On June 22, 2019, the Burke Mountain Club held a Centennial Celebration.  

“The Burke Mountain Club centennial is a landmark event for not only the community but for Vermont,” said Charlotte Downs, East Burke Community Librarian and Burke native. “The Club honors the legacy of Elmer Daring whose contributions changed the course of history for my home town and is very personal for me and my family because my father worked for Mr. Darling and we grew up on one of the Darling properties.”

Elmer A. Darling was raised in East Burke, received his college education at MIT and made his fortune as part owner of America’s famous Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City. He purchased a dairy farm in 1883 and gradually increased his holdings by buying all of the farms along the ridge south of his first purchase – now known as Darling Ridge. Milk from the purebred Jersey cows was processed at a central creamery and much of the dairy products (including 70 pounds of cheese per day) were shipped to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, serving dignitaries and socialites of the era staying at the prestigious hotel. Darling, who trained as an architect, personally oversaw the design of his 35-room mansion called Burklyn Hall because it straddled the Burke-Lyndon town line.

Construction was completed in 1908 and Darling split his time between New York City and Burke. He introduced the advancements of the day, including an electrical and a water system to rural East Burke, and in 1919, when he was 71, he built the Burke Mountain Club as a gift to the community. He also served the greater community as president of the Lyndonville Savings Bank and president of the Board of Trustees of the Lyndon Institute. Nationally, he was an early breeder of both Morgan horses and Jersey cows, and was president of both the Morgan Horse Society and the American Jersey Cattle Association.

The Burke Mountain Club was founded in 1919 by Elmer A. Darling and is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous contributions of its members and the public-at-large. Besides serving as the community’s library; events, lectures and entertainment are offered year-round in this historic building. To become a member or make a donation contact: The Burke Mountain Club, PO Box 309, East Burke VT, 05832

Mountain bike areas spanning 2 countries, 3 states and 7 locations have joined together as The Borderlands to promote the Northeast’s most exciting and diverse mountain biking terrain. IMG 0427They offer with eye-popping scenery and laid-back host communities that offer plenty of craft breweries, farm stands, good food and local flavor.

The seven mountain bike organizations in and around northern New Hampshire are committed to creating and promoting high-quality riding experiences for both residents and visitors.

About 150 riders encountered Bike the Borderlands at its launch party during registration for Winterbike at Kingdom Trails March 1 – 2. “It was incredible see the mountain biking community discovering the Borderlands for the first time,” said Center President Rob Riley who attended the launch with his son William, who handled merchandise giveaways promoting Bike the Borderlands.

“People are really excited to explore these mountain bike areas that they didn’t know about,” said Riley, who met an engineer at the event who had moved to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont from southern New Hampshire to be closer to mountain biking opportunities. “I expect we’ll see a lot more of this — people who can work remotely choosing to move to Northern Forest communities that have the recreational assets and outdoor lifestyle they seek.”

The Borderlands collaborative has created a challenge program with incentives to get riders to visit all seven locations and support local businesses by Sept. 21. Mountain bikers who photograph themselves on the trails of the seven participating mountain bike areas as well as at local stores can win a one-of-a-kind hoodie, hat and exclusive “Tour de Borderlands 2019 Finisher” patch. The Borderlands network is also offering a weekend getaway as the grand prize for it Borderlands Photo Contest.

With support from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, USDA Rural Development, Davis Conservation Foundation, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and other sources, the Center has managed a grant program to help members improve and diversify their trails and helped the group create the Borderlands marketing effort and develop ways to support their communities.

“Every network involved has a unique offering for the traveling rider that will make this project shine as a road-trip planning tool,” said Jason Hunter, executive director of Coös Cycling Club, which is one of the Borderlands members.

Descriptions of each of the seven mountain bike areas are on the Bike the Borderlands website, as well as details about the Tour de Borderlands challenge and the photo contest.

“The member networks all meet a set of quality and mileage standards, and the group strives to strengthen both their individual networks and the whole region – three states, two countries! – as a mountain biking destination,” said Center Program Director Maura Adams, who coordinates the Borderlands network.

