Hidden Valley Club marks 35 years of snow fun this season

$1.5 million in capital improvements made to enhance skiing experience VERNON, N.J. — The Hidden Valley Club in Vernon will mark its 35th anniversary this winter. Founded in 1975, the resort provides a family-oriented environment with an emphasis on fun and learning and is a location option for those wishing to avoid large crowds, long lift lines and edgier youth activities. “We want our patrons spending their winter days on the mountain, not sitting in traffic or standing on line,” said Andrea Grund, manager of the Hidden Valley Club and part of the ownership group who purchased the resort in 2007. “This has always been and will continue to be a destination for generations of families to ski together and make memories that last a lifetime.” Officials added they are committing more than $1.5 million in capital improvements to the resort, including enhanced snow making equipment and improving lighting on the mountain for night skiing and racing. The Sussex County resort offers a Snowsport School with lessons for children and adults at any level of skiing and snowboarding with a beginner area and SkiWee program for children ages four and older. Equipment rentals are also available. Serious skiers can take part in the Hidden Valley Mountain Racing program, long recognized as one of the most successful programs in the East. Hidden Valley served as the home ski area for 1992 Olympic Moguls Champion Donna Weinbrecht, was a venue for the Women’s Pro Ski Tour, and hosted the first Regional Snowboarding Championship. It is also home to the New Jersey High School Ski Racing Championships. The semi-private Hidden Valley Club is open to the public and offers affordable options from single day lift tickets to season passes and is also the only membership club ski resort in the Tri-State area. Membership includes an annual ski pass for each member in the family, access to members-only priority lift lines, overnight ski storage and valet services, and preferred parking with no dues payments for the 2010-11 season. The mountain features 14 trails from beginner to expert with challenging drops, three chair lifts and one tow, and 100 percent snowmaking capability. Its Alpine lodge provides food and beverage service available inside the Hickory Sticks restaurant or out on its multi-level deck. “Whether you ski together or let the kids learn to ski while you relax and unwind, you will rest easy because all of our trails lead to a single base area,” said Grund. The Hidden Valley Club has welcomed many non-profit groups and hosts numerous special programs for underprivileged and handicapped children throughout the Metropolitan area. The New Jersey Firefighters will hold their 24th annual race for charity to benefit the St. Barnabas Burn Center Foundation in Livingston in February. The ski race is operated by the Jersey City Fire Department and has raised more than $250,000 since its inception in 1987. The Hidden Valley Club offers a variety of discounts to seniors, police, firefighters, military personnel, teachers, and groups. After-school and winter vacation specials are available for its many youth skiing and snowboarding activities. The club open seven days a week, Mondays to Thursdays from 1 to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 973-764-4200 or visit www.thehiddenvalleyclub.com.