A wintry economy is not translating to bleak times for winter tourist destinations, according to a trio of attractions in the Hudson Valley, all of whom say so far they are holding up well, but all of whom are also taking proactive approaches to attract patrons. Â
“Our business was really very brisk this whole (Christmas-New Year) vacation while students were off,” said Mary Conklin, a co-owner of the Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson in Putnam County. She said the crowds came from “a big geographic area,” that included New Jersey and Connecticut and the metropolitan area. “We were very happy with the response and we had a little snow, which makes everyone a skier.”Â
Thunder Ridge promoted itself through electronic billboards at the Crossroads of the World, Times Square, running ads from mid-December through Jan. 1. The campaign was a joint effort with Metro-North promoting the Ski Train, where patrons can buy a combined train ticket to Patterson and lift ticket to Thunder Ridge. Ski center drivers meet the train to transport skiers the roughly 1 mile from the tracks to the slopes.
“We had a terrific influx of people from that program this vacation,” said Conklin. “A lot of people that don”™t have transportation, it gives them a way to get away for a day or two.” She said the promotional partnership is in its fifth year and “every year it has doubled,” This year an adult combined ticket is $49.75Â
The family friendly Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland is also seeing tourists taking advantage of its facilities, from an indoor pool and game rooms to snow tubing runs and skiing, horse back riding and sleighs. And after any activity there is a constantly blazing bonfire and hot chocolate.
“It hasn”™t been a great year, summer was off, fall was slow but winter has been steady,” said Ranch owner Steve Turk. “Obviously, the economy is taking its toll on a lot of destination properties but we are very fortunate because we are very family friendly.”
He also said the location about 75 miles from New York was also a plus, noting that the Sagamore resort, which advertises itself as a year round getaway destination at Lake George, has closed until April. “We are in the Hudson Valley a lot closer to our target market,” Turk said.
Another factor enticing families to visit is the one-price package, with all amenities including three meals a day included in the booking price. “So they can park their car and leave their wallet in their pocket,” said Turk.
The Ranch has also hired a new chef to further upgrade meals, Michael Hoysenradt is a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef overseeing a staff of CIA grads and Turk said meals are receiving rave reviews from customers. A massage and facial spa have been added, albeit for an additional fee. Turk said it is a customer service for parents who want a grown-up break on their trip with the kids. “We are getting a very pleasurable return on that investment in terms of customer satisfaction,” Turk said.
The Sawkill Family Ski Center about 10 minutes from Thruway exit 19 in Kingston is open on weekends and holidays and was open all of Christmas week. About 60 percent of its customers come from the New York metropolitan area and business is steady this year, said Alan Lund, the general manager. “Receipts are about the same as last year, maybe up a little bit,” said Lund. “We have a small area and out tickets are relatively inexpensive. I think probably receipts are up but expenses are up and I didn”™t dare raise the prices any.”
Downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing are available but, “Snow tubing, that”™s a popular thing, most of our receipts come from snow tubing,” Lund said.
Turk, of the Rocking Horse Ranch also extolled the attraction of snow tubing, saying the original idea of an inner tube on a slope has been upgraded with more sophisticated tubes while sticking to the same general idea. “Snow tubing has really taken on its own identity in the winter destination market,” Turk said. “It”™s very cool.”
