Jiminy Peak (ski area)
| Jiminy Peak | |
|---|---|
 Jiminy Peak in 2002 | |
  Jiminy Peak Location in Massachusetts  Jiminy Peak Jiminy Peak (the United States) | |
| Location | Hancock, Massachusetts, United States |
| Nearest major city | Pittsfield |
| Coordinates | 42°33′03″N 73°17′27″W / 42.55083°N 73.29083°W |
| Vertical | 1,150 ft (351 m)[1] |
| Top elevation | 2,375 ft (724 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,245 ft (379 m) |
| Skiable area | 170 acres (0.69 km2) |
| Trails | 45 |
| Longest run | 2 mi (3.2 km) |
| Lift system | 7 chairs, 2 surface lift |
| Terrain parks | 3 |
| Snowfall | 108 in (270 cm) |
| Website | jiminypeak.com |
Jiminy Peak is a mid-sized alpine ski resort in the northeastern United States, located in western Massachusetts in the Taconic Mountains at Hancock, northwest of nearby Pittsfield. The summit of Jiminy Peak, which includes the Hendricks Summit Lodge, is located in Lanesborough.
The mountain is owned by Och-Ziff Capital Management but the operating company is owned and managed by Brian Fairbank, the longtime former owner of the Resort.[2][3] During the winter Jiminy Peak offers activities for the whole family, including skiing, snowboarding, outdoor pools, and various restaurants. There are 45 trails and nine lifts, including a six-person, high speed chairlift. In the summer additional activities are offered at Mountain Adventure Park, such as an alpine super slide, mountain coaster, hiking, and mountain biking. The Aerial Adventure Park is a challenge course up in the trees. Five levels provide both physical and mental challenges for all levels. Courses range from 15–50 feet (5–15 m) in the air. Jiminy Peak has installed the second mountain coaster in the country, the first on the East Coast, and is the home of the nation's first Alpine Super Slide (June 1977).
In August 2007, Jiminy became the first private U.S. business to invest in its own megawatt class wind turbine.[4] The turbine generates approximately 35% of the annual energy used at the resort. The winds blow strongest in the winters, which is when the resort uses the most energy, for lifts and snowmaking. This is the largest commitment in Jiminy Peak's ongoing environmental sustainability efforts. In February 2012, the Resort installed a CoGeneration Unit in the Country Inn to provide both heat and hot water to the hotel.
In the past decade, the mountain has been increasingly developed for real estate, as the demand for housing and activities has also increased. The mountain has 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) of meeting space for meetings, conferences, weddings, parties, and other events.
Lift System[edit]
Jiminy Peak has 7 chairlifts, and 2 Magic Carpets.[5]
Main Lifts[edit]
| Name | Type | Make | Built | Length (feet) |
Vertical (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Express | High Speed Six Pack | Garaventa CTEC | 2000 | 3,922 | 1,113 |
| Q1/Whitetail Quad | Quad | 1992 | 2,855 | ||
| Q3/Widow's White Quad | Quad | 1998 | 3,005 | 902 | |
| Summit Triple | Triple | Riblet | 1983 | 4,230 | 1,148 |
| Novice Chair | Triple | 2000 | 1148 | 191 | |
| Grand Slam Chair | Double | 1969 | 2,771 | 591 | |
| Cricket Triple Chair | Triple | Partek | 1996 | 650 | 56 |
Past lifts[edit]
| Name | Type | Make | Years Active | Length (feet) |
Vertical (feet) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Bar | J-Bar | Borvig | 1987-1996 | 329 | 28 | Replaced by Cricket Triple Chair |
| Upper T-Bar | T-Bar | Constam | 1948-1978 | 2,300 | ||
| Lower T-Bar | T-Bar | Hall | 1959-1978 | 900 | ||
| Summit Double | Fixed Double | Mṻeller | 1964-1983 | 1,148 | 191 | Replaced by Summit Triple, sold to Highmount, NY |
| Novice Double | Fixed Double | Riblet | 1978-2000 | 3,820 | 1,098 | Modified into triple, shares base terminal with Berkshire Express |
| Exhibition Double | Fixed Double | Riblet | 1978-2000 | Replaced by Berkshire Express |
Summer attractions[edit]
- Aerial Adventure Park
- Mountain Coaster
- Alpine Super Slide
- Soaring Eagle
- Giant Swing
- Chairlift Rides
- Rock Climbing Wall
- Euro Bungy Trampoline
- Bounce Houses
- Kid Climb
- Hiking
Labor controversies[edit]
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Jiminy Park had violated The Fair Labor Standards Act by employing 44 minors, age 14 and 15, in shifts that exceeded the maximum amounted hours for employing minors. The Fairbank group took corrective measured and was ordered to pay a $21,582 penalty.[6][7]
On January 18, 2019 Jiminy Resorts was the center of a social media controversy regarding a printed employee notice.[8] The printed notice, which was pinned to a cork board, was written to inform employees of the John Harvard’s Brewery and Ale House that the winter storm were not "an excuse to miss work". In addition the letter stated that in the event that a "state of emergency is declared" that the resort was "exempt."[9] The letter concludes by stating that if employees choose to stay overnight at the resort "NO accommodations available. Not even a pillow or blanket."[10] The notice, which was allegedly taken by an employee, was posted online and shared 2,000 times by January 20.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Cloudy. "Jiminy Peak Ski Reports, Snow Conditions and Weather - SnoCountry Mountain Reports". Snocountry.com. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
- ^ "CNL Lifestyle REIT - One Stop Destination for Your Real Estate Desires" (PDF).
- ^ CNL Lifestyle Sells Ski Resorts, Recreation Assets for $830M
- ^ "Jiminy Peak Installs Wind Turbine · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader". Environmentalleader.com. 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
- ^ "Jiminy Peak, MA". 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Child labor violations found at Jiminy Peak; owner to make changes". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- ^ "3 New England ski resorts penalized for violating child labor law". WCVB. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- ^ "Massachusetts Ski Resort Apologizes For Letter Saying Snow 'Not An Excuse' To Miss Work". 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ^ "Jiminy Peak owners: Notice telling ski area workers snow is no excuse to skip work was overzealous, uncaring". masslive.com. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ^ a b Michalski, Jessica. "Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort apologizes after posted employee notice sparks outrage". WesternMassNews.com. Retrieved 2019-01-20.