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Summer at Holiday Valley

Skiers and snowboarders may shed a tear when the snow melts off the ski slopes at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, NY, but with all of the summer activities and events in store, the warm and sunny months will fly by. Truthfully, the fun you'll have during spring, summer and fall at Holiday Valley come pretty close to the excitement of the ski season.

Sky High Adventure Park, opening May 4th for weekends, includes the Aerial Park, the Climbing Forest and the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster. The Aerial Adventure Park is the largest in New York State and third largest in the US with 13 courses of varying difficulty, 173 obstacles, and 43 zip lines. The resort recently installed several True Blue auto belay systems where instead of zip lining to exit a course a climber JUMPS off the final platform. The True Blues lower the climber at 6 feet per second. It's a thrill, for sure! And new this year will be the "Tarzan Swing" added to Rip Tide…you can just imagine what that will be like! Located next to the Aerial Park, the Climbing Forest offers a 3-D climbing wall with the climbing holds strapped to tree trunks. There are 9 trees to climb of varying difficulty to challenge kids (age 5 and up) and adults alike.

The Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster is 4,800 feet in length with a downhill track of 2,940 feet and a drop of 283 feet. The track consists of 15 curves, 12 waves, a jump plus a huge spiral, and carves a beautiful path through the woods of the resort that everyone in the family will love. And since the rider has control of the speed of their car, one can choose to race down the exciting track or sit back and enjoy the scenery!

Holiday Valley's Double Black Diamond course is 6,500 yards of scenic and challenging golf. The course, much of it hibernates under the lower ski slopes, winds across the rolling terrain to create 18 holes to remember! Each hole has 4 sets of tees that will challenge the low handicapper, yet allow less experienced players to enjoy the course as well and keep the pace of play moving. Golf outings starting as low as $66 per person (including cart, dinner and tournament assistance) are a great way to get your club together during the summer months. Our Master PGA Professional, Steve Carney and his assistants are available for golf lessons for golfers of all skill levels.

The Holiday Valley pool complex is open from May 26th to June 10th on weekends, then June 16th through September 3rd. Guests can relax at a lap pool, toddler pool, and an activity pool complete with a diving board and slide. The complex is the social hub of the Ellicottville scene with poolside food and beverage service from the Cabana Bar and John Harvard's Brew House.

Holiday Valley has been a mecca for mountain biking ever since Western New York Mountain Biking Association built 35 miles of singletrack in the state forest land adjoining Holiday Valley property. The resort recently added a flow trail that starts at Spruce Lake, winds back and forth across the ski slopes and finishes at the Yodeler area. This trail is an easy way down the mountain for families and newer riders, but is also fun for experienced riders to get some serious G's around the banked turns. The trails are free to ride, we just ask that you stay out of Sky High and the golf course.

Adventurers can enjoy stand up paddleboarding and kayaking on Spruce Lake on weekends starting June 16th at the top of the mountain. Rentals and lessons are available by appointment through Adventure Bound in Ellicottville, 716. 217.4047. Chairlift rides on the Spruce Lake chair will be available on weekends starting August 4th. Riders can then choose to take the lift back to the base or hike down one of the many scenic trails at Holiday Valley.

About Holiday Valley Resort

Holiday Valley is Western New York's largest year 'round resort featuring 60 slopes and trails, 13 lifts, 3 base lodges, slope side lodging and dining, conference facilities, an 18 hole golf course, a tree top aerial adventure park, a mountain coaster and a summer pool complex. Holiday Valley is New York State's most visited ski resort.

Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville is on the web at www.holidayvalley.com.
Ellicottville is located on Route 219, three hours south of Toronto and one hour south of the Peace Bridge and Buffalo, NY.

​Source : Holiday Valley