56 days, 1344 hours or 80640 minutes?

Below are a few pictures recently taken at the resort. The trees are covered in fall colors and our mountain, as well as nearby mountains, are looking gorgeous. And just think, in a few short weeks (less than 8 because we'll be making snow before winter officially arrives) our mountain could be filling up with snow.

Beautiful Boulder Ridge Lodge.

The Boulder Ridge Gazebo ready for a fall wedding.

The roadway leading up to Boulder Ridge and the backside of the mountain is breath-taking. Wouldn't mind getting lost on this road for a while, huh?

If you'd like to see some of the fall colors of Liberty, hurry up and visit. Before we know it, November will be here and the leaves will be gone.

You should also hurry if you haven't bought your 2009-10 Season Pass. For only $399, you can ski and board all season long at three mountains - Liberty, Whitetail and Roundtop. This offer is only good through October 31st so treat yourself this Halloween and buy a Season Pass Today! Check out our website for all the details. And remember, there is only 8 weeks left until winter officially arrives, but the Liberty winter season will start earlier...

Thanks for joining us!

2009-10-19T12:02:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was our Annual Fall Festival and Customer Appreciation Picnic. Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the fall foliage, bbq lunch, live music and activities! It was great to see guests excited and ready for a new winter season!

The rain and cold that was predicted for Sunday caused us to go to "plan B" - move everything inside and cancel some activities. Even though the sun came out and temperatures warmed up, we still had a nice, cozy, fun festival inside.

New and renewing Season Pass and Advantage Card holders began gearing up for the new season by purchasing their passes and cards at Fall Fest...

Don't forget! The $399 Season Pass is on sale until October 31st. After that, the Season Pass price goes up to $599 so hurry before this great deal ends!

The retail shop was jam packed with new stuff for the upcoming season. There sure are some colorful jackets and pants included in the line-up so if you're lookin' to "strut your stuff" with a new style on the slopes this season, you may want to visit the retail shop soon!

The Boro Boogie Pickers from Waynesboro entertained with live bluegrass music. The band was great and the guests really enjoyed them! They were perfect for the Fall Fest atmosphere. Thanks Boro Boogie Pickers!

While everyone listened to the live music and enjoyed their BBQ lunch, they also enjoyed the fresh new look of the Alpine Room. What a great way to get our guests excited for the upcoming season!

Something new to this year's Fall Fest was the 2nd Annual Cannonball Chili Cookoff. Local chili enthusiasts teamed up and cooked their best chili recipes in hopes of winning the prize for best chili. For a $5 donation, guests were able to taste the chili recipes and vote for their favorites. Thanks Unitarian Universalists of Gettysburg for putting this together and becoming part of our event!

It was great to see the resort dressed for fall.

It was also great to see our mountain dressed for fall. A new winter season is upon us...

Thanks again to all the guests who visited us for this year's Fall Festival event. We enjoyed seeing everyone and cannot wait to see you on the slopes for the 2009-2010 winter season!

OCTOBER 1!

2009-10-01T10:46:00.003-04:00

It's October 1st. October is warm and fuzzy, ready to wear turtlenecks and sweaters, sip on hot chocolate and sooth the soul with some warm, hearty soup. October is pumpkins and scarecrows, festivals and art shows, colorful leaves and beautiful mountains. October is saying "goodbye" to summer and preparing for the cold months ahead.

As winter continues to slowly creep towards us, Liberty continues to get ready for the 2009-10 season. Our $399 Season Passes have gone on sale and Liberty projects are being completed and polished. We're also preparing for our upcoming Fall Festival and Customer Appreciation Picnic. It's a great way to celebrate the fun and foilage of fall, but also a great way to get excited and ready for the upcoming winter season.

This year's Fall Festival is on Sunday, October 18th from 12 Noon to 4pm. We'll have tons of fall activities including pumpkin painting, scarecrow making, and live entertainment from the Boro Boogie Pickers. The Boulder Ridge Challenge Course climbing wall and zip line will also be open for those guests that want to "fly high" and experience adventure. Hayrides and chairlift rides will also be available at no extra cost.

Get an early start on your winter snow sports preparation by purchasing your Season Pass or Advantage Card at Fall Fest! Guest Services will be in the Eastwind Room and The Learning Center Lobby to process passes and cards so you can walk away with your "ticket" to the 2009-10 winter season.

Chef Dwaine's delicious BBQ lunch will be available on the Alpine Patio. Season Pass and Advantage Card holders will receive complimentary lunch tickets. Lunch will be $10 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids under 5 for non-pass and card holders. Click on the flyer image below for more details on this year's Fall Festival.

And that's not all! This year's Fall Festival will feature the 2nd Annual Cannonball Chili Cookoff! From 12 Noon to 4pm, guests can taste the different chili recipes prepared by local chili enthusiasts for a $5 donation - a portion of the proceeds will benefit local non-profit organizations. Chili teams will have the chance to win monetary prizes and awards. Which would you rather be - a chili maker or a chili taster? Visit our website to find out which is right for you. Cookoff rules and entry forms are available.

We hope to see you at Fall Fest on October 18th!

So What Else Is New At Liberty?

2009-09-09T09:43:00.006-04:00

We've already mentioned the return of the $399 Season Pass, the removal and replacement of the Eastwind Quad chairlift on the backside of the mountain, the redesign of the Alpine Room, the lifting of the First Class Area Quad chairlift, and other projects like the filling in of the halfpipe, the laying of new snowmaking pipelines, the Alpine Patio expansion, and finally, the Bakery redesign.