The Northern Forest Center began working with Borderlands members in 2017, setting goals with the group and quality standards for mountain bike areas. Many of the locations are in or near communities whose economic base has shifted radically with the transition away from paper and other wood products manufacturing in the region.

Learn more and enter to win a Borderlands Getaway 

by Amy Ash Nixon

EAST BURKE — Kingdom Trails Association has been working to expand its trail network beyond its main areas in Lyndon and Burke, to add variety for the thousands of repeat mountain biking enthusiasts as well as to reduce some trail congestion.

Kingdom Trails “recognizes that there is traffic coming into East Burke and parking concerns and so one of the ways to address this is by creating more trails, extending the network in different directions and not just focusing it in the downtown area,” said Abigail Long, executive director of KTA. “KTA has this mission of creating a healthy community and regional economy and that doesn’t just mean East Burke.”

About half of KTA’s trails are in Lyndon, she noted.

By working to develop trails in new places like East Haven and West Burke, KTA is hoping to see prosperity bubble up where its bikers move out to, and that “a general store may open in an area where there may not be one right now, it could be attainable if folks are consistently going there.”

Breaking Ground

East Haven has about five miles of new mountain biking trails, officially added to the network in September, said Long, in an interview last week. KTA has active feelers out in a number of locations to develop new trails, but East Haven is one area where new ground was recently broken and celebrated, reported Long. “The one very exciting movement and concrete movement that we did this summer is we opened a few trails in East Haven, so that’s a whole other town, and it’s the first time that Kingdom Trails has crossed a county line,” she said of the move into Essex County.

KTA created the new trails on land owned by Walter and Winny Norman near Marshall Newland and White School roads off Route 114. They are also close to other established trails, including the Moose Alley and Trillium Trails.

“Through the generosity of the Norman family, Kingdom Trails was able to extend our growth north and east,” said Long of the trails opened officially in September amid a community celebration held at the East Haven Community Building. Long said, “There are a couple of already existing logging roads out on that property, so we were actually able to make a few trails off of those and use the logging roads, as well. We contracted with Knight Ide, a local trail builder a little bit last summer and some this summer and were able to build the new trails.” She said about five miles of new trails have been added, “But it actually seems like a lot more because of the already existing roads. It’s a very nice ride from the East Burke hub.”

Bikers can head out to East Haven and come back for a longer, more varied ride, said Long. “It’s different than our traditional bread and butter trails, it’s more flowy downhill and has a lot more features like rocks, different types of soils, it’s a different experience, so folks don’t get bored on their trail experience, now there’s something new and different. We’re very excited about it.”

KTA paid for an expanded parking area adjoining the lot at the East Haven Community Building, and a celebration to kick off the new trails was held on Sept. 1, said Long, who added the East Haven Select Board have been most welcoming.

The trails in East Haven all are named for wildlife, and when the new trails were being carved, many different animals were seen. Long said on the day of the community celebration there were moose tracks in the parking lot. She said the select board is happy to have the expanded parking area for about 40 cars available for pushing snow onto during the winter, when mountain bikers aren’t using it.

One Burke Efforts To Create Trails In Burke Hollow, W. Burke

Long said Kingdom Trails is working through its trail manager, CJ Scott, and the One Burke committee process to obtain landowner permission to expand trails through Burke Hollow and into West Burke, a goal that came out of last year’s Community Visit brainstorming process through the Vermont Council on Rural Development. One of three task forces created from that process is focused in part on expanding trails into the other parts of Burke.

Long explained that Scott is working with the One Burke committee “in a collaborative effort with all the private landowners identified and the next step is getting permissions,” to create trails on land in the other parts of town; the hope is to create trails to Burke Town School, as well, so children can ride to school, she said.

Select Board member Christine Emmons said at a recent meeting with Long that the fact townspeople were the ones who raised the trails expansion idea during the One Burke process and will now be calling on their neighbors about permission to expand trails was exciting, “It could be your neighbor coming to see you to say I think we could benefit from this,” she said.

