Okemo Ski Area, nestled in the Green Mountains in Ludlow, Vermont, is known for its diverse terrain and a vertical drop of 2,200 feet, providing an exhilarating experience for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. The resort boasts two distinct base lodge areas: the Clock Tower Base Lodge and the Jackson Gore Base Area, each offering its own unique amenities and charm.
Okemo Mountain Resort Trail Map
With a rich history dating back to its founding in 1955, Okemo Ski Area holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike. The town of Ludlow has evolved significantly since its charter in 1792, marked by key milestones that have shaped its identity.
Early History of Ludlow
Ludlow was originally named after Ludlow, Massachusetts, and chartered in 1792. According to historical records, in 1789, the town had 66 poll taxes paid, with 290 acres of land under cultivation, 42 horses and 17 colts, 29 pairs of oxen, 142 cows over three years of age, and 49 young cattle. In the early 1800s, Consul to Portugal, introduced a Spanish “Merino” breed of sheep to Vermont. By the 1830s, there were close to 1.5 million Merino sheep in Vermont, outnumbering humans nearly 6 to 1.
Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States, was born just 10 miles north of Ludlow in Plymouth Notch in 1872. He went to Black River High School in Ludlow and later became governor of Massachusetts in 1918. His "summer White House" was in the dance hall above his family’s store in Plymouth.
Read also: Ice Skating in Vermont
The Birth of Skiing in the Region
The first ski lift in America was established just north of Okemo, in Woodstock, VT, in January 1934. Wallace “Bunny” Bertram, a former captain of the Dartmouth Ski Team, installed a rope tow on a Clinton Gilbert’s farm off Route 12. In 1935, the state of Vermont bought 4,000 acres of timber land and created the Okemo State Forest. The Civilian Conservation Corps built trails, including a 1.75-mile trail on the Healdsville side of Ludlow Mountain.
The Founding of Okemo Ski Area
It wasn’t until 1955 that plans took hold to build a ski area on Ludlow Mountain. Okemo Ski Area officially opened in January 1956 after an 11-inch snowstorm. Operations began with trails serviced by two Poma surface lifts. The lower Poma cost 20 cents per ride, while the upper one cost 60 cents. The early 1960s saw the introduction of four more Pomas, and in 1965, the first chairlift, the Sachem double, was introduced.
Classic Red Poma Lift in 1956
Along with these improvements, Okemo began offering slopeside lodging starting in 1961. In 1963, Okemo purchased its first groomer, a Tucker Sno-Cat model.
The Mueller Era: A Transformation
In 1982, Tim and Diane Mueller purchased Okemo Mountain Resort after seeing a master plan for development. At the time, Okemo had six Pomalifts and three double chairlifts. They had "a lot of energy and experience." Their first season was a struggle. Still, they also focused on service. Diane cited their beach resort experience as giving them “a jump on the ski industry” in terms of offering quality service. Their hands-on management style was impressive as they worked alongside their staff and management team.
Read also: Your Guide to Okemo
Over the next 20 years, they invested more than $100 million and added more than 70 new trails, one of the most extensive snowmaking systems in the East, three base villages, and a championship 18-hole golf course. With employee input, the Northstar Triple was installed in 1983 (later a quad and then a sixpack).
The offering of children’s daycare and ski instruction programs combined with an early welcoming of snowboarding in 1987 enhanced the area’s appeal as family friendly and an avant garde ski and snowboard school further propelled its growing popularity.
On December 6, 2008, the Muellers sold Okemo, Crested Butte, and Mount Sunapee to a REIT, CNL Lifestyle Properties in a lease-back deal valued at over $130 million.
Okemo - Open Slope
Okemo's Terrain and Amenities
The base of Okemo stands at 1,144 feet (346 m) above sea level, and the summit is 3,344 feet (1,019 m), giving Okemo the largest vertical drop in southern Vermont, 2,200 feet (670 m). The mountain has a total of 123 trails spread across 667 acres (2.70 km2) of skiable terrain. A paved road, named Mountain Road, runs along the mountainside and is used as a ski trail in the winter, making it Okemo's longest trail at 4.5 miles (7.2 km). 98% (654 acres) of the trail area is covered by snowmaking, one of the highest percentages in the East.
Okemo has 21 chairlifts, including 1 high speed detachable 6-pack chair with protective bubbles and heated seats, 1 new high speed detachable 6-pack chair, 9 quad chairs (4 high speed detachable quads), and 2 triple chairs. There are seven surface lifts, including six carpets and one t-bar. South Ridge Quad B at the Clocktower base area utilizes loading and unloading conveyors, the first unloading carpet to be used in the United States.
Areas of Okemo
There are five main areas at Okemo, each with at least one high-speed detachable quad:
- The Main Mountain: Serviced primarily by the Sunburst Six.
- Solitude: To the north of the main mountain, offering about 1,100 vertical feet.
- South Face: To the south, has the highest peak on the mountain and is known for its more difficult terrain.
- Jackson Gore: On the far north, complete with its own access road, lodge, and ski school.
- Glades Peak: Between the main mountain and the South Face, serviced by one fixed-grip quad.
Sunburst Six approaching the summit
The Clocktower Base Lodge and Surrounding Accommodations
The Clocktower Base Lodge area is a central hub at Okemo, offering convenient access to the slopes and various amenities. The Clocktower Base Lodge, one-bedroom condominiums occupy some of the most enviable real estate on the mountain. Walk out your door and be first in line to enjoy the best Okemo has to offer all year long.
The Mountain Lodge at Okemo offers non-smoking 1 bedroom units with a full kitchen, bedroom, and living room. All units face the Clocktower Base Lodge area and have private decks with views towards the slopes. These units offer either Queen or King sized beds, plus a Queen sleeper sofa in the living room. The Mountain Lodge condominiums are also a stop on the Okemo Shuttle routes.
Sustainability Efforts
Committed to sustainability, the resort strives to preserve the natural beauty of its surroundings, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy its splendor year-round. During August 2006, the Muellers announced they were switching to wind power for the upcoming ski season at their three resorts, Okemo, Mount Sunapee, and Crested Butte. The Muellers bought 27 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy certificates from Sterling Planet, through a contract with Gunnison County Electric Association in Colorado.
Year-Round Activities
Okemo Mountain Resort has added lift-served mountain biking to its lineup of summer and fall amenities. In 2010 Okemo opened up the Adventure Zone in the base of Jackson Gore. The Adventure Zone is a year-round attraction which includes: The Timber Ripper, Lumberin' Cal mini-golf, The Maples disc golf course and the Stump Jumper Bungee Trampoline.
Across Route 103 sits the 18-hole, par-70 Okemo Valley golf course, rated the best public course in Vermont for 2006 by Golfweek. Run by Okemo, it is the first Heathland-style golf course built in Vermont. Other amenities include a 12,000 ft2 year-round indoor training center, an 18-acre outdoor learning center, a clubhouse, a pro shop, and Yamaha golf carts.
Fire Tower
At the top of the 3,344-foot Okemo Mountain outside of Ludlow, Vermont sits a 60-foot tall fire tower, open to anyone who dares to climb its steep steps for a panoramic view of the surrounding Green Mountains. One can see at least seven surrounding ski areas from atop the tower. The original fire tower on Okemo Mountain was built in 1923. In 1934, a new steel tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, double the height of the original tower at 60 feet. In 2010, a refurbishment of the stairs was completed, making them much safer with chain-link siding to the top.
Okemo Fire Tower in 1982