So what else is new at Liberty?

Believe it or not, there's tons more to mention when it comes to new and exciting projects at Liberty. Here's what else:

Group Sales and Ski School are receiving a complete renovation of their office areas. Not only will this be added convenience for our employees, but also our guests participating in lessons and group visits. The renovation should be done soon. Here's what one half of The Learning Center Lobby looked like mid-reno:

In an effort to support the ski industry's latest helmet safety initiative, we are adding hundreds of new helmets to our rental inventory. Helmet use will be a top priority during our mountain safety campaign this upcoming season so we are happy to announce that more skiers and boarders will have the opportunity to rent helmets during their visit to our mountain.

We are also adding another groomer to our family - the Pisten Bully 600. It's one of the biggest and best of its kind so we're pumped to see what kind of results it will produce this winter. Here's a picture of one of our current groomers. Just imagine something bigger and bolder, and that's the 600.

Check out all the details on these, and other new and exciting additions on our website.

September Is Here - Winter Is Near!

2009-09-04T12:54:00.002-04:00

It's already September 4th. Wow. Where has this summer gone? Have you been as busy as we've been here at Liberty? Maybe that's what's been keeping the time going by so quickly...

We were warned yesterday at our general staff meeting that the Mountain Team will look to start making snow in 90 days. 90 DAYS! That's like three months away! OK, so it is three months away, but doesn't that number just hit you like a ton of bricks!?! With the way time has been flying by recently, 90 days is not a long time.

September is here, which means winter is near, and we'll be ready for the new season with our latest and greatest resort upgrades!

Well all, the halfpipe is officially gone. The area has been filled in and will be better utilized as a progression area from now on. Such a big, open space, isn't it? What more could we do this area?? ;)

There's also been some movement of the land between the Vertigo and West Side terrain parks. Snowmaking pipelines are being installed...

The Alpine Patio expansion is just about complete. Can you just imagine the amazing mountain views you're going to get from here in the winter time!?

The Bakery redesign is well on its way. The new look is definitely taking shape, and looking more like our Alpine Room and Alpine Market.

More pictures to come on these Liberty projects. Remember, 90 days until we start making snow....

Recent Weddings at Liberty

2009-08-31T14:24:00.005-04:00

Liberty was host to two weddings this past weekend. Both couples were able to get married outside with a lush green mountain and beautiful blue sky as their backdrop.

The first wedding was held at the resort's main lodge area. The outdoor ceremony was held on the Alpine Patio (first one since its redesign last year) and the reception was held in the newly redesigned Alpine Room. Here are some pictures of the outdoor ceremony set-up before the wedding events began:

Gorgeous flower arrangements!

The second wedding was held at the Boulder Ridge Lodge. After clouds of rain swept through, the ceremony was held outside at the gazebo. Before the guests arrived, we were able to get some great shots of the reception details. Theme for this wedding: paper cranes - over 1000 of them!

Some tables had bamboo centerpieces - a great place to hang the paper cranes.

Paper cranes everywhere! They were so beautiful.

With this being the last day of August, the end of wedding season is quickly approaching. There are still plenty more weddings to be had in September and October, however, and we'll be sure to share those wedding stories with you. Have a great week!

Another Lift Lifted At Liberty

2009-08-19T14:19:00.003-04:00

The Eastwind Quad lift station wasn't the only thing to be "lifted" at Liberty Mountain. Late last week, the First Class Area Quad chairlift's bottom lift station was lifted four feet in the air!

To continue enhancing the Beginner Experience here at Liberty, it was essential that the bottom lift station of the First Class Area Quad be rearranged and improved. Raising the lift station four feet and remounting it atop four-foot "thimbles" will greatly help the loading process for skiers and boarders in the First Class Area. Instead of filtering down and in towards the lift station to load, skiers and boarders will now be able to move straight into the loading area, which should relieve overall congestion as well.

The large crane that was used to the lift the Eastwind Quad lift station a couple of weeks ago was used to complete our most recent lifting project. Even though the lift station weighs ton after ton, it didn't take long for the crane to make the move. Before we knew it, the lift station was remounted and ready to go.

Off the ground and in the air!

Repositioning for the remounting.

The Mountain Team will be working on the land up until ski season building up the earth and fully completing the project. Bring it on skiers and boarders! The First Class Area bottom lift station will be waiting for you.

First Liberty Wedding in Alpine

2009-08-17T11:04:00.004-04:00

Now that the Alpine Room redesign is completely finished and looking very lodge-like, we are very excited to blog about the first wedding in the Alpine Room since the project completion.

On August 8th, the Alpine Room was "all the buzz" between the bride, groom, their families and guests, and our Liberty staff members. Everyone was very pleased with the way things looked against the Alpine Room's wood-accents and lodge-like atmosphere. The tables were covered with ivory linens which complemented the room's warm colors very nicely and the large windows allowed for beautiful sunlight to shine upon the wedding day's events.

The bride and groom decided to have both their ceremony and reception in the Alpine Room. The room's signature stone fireplace served as a centerpiece and background for the ceremony. Guests watched the ceremony from their dinner tables and immediately moved into a lively reception after the bride and groom "tied the knot." Take a look at how beautiful...

Eastwind Quad: REMOVED!