KTA Passes Being Sold at Burke Mountain, Soon at Old Bag Balm Building

Another way to try to break up the E. Burke congestion is by selling KTA passes at more locations, said Long. Passes for Kingdom Trails are sold now at Burke Mountain, where there is a bike park accessible through the ski lift, and soon, when the former Bag Balm building in downtown Lyndonville opens as a new café, KTA passes will be sold there, said Long.

KTA donated a few bike racks handmade by trail crew member Dallas Leach, who is a welder, said Long.  “We’re thrilled to have somewhat of a presence down there when they do open,” said Long.

Another hoped-for add-on for KTA’s network is the former Town of Lyndon town garage on VT Route 114 where hopes to convert that property to a green space are being developed. That site could be a place where trails head out from, an area for parking, and recreation to include biking, a kayak launch and more, said Long. She said KTA is talking with the town about the vision for that site, which is right along the river and has great potential for recreation and use.

Other Towns Eyed By KTA, Grant Hope

KTA is also at work to create a map to help draw riders out to the dirt and gravel roads in more surrounding towns, including Concord, Kirby and Victory. Grants to develop that map and marketing materials has been sought for that project. “Those grants, if awarded, will map the already existing dirt and gravel roads in that area and then that
map could be marketed,” said Long, including an online tool for bikers to show the long trail from Concord to Burke, crossing through Kirby and Victory. That area has many features from historic sites to lakes, sugar shacks, “stunning views,” as well as
restaurants and lodging establishments and other businesses which could benefit from having more visitors come by their establishments, said Long, and all those locations would be included in the maps, showing where people can refuel, spend the night and more.

Part of what KTA is trying to do, said Long, “is spread the wealth.” “it all exists, it’s just putting it down on paper and marketing it a bit,” said Long of the existing infrastructure
in the outer towns with dirt and gravel roads, many sights to see, and businesses where people can resupply their food, get water, find a place to stay overnight, eat, and more. “They’ve got what a traveler wants,” she said.

Cynthia Stuart, a member of the Town of Concord Planning Commission, said on Friday, “Many outlying communities are excited to be working with Kingdom Trails as they expand their footprint and economic impact throughout the Northeast Kingdom.”

“The Towns of Concord and Burke are anxiously awaiting to hear if we will be awarded a municipal planning grant that will allow us to work with Kingdom Trails to map out a gravel biking trail from Burke to Victory, Concord, and Kirby in order to offer a new biking experience to visitors and community members.”

From the Caledonian Record...

by Amy Ash Nixon

BURKE — Burke Mountain Resort is proposing to build a 30 million-gallon pond in East Burke to support its expanding snowmaking efforts this season.

Kevin Mack, general manager of Burke, on Monday evening presented those plans to the Burke Select Board at its monthly meeting, and asked the board to be the applicant for a $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the project, for which Burke Racing, a nonprofit arm of the Burke Mountain Academy, will serve as the sub-applicant. The grant must be associated with a nonprofit.
 

He said the project will make use of funds through the federal receivership available to Burke Mountain, and will also use other grant dollars being sought for the improvements. The CDBG grant requires a 1:1 match, which would come from the federal receivership funds, Mack told the board.
 

Mack explained that having such a huge increase in pond capacity will transform the resort’s snowmaking operations, and allow it to open earlier in November and remain open later in April.
 

The Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC) will assist with the CDBG process.

Mack said the pond will be 500 x 400 feet, and 22-feet deep. The resort’s pond for snowmaking now is 2.5 million gallons, so the capacity expansion is significant. The pond will be on Route 114.

Having such a significant pond will mean the resort will “not have to respond to the vagaries of the river; this will provide some pushback on that (and will allow) more trails to be opened to snowmaking, and will make us more competitive.”

Burke gets an average of 168 inches of snowfall in a winter season, but having the capability to consistently make a lot of snow for many more trails will make the resort more competitive than it ever has been, he explained. “This would be fairly profound for a resort of our size.”

Willy Booker, Head of School for Burke Mountain Academy, said the mountain’s success is intertwined with the school’s success. “We know how big of an impact this will have,” Booker said. “We’re willing to be at risk and have some skin in the game to help facilitate this.”

