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■ • • •Large Crowd Anticipated For Opening of Ski RunBy CHARLEY TKENKLE Winter weather is here, and following on the heels of snow and cold is the Sunday cpcning of Indiana’s first ski operation, The Pines.Operators of The Pines, Norm and Bill Johnston, report Ihnt streams of cars, loaded with jK'Ople, skis and poles, are ex-Ijccled to jam Meridian (Comp hell) road Sunday on their way for the newest of Indiana sports.Opening ceremoniously at 10 a.m., The Pines will remain open until 10 p.m. Sunday .niglib Nil! Johnston reported laic Friday afternoon that groups from Chicago, Chicago Heights, and Joliet, 111., as well as groups from Elkhart and Indianapolis e planning to attend the opening day.Phone Keeps Ringing In addition, telephone calls from individuals in many dilTer-l'jlL communities have been keeping the hells ringing and the lines hot.The Johnstons report slocks of food all ready and add that ski tows arc in operation and that snow makins machines will saidChristmas, when the urea will niovfi into every-day operation until the first week in January.Depends On Conditions The Johnstons indicated that every-day operation might begin sooner Ilian Christmas, hut this depends on the response of area skiers and snow conditions.The Pines ski area is located approximately four miles north of Valparaiso on Meridian road, or one mile south of U.S. G and oni! mile west of Ind. 49.A heavy response is expected from local skiers and from the Chic ago-Gary-South Bend area. In addition, considerable use of local motet and hotel facililirs is expected as wintertime moves inio full swing.Teenagers and college students are expected’ to form a large portion of the novice skiers, predicted lo take Hie ski slopes with the avidily they display when they took to rock-and-roll and the twist.In addition, a number of the nolsO'yoLiJig-smyinorc” have been turning up at _ the ski area during construction days wilh a dam devil look in their ryes and an air of antic ip fit ion. Long Overdue Early and eager crowds swarm-came to see and stayed lo work were members of the Gary Ski club, whose aid was an invaluable asset during the long hours pul in by the owners.Wilh Sunday’s opening comes the realization of lung-laid plansSKI RUN DEPICTEDSome of the. views that will be seen by skiers and visilors fa The Pines are:1. Out the westsidc windows of the snack bar area will be seen the main ski slope fur this year. Small building at lop of : the hill houses motor for double rope tow carried by the poles to the right. ■2. A reverse view. Frgm the double rope tow motor building up the bill down the slope to the chalet. A second low is shown to the right. Entrance to the ski shop and ground floor area is through the leau-fo structure lo the Icft-ccntcr of the chalet.3. A partial view of fho rental and ski shop area on the ground floor showing some rental skis and bools.4. Another view of ski slopes to be used this year. Bunny'1 or beginners’ low partially visible to the left. Bunny low leads along extensive beginners area.5. Main slope, double lows, and pipes carrying water and compressed air for snow making guns to fhc right. Slope is seen from the rear of the shelter housing boll to call ski school classes.6. South slope seen from parking lot. A narrow trail for advance skiers comes duwn through the woods to the left.7. Snack bar and lounge areas. Far corner by the bear skin is furnished with couch and easy chairs for group conversation and “apres ski (a Her ski) relaxation.Ihal have resulted in a modern chalet, snack bar, rope tows, lighted ski runs (for night skiing), and five slopes (this year)I lie final topping to the ski slopes.Ski school operation will also' begin at 10 a.m. under the direction of former Swiss Alps ski instructor Httho Kueter, The ski school will be run at least four times Sunday, with more sessions if required. A maximum of 12 students per class is pi mired. ,Tentative plans call for Ihe ski area to be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends untiling over the site hove led the operators to believe that the sport of sking is Ions overdue .for an appearance in this area.I Many of the early visitors and sighl-scers stayed to pound nails, fill in ditches, work on -ski bindings, and do miscellaneous work around the area.Foremost among those whowith more planned for develop-t A Iffjj Hours of operation set tent a*
Newspaper Details
Valparaiso Vidette Messenger
Valparaiso, Indiana, US
Sat, Dec 15, 1962
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Porter C.
IN, USA 02 Oct 2024
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