2009-08-13T09:39:00.003-04:00

The Eastwind Quad has been officially removed from the backside of the mountain! Below is a quick summary of the chairlift's remaining days on the mountain...

A large crane was brought in last week to handle all the big, last-minute stuff, including the removal of the chairlift's top station. It's not everyday you see a chairlift station "flying" in the air! We were so excited to catch some of the action.

All strapped in and ready to fly!

It's quite a site to see, isn't it?

One of the last things to do was to remove the final lift tower from the top of the mountain. It's not everyday you see a lift tower "flying" in the air either.

The new chairlift will be put in place over the next few months and will be ready for the new ski season. We'll keep you updated on its progression.

$399 Season Pass ON SALE NOW!

2009-08-11T11:23:00.004-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again! Time to get ready for the changing of the seasons, time to start thinking about what you are going to do this winter, and time to buy your Season Pass or Advantage Card!

There are approximately 121 days left until the start of the 2009-2010 winter season at Liberty. You can get ready for the new season now by purchasing a $399 Season Pass or Advantage Card.

The Season Pass is our direct-to-lift, all-access, all-mountain pass that's good all season long at all three resorts - Liberty, Roundtop and Whitetail. And it's only $399!

The Advantage Card offers another great way to save. It's a discount and frequency card all-in-one! Receive 40% off each time you visit and receive every 6th visit free!

You can read more about the $399 Season Pass and Advantage Card here. After you read all the details and decide which pass or card is right for you, you can make your purchase online or by calling the resort at (717) 642-8282.

We hope to see you saving lots on the slopes this season with your $399 Season Passes and Advantage Cards!

Boulder Ridge Challenge Course

2009-08-04T09:25:00.004-04:00

The Boulder Ridge Challenge Course at Liberty is open year-round to groups of 10 or more. Perfect for teambuilding, the Challenge Course welcomes youth groups, large families, business retreats, and others. Both high and low elements are available to groups. Course guides will be available to walk your group through the different elements and to challenge them along the way. You can even spend an entire day with us - low elements in the morning, lunch break around Noon and high elements in the afternoon. Just think of how much stronger and closer your group would be after an entire day at the Challenge Course!

The high elements part of the course features a climbing wall and zip line which spark thrill and excitement in groups. The "Acid River" and "Spider Web" elements of the low course challenge groups to trust each other and strengthen their teambuilding skills.

Last week, Rockville's "Teens On the Go" camp participants visited the Boulder Ridge Challenge Course. They spent the afternoon flying and climbing high amongst the trees of the course.

Receiving instruction from their course guides...

First climbers of the day! These girls had been to the Challenge Course once before and were very anxious to try again!

The zip line is always popular.

Climbers can choose to scale the climbing wall or the cargo net to reach the top.

Think your group might be interested in conquering the climbing wall and other elements of the Boulder Ridge Challenge Course? Feel free to submit an event proposal or call the resort at (717) 642-8282 x3347 to find out more and book your outing today! Don't forget, you can also visit www.skiliberty.com!

Alpine Room Redesign Finished and Karate at Liberty

2009-07-27T15:03:00.004-04:00

The Alpine Room redesign is officially finished! The crew finished up the room a couple of weeks ago, but we've been waiting to show you updated pictures until we had an event or group actually use the room. Because we cannot wait to show you what the Alpine Room redesign looks like for a wedding (first one is August 8th), consider this a little sneak peek.

This past weekend, Liberty was host to the Annual Shorin-ryu Karatedo and Kobudo Association of America Karate summer camp - we'll use SKKAA for short. SKKAA has been coming to Liberty for quite some time and they always bring a unique feel to our summer resort activity. It's not everyday that our facilities are being used for a karate summer camp.

Instructors and participants spent three days and four nights in our Liberty Hotel, enjoyed meals inside and outside provided by our Food & Beverage catering staff, and held training sessions in the newly redesigned Alpine Room.

Just in case you've forgotten what the Alpine Room looked like before, here are two pictures of the SKKAA group using the Alpine Room for a training session from a few years back:

And here are some pictures of the SKKAA group using the Alpine Room during this year's summer camp:

How about the ceiling beams, wood-covered walls and warm orange color? Quite different than the previous look of the Alpine Room. The SKKAA leaders were very pleased with the new look of the Alpine Room and were surprised by the vast difference from last year.

So not only is the Alpine Room newly redesigned, warm, inviting, and lodge-like, but it's also multi-functional. Weddings, banquets, reunions, conferences, meetings, karate summer camps. What's next for the Alpine Room and Liberty Mountain Resort?

Eastwind Quad Chairlift Removal

2009-07-23T09:42:00.005-04:00

We received exciting news yesterday from our Mountain Manager Ron Crozier - "The Eastwind Quad Chairlift towers are being taken down!" It's not every day that you see humungous, heavy, blue lift towers being torn out of the ground - about 3000 pounds being torn out of the ground to be exact. So we grabbed our marketing cameras and headed to the backside of the mountain for all the action.

When we arrived, the crew was removing one of the last two towers on the less-steaper side of the slope. They had already taken the tower out of the ground and were moving it with a crane. We didn't know exactly how they got the towers out of the ground, so we had to stick around to see the last one removed.

How many different types of machinery does it take to remove one tower?

We were surprised to find out that they don't actually "dig" the towers out of the ground. The towers are separated from their ground base by way of cutting with a torch. First, of course, they attach the top of the tower to a crane so as soon as the cutting is complete, the tower can be lifted into the air and then placed on the ground.