The consistency of strong skiing at Burke Mountain will have a positive ripple effect on all the businesses in Burke, said Mack. “We’re very excited.”

The selectboard, Chair Joe Allard, Darryel Corrow and Christine Emmons, quickly and unanimously put their support behind the request to have the town be the applicant for the CDBG.

“It’s a good idea,” said Corrow.

Emmons added, “It will be nice to have a little more stability for everyone.”

Speaking At Rotary

Earlier in the day, Mack spoke at the St. Johnsbury Rotary Club’s meeting at Union Baptist Church in Waterford, where he shared some of the mountain’s history through its 2-plus years of being under federal receivership to its present – which is all about growing the resort’s 4-season business and providing an experience guests will return for and tell others about.

The resort went into federal receivership in April 2016 when the Securities and Exchange Commission seized the resort, as well as Jay Peak Resort, both formerly owned by Ariel Quiros, who recently settled with both the federal and state government after being accused of misappropriating more than $200 million of immigrant investor funds and having allegedly stolen another $50 million plus.

Under the federally-appointed receiver, Michael Goldberg, the two ski properties have continued to operate and important investments have been made. Goldberg had the vision to not shutter the new, and not-yet-opened 116-room hotel and conference center at Burke, and with staff on the ground there, helped it to open 4-½ months after the scandal had broken.

Mack credited Goldberg with moving ahead to complete and open the hotel Sept. 1, 2016, saying he understood that “a shuttered hotel would not scream opportunity … it would scream a shuttered hotel.”

In a little more than two years, the hotel has steadily seen its clientele base grow, and in concert with the highly successful mountain biking mecca Burke has become thanks to the Kingdom Trails Association, many visitors are staying at the hotel in the other three seasons, helping fulfill the hope that Burke could ultimately become a 4-season destination.

To that end, Mack told the Rotarians, “The hotel has been a game changer.”
Mack said the history of Burke Mountain as a ski resort dates to about 1954, when 13 men “looked at Burke Mountain and thought that would be a great place to have a ski resort.”

At the resort, there is a room called The First Thirteen, said Mack, who said many people assume that is a nod to the 13 colonies, when in fact it is a nod to the men who helped to forge ahead with their dream to create a ski mountain at Burke, a property which has a long history with the Civil Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

“Since 1954, the resort has had many owners,” said Mack.  Burke “has endeared itself to locals,” for generations, and also has “visitors from near and far.”

With the advent of Burke Mountain Academy, a partner of Burke Mountain that has produced dozens of Olympians and added caché to the ski mountain, Mack said Burke essentially “outpunches its height.”

As for the future of Burke, Mack reported it is bright.

With the new hotel, the resort is welcoming more than 100,000 visitors annually, said Mack. He encouraged those at the Rotary meeting to come visit East Burke to see the activity generated by mountain biking. He said they will hear French being spoken, as many visitors who mountain bike are coming to the area from Quebec.

Mack told those in attendance about how the resort runs the hotel and conference center, six bars and restaurants, operates a water and wastewater plant and has more than 200 customers on its utility, besides the resort, and operates the largest leach field in Vermont. But when visitors come to Burke, they don’t see any of the behind-the-scenes work happening to orchestrate a seamless experience, said Mack.

The mountain has 39 miles of downhill trails and 15 km of Nordic trails. “This time of year, it’s all about making that snow,” said Mack. He said he’ll start getting calls from people soon now that it’s early November, asking when they can hit the slopes.

Although to locals the hotel may seem big, to many visitors, it feels quite small and welcoming, said Mack. “For many of our guests it’s like a homey cottage, ironically enough.”

This time of year, the hotel amps up from a staff of about 70 to more than 300, said Mack. That there is growing year-round business means more employees can have employment year-round, and grow into career positions.

“We expect to see substantial growth in this coming year,” said Mack. He said while Burke is growing and drawing more visitors, it still has more places where skiers can feel alone and off in “little pockets” as they come down the mountain, than at most resorts, which adds to its appeal.

