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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Jiminy Peak (ski Area)

Jiminy Peak is a mid-sized alpine ski resort located in Hancock, Massachusetts. It lies in the Taconic Mountains, near the state's far western edge, and 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. 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. 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 m) of meeting space for meetings, conferences, weddings, parties, and other events.

Lift System

Jiminy Peak has 7 chairlifts, and 2 Magic Carpets.

Main Lifts

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

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

  • 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

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.

On January 18, 2019 Jiminy Resorts was the center of a social media controversy regarding a printed employee notice. 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." The letter concludes by stating that if employees choose to stay overnight at the resort "NO accommodations available. Not even a pillow or blanket." The notice, which was allegedly taken by an employee, was posted online and shared 2,000 times by January 20.

References

  1. ^ Cloudy. "Jiminy Peak Ski Reports, Snow Conditions and Weather - SnoCountry Mountain Reports". Snocountry.com. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  2. ^ "CNL Lifestyle REIT - One Stop Destination for Your Real Estate Desires" (PDF).
  3. ^ CNL Lifestyle Sells Ski Resorts, Recreation Assets for $830M
  4. ^ "Jiminy Peak Installs Wind Turbine · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader". Environmentalleader.com. 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  5. ^ "Jiminy Peak, MA". 20 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Child labor violations found at Jiminy Peak; owner to make changes". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. ^ "3 New England ski resorts penalized for violating child labor law". WCVB. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Massachusetts Ski Resort Apologizes For Letter Saying Snow 'Not An Excuse' To Miss Work". 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ Michalski, Jessica. "Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort apologizes after posted employee notice sparks outrage". WesternMassNews.com. Retrieved 2019-01-20.