Tower being taken away by an old groomer.

Only three lift towers remain, and they will be the trickiest. Sitting on the steepest part of the slope, the remaining towers will be removed with a much larger crane in a couple of weeks. Wait until we get pictures from that exciting adventure! We've heard it's going to be quite a site to see.

Liberty Projects Continue

2009-07-21T12:20:00.008-04:00

As we promised in yesterday's blog post, here are some updates on Liberty's projects!

The Alpine Patio that was redesigned last summer, is being expanded this summer! The Alpine Patio expansion will lay parallel to the fence that separates the swimming pool from the base area grass. The expansion will add a whole new section for seating and entertainment during the season, and during events. We may even see some colorful adirondak chairs with this new expansion which will be great for kicking back and watching the slopes.

Here's a closer look at the expansion: the round picnic tables are sitting on the existing patio; beyond the tables is where construction for the expansion is taking place.

This is where the Demo Center used to be located. The patio expansion will be just a few feet away from one of our base area snow guns, and from the base area snow in winter.

Here it is! The expansion! Just imagine yourself kicking back and relaxing on an adirondack chair, watching the slopes and taking in the wintery atmosphere. It's going to be grand!

Another Liberty project that is taking place this summer is the redesign of the Bakery. The area has been completely gutted to make room for new furniture, new decor, and new bathrooms. Here's what the Bakery redesign looks like today:

Completely different, right? The Bakery redesign will include warm, rich colors and inviting furniture to go along with the color scheme and atmosphere of the Alpine Market. Think Panera Bread meets the ski slopes and you'll have a pretty good idea of what our new Bakery will look like in a few months.

Our Bakery won't look exactly like a Panera Bread and won't be near as large, but it will certainly have the same feel. Here's what a typical Panera Bread looks like just in case you've never been to one:

Here's another Bakery example to help you envision what our new Bakery will look like come winter:

One feature of the Bakery redesign that we are most excited about is the arrangement of seating. Remember how the old Bakery was set up? You ordered your food at the various counters that laid parallel to the windows and you sat alongside the opposing wall. Well we're doing a little switch-a-roo! The Bakery itself, all its counters and other necessities will be alongside the wall and the seating area will run parallel to the windows, giving you a beautiful view of the mountain while dining. You can sit and enjoy your hot chocolate, yummy cinnamon rolls and Starbucks coffee all while taking in the beautiful outdoor scenery. It'll be a little bit like this, except with a beautifully snow-covered mountain outside:

Well, we hope that gets you excited for Liberty's summer projects and the improvements you'll see at the resort this winter. We've also got the replacement of the Eastwind Quad Chairlift to update you on so keeping checking the blog for the latest news! In the meantime, check out our Photo Gallery at skiliberty.com to see what's been going on at the resort over the past few months.

Check out the Events Calendar!

2009-07-20T15:11:00.005-04:00

Planning for the 2009-2010 winter season is well underway at Liberty Mountain! We just recently updated our Events Calendar on our website so make sure you check it out and start planning your skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing trips to the mountain.

Before the winter season arrives, though, there are plenty of upcoming summer and fall events that we'd like to mention...

August 20th - 23rd - Gettysburg August Bluegrass Festival at Granite Hill Campground

September 26th and 27th - Fairfield's up and coming Pippinfest

October 3rd and 4th, 10th and 11th - 45th Annual National Apple Harvest Festival in Ardentsville, PA

October 10th and 11th - Catoctin Colorfest in Thurmont, MD

October 18th - Liberty Mountain Fall Fest and Customer Appreciation Picnic featuring the Cannonball Chili Cook-Off

The resort and local events listed above are some of the best in the area so make sure you start planning your late-summer and fall getaways now! With all the local events so close to our resort, it's easy to turn your festival or event visit into a weekend getaway by staying at the Liberty Hotel. Check our website often over the next few months for special lodging packages.

And just to keep you updated on our resort projects, here's a picture of the latest construction of the Alpine Patio expansion. Remember when the Demo Center building was moved? This is where the building used to be, and this is where the newly expanded patio will reside. More slopeside seating in the winter - awesome!

There will also be updates on the Bakery and Alpine Room redesigns coming up in the next blog post! Keep reading!

Cooler Summer Could Lead to Snowier Winter

2009-07-17T10:37:00.006-04:00

Have you noticed the lack of heat and humidity so far this summer? People are saving on their energy bills because air conditioning has been turned off more than usual. Others are disappointed that their normal summer activities like swimming have been compromised because the need to cool off in a pool is less than usual. Earlier this week temperatures were in the high 80's, but with the lack of humidity the temperature readings seemed hard to believe.

So what does all this mean for winter? Accuweather's Expert Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi thinks the cooler summer will lead to a snowier winter. To be exact, "The heart of winter will be centered over the area from Boston to Washington, D.C.", says Bastardi.

(Here's Bastardi!)

Bastardi begins his forecast predictions by stating that for the Northeast, "this has been the coolest summer in more than a decade." This cool trend has been referred to as the 'Year Without True Summer.' Kind of a scary thought, right? A year without summer? Are you crazy!?! That's unthinkable!

This crazy, unthinkable lack of summer, however, could lead to a very promising and exciting winter season, especially for those involved in the ski, snowboarding and snow tubing industries. Past and recent weather trends all point to this prediction of a very snowy winter for the Northeast. New York City did not see a day in June where temperatures were over 85 degrees. Records show that below 85 degree temperatures have only occurred three times in NYC - each time was followed by a snowy winter.

