Henniker, NH – New Hampshire’s Pats Peak ski area is celebrating 50 years on snow. The 2012-13 season marks the 50th anniversary season under the Patenaude family ownership, which makes it the longest continuously operating ski area run by the same owner.
Pats Peak opened for skiing on January 5, 1963. The four Patenaude brothers – Joe, David, Wayne and Stuart – combined Yankee ingenuity with the several businesses owned in the family to hand-fashion a ski area. Back in 1962, the four Patenaude brothers spent a lot of time skiing. They also spent a lot of time standing in lift lines. They decided to go home to Henniker and build their own ski mountain.
The Pats Peak Lodges are built from lumber cut from the mountain that was owned by their father, Merle Patenaude. Beams 30 feet long were hewn at the family’s sawmill. Construction of the main lodge began in the spring of 1962 by the brothers, friends and family. The Peak Chair, a 1961 model, was built in the Fall of 1962 in time for opening in January 1963.
Pats Peak was the first mountain in New Hampshire to have snowmaking in the 1960’s and was instrumental in getting other ski areas operational. Pats Peak is a learn-to-ski and snowboard mountain. Generations have learned to ski and ride at Pats Peak.
Pats Peak remains today what it was decades ago: a first-name place where friends and families return every season. It’s where you can feel safe letting your kids roam the mountain while allowing yourself to explore new terrain on your own. Every year Pats Peak continually focuses to improve its facility and experience for skiers and snowboarders. For this season, $500,000 was invested in improvements including an upgraded arrival area, a new trail, Women’s Burton Learn To Ride snowboard equipment, upgraded snowmaking capabilities, new rental equipment, base lodge upgrades, a new generator as well as a big air bag for the Terrain Park.
Pats Peak has 23 groomed trails, three terrain parks, a snow tubing park, 10 lifts, 100 percent snowmaking, night skiing on all trails, three separate beginner areas and some of the most challenging terrain in Southern New Hampshire. They also offer the famous M&M cookies, which have been part of the Pats Peak tradition for 50 years.
Saturday, January 5, 2013 marks the 50th Anniversary of Pats Peak. To commemorate this day Pats Peak will be celebrating with a Birthday Party Celebration. The day’s events include: WGIR Rock 101.1 DJ playing music from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the base area; Snap Candy free giveaways from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a Birthday Celebration at 2 p.m. in the Main Lodge with a 50-foot cake; speeches and contests for the Oldest Pats Peak Season Pass and Most Pats Peak Season Passes (only one pass will be counted per ski season); and an Après-Ski Party in the Sled Pub with a Harpoon Beer promo, live music by Nick’s Other Band and contests for Best Retro Outfit, Oldest Pats Peak Trail Map and Oldest Pats Peak Brochure.
Hannaford of Concord, N.H., is making and decorating the 50-foot long cake, which will feature photos of Pats Peak’s history from its groundbreaking to the newest improvements. Wayne and Sally Patenaude, the owners of Pats Peak, will be there to cut the cake. Guests will also sing “Happy Birthday” to Pats Peak during the party.
“It is perfect that the birthday celebration is during the ski day so that all our guests have a chance to join the party and eat cake. Family is what we have been all about for fifty years,” says Kris Blomback, General Manager of Pats Peak. “The Patenaude brothers had a vision 50 years ago and we are excited to continue the traditions of Pats Peak. We look forward to welcoming our skiers and riders during this 50th Anniversary season.”