News Release

RICHMOND, Va. (December 6, 2012) - Virginia's mountain resorts are ideal for families with young children.  Little ones who are just starting to ski or to show an interest in winter sports will love the pace and speed of the slopes at Wintergreen Resort, the Homestead, Massanutten and Bryce Resort.   

Extensive renovations and new additions will ensure a long season of winter fun in Virginia and special deals and packages offer visitors a variety of lodging and activity options. Find highlights of what's new this season at Virginia's mountain resorts below, with more information available at www.Virginia.org/winter.

New Zip Line Adventure at Massanutten Resort
Massanutten Resort is a four season resort located on 6,000 acres near Harrisonburg. The resort features 70 skiable acres encompassing 12 ski slopes, two terrain parks, 12 lanes of winter tubing and extensive lesson programs. The resort also has a year-round indoor/outdoor water park.

 New this season at Massanutten is the 750 foot-long Mega Zip Line at The Family Adventure Park where visitors can zip down the mountain alongside a friend or family member and experience high-flying fun on the ropes course. After the zip line adventure, then take a spin around the ice rink which will be open until mid-March at LeClub Recreation Center.

Massanutten is offering several special travel packages that include overnight accommodations and slope-use tickets or passes to the indoor water park. Prices range from $160 to $550. 

Skating, Skiing, and Outdoor Swimming at the Homestead
One of America's oldest resorts, The Homestead, has offered history and hospitality in the Allegheny Mountains of southwestern Virginia since 1766. This season there is even more to enjoy as the newly-renovated 3,000-acre resort now offers ice-skating and swimming at the brand new Allegheny Springs Winter Wonderland, in addition to snow sports on the resort's historic downhill ski area. Full-day and half-day ice skating passes and skate rentals will be available. After a day on the slopes and on the ice, hotel guests can take a dip in the steamy waters at the brand new, heated, spring-fed, outdoor pool and relax on chaise lounges on the warmed deck surrounded by mountain landscape.

Also new this winter, The Homestead will open a Rossignol Experience Center, the first in Virginia, which will feature Rossignol's award-winning experience skis with the latest ski innovations. 

Several winter packages are being offered at the Homestead. A few highlights are:   

• Family Learn to Ski Package: Includes accommodations, daily lift tickets, equipment rentals and group lessons. Package from $305, based on two adults and two children.
• Ski Free at The Homestead this winter: Includes room accommodations and lift tickets for two people. Package from $209, based on double occupancy.

Wintergreen's New Snowmaking Equipment - Five million gallon water tank
Wintergreen Resort is one of the Mid-Atlantic's premier ski areas. The resort is located adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Charlottesville and features the region's most extensive terrain, with 26 slopes on 129 skiable acres, two high-speed chairlifts and a host of other winter recreational offerings.

New this season, Wintergreen's ski area has undergone the largest snowmaking expansion in a decade. This project offers a massive increase in snow production with a new computerized snowmaking system, which will provide Wintergreen the snow to offer more ski and snowboard terrain earlier while maintaining more consistent snow conditions throughout the ski season, which can now run even longer.

There are many programs and packages at Wintergreen, but a two to look for are:

• Wintergreen's "Get On Board Virginia" program: For just $49, purchase a lift ticket, rent equipment and partake in a group lesson.
• Winter Escape to Wintergreen Resort: This package, starting at $79 per person, offers one night lodging and an eight-hour session lift ticket for the next day.

New Skytrac Lift at Bryce Resort
Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Bryce Resort is Virginia's smallest mountain resort at 400 acres. This makes the resort an ideal choice for families with small children. Parent skiers can hone skills at the nationally-known Horst Locher Ski School and enroll children in the SKIwee or Mini Rider programs, which cater to children ages four to eight.

New this season at Bryce is the resort's effort to make its slopes more accessible by adding a brand new quad lift. The new lift is aligned towards newer skiers and will have 90 chairs enabling the resort to move twice as many people. The new loading system allows for an easy transition for a guest going from beginner surface lifts to an aerial chair lift.

For first-time skiers, Bryce Resort's first time package is a great deal. This package is available for first-time skiers and snowboarders ages eight years and older and includes equipment rental, a group lesson and a carpet lift/slope use ticket. Package rates start at $64 for children and $69 for adults.  

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation.  Visit www.Virginia.org for more trip ideas or call 1-800-VISITVA for a free Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

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