This past June, Chicago had 12 days of temperatures under 70 degrees. This has happened only one other time, which was also followed by a snowy winter.

So how snowy will the Northeast actually be this upcoming winter? Bastardi predicts that the hardest hit areas "will be from New England through the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic." Since Liberty Mountain falls into all three regions, the following numbers are important to note.

Bastardi's snowfall predictions for 2009-10 winter: 50 to 100 inches
Inches of snow received during 2002-03 winter (our most recent snowiest winter): 80 inches

And just to remind you of how snowy 2002-03 was...

While the Northest is expected to receive lots of snow this winter, the midwest, central Plains, and Pacific Northwest are predicted to have much milder temperatures with below-normal precipitation.

More snow for the 2009-10 winter? We welcome it with open arms! More snow means more open days for our mountain and our slopes. Let's check back next March and see if Mr. Bastardi was right.

Read Joe Bastardi's full predictions here. Check out Joe's recent video here.

Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Liberty

2009-07-13T10:59:00.003-04:00

Liberty Mountain is excited to announce that the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge will be part of the 2009-2010 winter season calendar of events! The Challenge is scheduled to take place at Liberty on Monday, December 28th. Liberty will be one of the Challenge's first stops of the Eastern Tour, and with the winter season less than five months away, it will be here before we know it!

The Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge is a special race series that is open to all ages and ability levels. We don't have specific details as to how things will happen at Liberty on December 28th, but still wanted to share this exciting news! Click on the image below to check out photos and results from last year's Eastern Tour.

Whether you're a competitor or a spectator, we hope to see you on December 28th! Mark your calendars!

Liberty Mountain Weddings

2009-06-23T14:09:00.003-04:00

It's officially wedding season at Liberty Mountain! From now until mid-November, various resort teams are busy making sure rehearsals, dinners, ceremonies, and receptions are running smoothly, and looking beautiful on the mountain.

Liberty has three reception venues and two ceremony venues to offer brides and grooms. The popular Boulder Ridge Lodge was the location of choice for a recent Liberty wedding. The Lodge was beautifully decorated in pastel colors and centerpieces full of fresh flowers. The reception theme was ice cream cones because the bride and groom simply LOVE ice cream. Pretty unique, huh? We especially enjoyed their placement cards:

On this particular Saturday, we were blessed with a beautiful day so the large windows of Boulder Ridge Lodge allowed for lots of natural sunlight to enter the room. The wood-covered walls and ceilings of the Lodge definitely stood out.

We hope to keep you posted on other beautiful Liberty Weddings as the season progresses. Look for more pictures of Liberty Mountain dressed for weddings and other events in future blog posts!

Peak Season Magazine Publication ONLINE!

2009-06-22T14:57:00.003-04:00

This past May, Liberty's latest magazine publication, Peak Season, was released and delivered! Peak Season is now "the [official] Magazine for the Mountain Resorts of Liberty, Roundtop and Whitetail." The magazine will: keep readers up-to-date on what's happening at the three resorts, discuss activities available at the resorts and surrounding areas, provide exciting stories about the resort/ski/snowboard industry, and more! Right now the plan is to publish Peak Season twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Interested in reading the newest publication? Check out Peak Season now by reading the articles and flipping through the pages online! Here's an example of what you'll see:

Isn't that the coolest thing ever? Now that you've enjoyed Peak Season magazine online, sign up for your free subscription here!

4th of July at Liberty!

2009-06-19T12:26:00.006-04:00

Do you have plans for the 4th of July yet? If not, make plans with Liberty Mountain Resort! While just about every local hotel, including those in Gettysburg, is sold out for the 4th of July holiday weekend, the Liberty Hotel still has rooms left! Not only do we have hotel rooms to offer, but also some sweet 4th of July packages and activities! Check these out:

1. A Gettysburg Hometown July 4th Package for $239 for two guests includes:

Two nights in the Liberty Hotel - July 2nd and 3rd or July 3rd and 4th

Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast

Gettysburg Battlefield Tour

During your stay, you can also enjoy:

Carroll Valley's July 4th Celebration - just outside the resort at a local park, enjoy festivities like live music, free children's rides, a chili cook-off, Civil War encampment, and more from 2pm to 10pm on July 4th.

Annual Civil War Battle Reenactment Marking the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg - reenactment site located just 15 minutes from Liberty. Visit the reeanactment website for all the details and to purchase tickets.

Carroll Valley's fireworks display at the top of the Liberty Mountain! Grab a blanket and watch the fireworks from the Liberty parking lot or base area on the evening of July 4th.

And other area attractions including local factory tours!

Make it a family weekend getaway! Kids can be added to the package deal for $21 for 6-12 year olds and $35 for those over 13. Children under 5 are free.

But wait, that's not all! The Explore Gettysburg Package that includes hotel rooms at the Liberty Hotel and Gettysburg Battlefield Tours will be available all summer! Be sure to call the Liberty Hotel SOON if you'd like to book a July 4th package with us - 717-642-8282 x3300.

COMING SOON: New chairlift at Liberty Mountain!

2009-06-18T13:37:00.010-04:00

Parts and pieces of a new chairlift system will begin arriving at Liberty Mountain towards the end of July and into early August. The new chairlift will replace the Eastwind Quad and will become the main lift for the backside of the mountain which is huge for guests, especially snowboarders! So how is this exciting project completed and what exactly does it mean for the guest experience? Here's an idea of what our project timeline will look like over the next few months:

After nearly all parts of the existing Eastwind Quad are taken down, a crane will be brought in and set in place to help with the project. The new lift towers will quickly be set in place and the top terminal will be moved farther down the slope to allow for more unloading room for guests. The new motor is expected to arrive in early September, followed by the new chairs and seat pads. Every part and piece will be put in its place and preparation for the load test of the new chairlift should take place in early November, just in time for the start of the 2009-2010 season. That doesn't sound too bad, does it?

After talking with Mountain Manager Ron Crozier, we found out that the steepness of the backside of the mountain will present a great challenge for the project. Ron is confident in his team and will push to have the new chairlift in its place and ready to go for the new season. You can watch all the action by viewing our Backside Base Area webcam at skiliberty.com.

So what does this new lift mean for our guests? First and foremost, the new lift will provide greater rider comfort. While the lift will provide the same number of uphill capacity (2400 guests per hour), the comfortable chairs and seat pads will make a world of difference. Just think of how amazing it is to ride up the backside of the mountain, atop freshly groomed trails and trees lightly dusted with snow, all while blissfully enjoying your seat!

Another exciting thing to note about the new chairlift is that it will provide access to both the left and right side of the back of the mountain when guests unload at the top. Snowboarders should especially be excited about this since they won't have to trek as far at the top of the mountain to get to their destination.

Mountain Manager Ron Crozier nicely summed up the new lift when it comes to the guest experience: "New and improved lift means reliability - state of the art lift, more comfortable chairs, smoother ride, easier access for snowboarders at the top of the mountain."

Make sure you check out our backside this summer and fall by viewing the webcam, and by visiting the new Eastwind Quad in the 2009-2010 winter season!

Big Announcement At Liberty!

2009-06-12T09:49:00.004-04:00

It's official! The Eastwind Quad Chairlift on the backside of Liberty Mountain will be living it's final days on the slopes this summer. After much consideration, Liberty and the Mountain Team decided it would be best to take out the old lift and replace it with a new one. This is definitely a very exciting project for Liberty Mountain so we look forward to sharing more details with you in the very near future.

We are scheduled to chat with Mountain Manager Ron Crozier sometime soon to get all the details on the removing and replacing of the Eastwind Quad. Check the blog next week to find out when, how and why it's happening!

Oh, and here's a pretty picture to represent the beauty of spring and summer at Liberty. We just love this time of year! Have a great weekend!

Liberty Mountain + Battlefield Tour = Summer Getaway!

2009-06-10T15:45:00.013-04:00

It's Monday afternoon (or Tuesday or Wednesday), you're at work, swamped with things to do, and already looking forward to the weekend. You decide that THIS weekend will be the weekend you getaway from it all and take some time for yourself and for your family. But where can you go and what can you do on such short notice?

You've already put together a new summer wardrobe so a weekend of shopping won't suffice. Ocean City is about a four-hour drive so a weekend at the beach will have to wait. What about staying local? You can wear your favorites from your new summer wardrobe and not have to spend hours driving in the car! How about a night or two at the Liberty Hotel accompanied with tours of some favorite regional attractions? Liberty Mountain is now offering a special deal for Hotel guests that includes Gettysburg Battlefield Tours, museum visits, and more!

With our resort located only 15 minutes from historic Gettysburg, the Liberty Hotel makes a nice stopping ground for those looking to getaway, all while enjoying some local recreation. Whether it's a battlefield tour in a double decker bus or walk through the Hall of Presidents & First Ladies in Gettysburg, Liberty's got something new for you to add to your weekend retreat. Here are some examples:

With a night stay in the Liberty Hotel, you can receive a special deal on a Dramatized Audio Battlefield Bus Tour on a double decker bus through Gettysburg for less than $25.00! Value Plans are also available that include admission to various Gettysburg museums such as the famous Jennie Wade House. Other Battlefield Tours and Value Plans are available. Visit the Liberty Hotel Front Desk to find out more and to purchase tickets.

Wouldn't you just love to be standing in the middle of a huge room filled with the aroma of freshly baked potato chips? Experience the smell first-hand with a factory tour at Utz in Hanover, PA! Located about 45 minutes from Liberty Mountain, Utz Snacks offers self-guided tours Monday - Thursday at their Hanover location.

Spend your recreational time at the Utz Snacks Factory or any of the other local area tour locations - Harley Davidson of York, PA; Boyd's Bear Country in Gettysburg; Snyder's of Hanover (another snack factory); Knouse Foods in Biglerville and Orrtanna, PA; Gettysburg Historical Church Tours; Grotto of Lourdes at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD; and the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton also located in Emmitsburg. Information on tours and directions to various locations are available at the Liberty Hotel Front Desk.

Whew! That sure is a lot to keep you busy during your summer getaway at Liberty Mountain. Don't forget - we've also got local golf courses, shopping and eateries close by for your entertainment so bring some friends or your entire family!

Call the Liberty Hotel at 717-642-8282 x3300 for more information and to book your room now. You can also visit our website to find out about even more regional activities and attractions to check out while you stay with us. We hope to see you this summer!

Demo Center Move

2009-06-03T15:39:00.003-04:00

Resort projects continue at Liberty. Lift improvements are being made and the Alpine Room re-design is coming along nicely. Pretty soon we should see wooden beams stretched across the ceiling of the room!

Meanwhile, outside, the Mountain Team has been working on the relocation of the Demo Center. In efforts to "spice up" the base area, we've decided that the Demo Center building will be used elsewhere on the mountain. On Monday, the Mountain Team moved the Demo Center building from its base area home.

Here is where the Demo Center used to be:

Here is where the Demo Center building will live until final decisions have been made about its new location:
For those of you that have been to Liberty in the winter and seen the Demo Center in the base area, doesn't it look weird to see it placed elsewhere?

As of right now, all demo services will be done in the Sports Shop during the winter season, so no worries. Just because the Demo Center isn't available anymore, that doesn't mean that the demo services won't be available anymore. Overall, there are still some demo service logistics to be worked out. Look for the Demo Center in its new location (TBD) next season.

OK, so it's not the most exciting news, but every small project allows us to get closer to the larger project of improving the resort for our guests as much as we can for the new season. We are just super excited about what's new for our resort! We are hope you are, too.

Alpine Room Re-Design

2009-05-22T11:56:00.003-04:00

Since the Alpine expansion and food court "face-lift" were both huge successes at the resort this past year, we decided to give the Alpine Room a little re-design, too. The resort decided that the Alpine Room should look more like a ski lodge, similar to Boulder Ridge Lodge, and connect more with the style and feel that has been captured inside the new Alpine Market (food court). The re-design calls for more warmth and "warming up" the room is exactly what's been happening during this transformation.

Walls have been painted with a rustic and warm orange color to match the beautiful treated wood that is being placed on the walls to give the room that "lodgey" feel. New carpet will be installed and wooden beams will soon be stretched across the ceiling.

The project is coming along nicely with new pieces of wood being hung every day. By mid-June, brides & grooms, banquets, class reunions, and conferences will be enjoying the newly re-designed Alpine Room. We are excited to see how our summer and fall events take to the new Alpine Room, but even more excited to see how guests react to it in the winter. Sipping hot cocoa, sitting by the fire and looking out to the slopes from our new Alpine Room will certainly give the feel of a real ski lodge.

Check the blog next month to see pictures of the finished project!

So many festivals and events to choose from!

2009-05-19T11:00:00.008-04:00

Nestled in Carroll Valley, PA, our resort is near the scenic Catoctin Mountains and is just a short drive from historic Gettysburg. The exciting and active surrounding area offers a nice compliment to our private and relaxing mountain setting. From Washington, D.C. to Harrisburg, PA, Liberty Mountain is at the center of this region's booming spring, summer and fall events calendar. With such a long list of events and festivals scheduled so close to home, which will you choose to attend?

The 23rd Annual Foundry Day Arts & Crafts Festival in Boiling Springs, PA will be held on Saturday, June 6th from 9am to 6pm. The festival features a long list of fine artists, great food and entertainment. There's FREE admission, FREE parking and FREE shuttle service which is practically unheard of in the world of festivals and craft shows. Boiling Springs is located about 45 minutes north of Liberty Mountain. Learn more about the festival here.

The Gettysburg Festival is one of the area's largest and most popular summer events. From June 18-29, the Gettysburg Festival will feature events in the culinary arts, visual arts, dance, theater, and music. Over 800 artists will participate in 100 spectacular events, many being free to the public! Click here for a full list of events and to buy tickets. With Gettysburg only being a short drive from Liberty Mountain, consider taking a break in between shows and events by spending a night or two in our hotel.

What could be better than spending the 4th of July watching Civil War Battle Reenactments at one of the most popular Civil War battle sites? The Annual Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment will take place from July 3-5, celebrating the 146th anniversary of the battle. With five exciting battles, a Living History Village, fire demonstrations, food & beverages, and more, Gettysburg will be full of activity and adventure this upcoming 4th of July holiday. Click here for more information and to order advance tickets online.

Looking further into the calendar, we next mention the 45th Annual Apple Harvest Festival in Ardentsville, PA. The weekends of October 3rd and 4th, and 10th and 11th will offer hundreds of arts & crafts vendors, demonstrations, food, entertainment, and contests. The festival is located at the heart of Pennsylvania's Apple Country and is only 20 miles northwest of Liberty Mountain. Check out a list of vendors and read about the festival's history here.

Only two more festivals to mention, promise!

There's only one word to describe the Catoctin Colorfest: HUGE! With over 350 arts & crafts vendors, the Colorfest is one of the area's largest festivals. For one weekend, October 10th and 11th, the town of Thurmont, MD is practically shut down to accommodate all the festival's activities and visitors. Fortunately, this wonderful festival is located just 15 minutes south of Liberty Mountain. Come spend an entire weekend with us and enjoy all of what Colorfest has to offer! The Catoctin Colorfest website is currently undergoing a "facelift", but keep checking it!

And last but not least, the Liberty Mountain Fall Fest. This event serves as both a fall festival and customer appreciation picnic. On Sunday, October 18th from 12 Noon to 4pm, Liberty Mountain invites friends, families and Season Passholders to visit the resort and get ready for the winter season! A special meal on the Alpine Patio will be prepared and Season Passes can be purchased and picked up. Kids and families can enjoy the pumpkin patch, scarecrow building and chairlift rides. Check out our website closer to fall to find out more!

As you can see, the area is certainly booming when it comes to events and festivals in the spring, summer and fall months. Both our Event Calendar and list of Regional Activities can keep you up-to-date on what's happening both at the resort and in the surrounding area. How awesome would it be to spend a night or two in the Liberty Hotel all while being at the center of this season's wonderful events opportunities!?! Call our resort today to book your stay - 717-642-8282! We hope to see you soon.

It's a beautiful day on the mountain!

2009-05-12T13:49:00.004-04:00

What a beautiful day it is at Liberty Mountain! The sun is shining, the skies are blue and temps are up around 70 degrees. Summer is so close, we can almost taste it!

This spring and summer, Liberty will be working on many projects around the resort. Lifts will be cleaned and inspected, the swimming pool will be repainted, the Alpine Room interior re-design will be completed, the Bakery will be receiving a "face-lift" - there's a whole list of things! Make sure you keep up with the blog as we post updates and new pictures on our progression over the next few months.

Not only has spring brought resort projects, but also some special friends. This family of geese was caught crossing the street and enjoying the pond at the resort this morning:

Don't worry, the geese are quite friendly so don't be surprised if you see them visiting the resort. Just make sure you yield to pedestrians when driving on Sanders Road and Country Club Trail at Liberty Mountain Resort. We hope to see you soon!

Special Deal at the Liberty Hotel!

2009-05-11T13:53:00.005-04:00

Looking for something to do this weekend? Attend Gettysburg's 58th Annual Bluegrass Festival and present your tickets at the Liberty Hotel for $10 off the nightly rate!

The 58th Annual Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival will be held May 14-17 at Granite Hill Campground. So far, over nine different Bluegrass bands have been added to the list of artists which equals over 40 hours of Bluegrass music! Festival-goers are invited to complete their Bluegrass experience by staying at the Liberty Hotel - the closest hotel to the campground! Just bring your Bluegrass Festival ticket and receive the $10 off discount. Festival tickets can be purchased in advance online.

Not coming to the Bluegrass Festival? Visit our list of Regional Activities to find other exciting events in the area. Look for more Liberty Hotel deals available during the spring and summer months on our website.

Liberty's Unique Menu Selections

2009-05-04T12:19:00.009-04:00

Liberty's Food & Beverage Staff was in full swing this past weekend. From a dinner rehearsal at the Tavern and a fraternity dance at Boulder Ridge Lodge on Friday, to a wedding at Boulder Ridge on Saturday, they kept the kitchens busy! Going in and out of the kitchens were some of Food & Beverage's most unique food items, chosen by the guests for their particular event. Because the staff was so excited about the food items, we joined them in the kitchens for a sneak peek at these unique menu selections...

From the Freedom Dinner Buffet Menu: Roast Pork Loin with Maple Bourbon Sauce, Buttered Corn with Red Peppers and Baked Sweet Potato with Brown Sugar.

From the Dessert Menu: Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake with Fresh Berries & Raspberry Coulis.

From the Casual Rehearsal Plated Dinner BBQ Menu: Bourbon Street Shrimp & Chicken Skewer served over Rice Pilaf with Fresh Steamed Broccoli Spears.

Also from the Casual Rehearsal Plated Dinner BBQ Menu: Appetizer Grilled Pita Bread with Hummus & Olive Tapanade.

Whether you are looking for something formal or casual for your next group event, Liberty Mountain Resort has a unique variety of both venues and menu selections to offer. You can find out more about what Liberty has to offer by starting at our "Groups & Weddings" webpage and navigating through the various banquet & wedding menus, venue options and gallery photos.

Thanks Food & Beverage Staff, for allowing us to visit your kitchens, and for providing our resort with such unique menu selections!

First Blog Post!

2009-05-01T12:22:00.015-04:00

It's official! Liberty Mountain Resort has entered into the world of blogging. Liberty is a happenin' place with lots of exciting things going on throughout the course of the year. This blog gives us one more way of communicating that excitement with our past, present and future guests. So welcome aboard!

Since some of you may still be in snow mode, let's recap the 2008-2009 winter season:

With 98 days total of open business for skiing and snowboarding, it was a great season. Opening day was on December 6th, 2008 and closing day was on March 15th, 2009. Looking back, it was a long, yet exciting season. There was over 3.6 million dollars put back into improvements for this past winter season. Before the season began, the newly renovated and expanded Apline Market, Boarderline Snowboard Rental Shop, Liberty Snow Sports Retail Shop, and Locker Room areas were revealed. We also had new snow guns and other improvements made to the snowmaking system which allowed us to produce the most snow this mountain has ever seen! We also packed the calendar with events including the Annual Ryan Rail Jam, 80's Weekend and the ever-popular Springfest & Pond Skimming. Needless to say, the season was nothing shy of exciting.

Here are some of our favorite pictures from this past season:

Snowmaking and fresh corduroy!

The Annual Ryan Rail Jam competition - new Ryan Feature built by our Terrain Park Crew.

80's Weekend excitement!

The Springfest 2009 theme was "Liberty Mountain Hits the Big Screen." Guest Services brought Hollywood to life all dressed and decorated as Happy Feet. Penguins doing the macarena - only at Liberty!

Today is the first day of May, so you may want to let go of the snow mode. It's time for sunny days, green grass and blue skies! It's time to get as excited as those guys dressed in crazy 80's gear (above) for the warm seasons ahead.

Thanks for visiting our new blog and for reading our first post. Make sure you check back next week as Liberty continues to blog. Happy May!