The resort has continued under receivership to invest in snowmaking and lift upgrades and will be doing more with the project described Monday night at the Burke Select Board, said Mack.

 

Several other Northern VT towns also received NBRC grants.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

Forest and recreation industries align on East Burke’s Kingdom Trails

Sawmills were East Burke’s first industry, bringing brave and adventurous souls to the northern reaches of Vermont to work, establish farms and, eventually, build the local school, church and meeting house that would become the village of East Burke. It wasn’t until the mid-1900’s that residents began to think about building a tourism industry around the area’s natural resources, including Burke Mountain and nearby Lake Willoughby. Today, brave and adventurous souls travel to East Burke to mountain bike down Sidewinder, a double black diamond on the 10,000 acre, world-renowned Kingdom Trails. But rather than displace the industry on which the town was founded, the trail network and resulting rise in tourism has deepened partnerships with the trail community, landowners, foresters, loggers, and mill owners who collaborate to keep the forest productive and healthy.  READ MORE

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ATHLETES...

Currently the Executive Director of the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, Ms. Long was one of nearly 100 applicants for the position and one of three finalists that participated in community forums organized by the Association in the month of December. Ms. Long will formally join the KTA team in February.

"We are absolutely thrilled that Abby has accepted our offer to join the KTA team," said Matt Langlais, President of the Board of Directors. "Abby has the necessary communication skills, leadership style, welcoming spirit, grace, energy and 'can-do' attitude to successfully lead the Organization." "She brings a wealth of translatable experience and fresh perspective from her tenure with the Leadville Race Series and Legacy Foundation as well as her community work in Lake County." "Her career commitment to service and outdoor recreation will serve KTA and the community as a whole well and we look forward to working with her."

"It's an honor and thrill to join such a solid staff, Board of Directors and welcoming community and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this amazing Organization," said Abigail Long. "I thank them for their confidence in me and look forward to making a home and career in the Burke area, committing to the future of Kingdom Trails and the communities it serves."

A native New Englander, Ms. Long is overjoyed to be returning home, and says she's ready to immerse herself in her new Northeast Kingdom community, and dedicate herself to the mission and vision of the Kingdom Trail Association.

She brings over nine years of administrative, fundraising, capacity building, and program design and implementation experience in the nonprofit sector to the Organization, and holds a B.A. in Public & Community Service from Providence College in Rhode Island, as well as a Master's Degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management from the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Ms. Long considers herself fortunate to have lived and worked in a number of different environments, participating in service work all over the country and world. Most recently she was the Executive Director for the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, a charitable trust created to aid the needs of the Leadville, Lake County, Colorado community. Ms. Long also brings to bear extensive knowledge of the ultra-running and mountain bike race industry as the past Athlete Service Manager for the Leadville Race Series, a world-renowned endurance event series. Additionally, she served as an instrumental board member of Leadville's Mineral Belt Trail system, an all-season, non-motorized trail that allows the Leadville community to preserve its mining history, highlight its scenic values, and provide recreational opportunities for all, a similar mission of the Kingdom Trail Association.

Ms. Long will be joined by her husband, Brandon Mapes, who is a Teacher for Blind & Visually Impaired students, with a passion for providing those he serves with adaptive outdoor recreation opportunities. Together they look forward to exploring all their new community has to offer.

For further information about the Executive Director search, please contact Matt Langlais at board@kingdomtrails.org. For further information about KTA, please contact Lilias Ide at lil@kingdomtrails.org or 802-626-0737.

Pictured: Julie Hall, Luke Hall, Grace Hall, Owen Hall, and Kelsi Reese of East Haven Veterinary Service celebrate their victory with Burke Chamber President, Jim O’Reilly. They were one of the winners for Best Business Tree and chose East Haven Library as their charity. Luke, Grace, and Owen helped make the decorations featuring photos of people’s pets, and their dad, Jake, made the doghouse. 

Century 21 Farm & Forest Realty also won for Best Business Tree with a ‘Home in the Kingdom’ theme and their charity of choice is the Lyndon Area Food Shelf. 

Best School Tree went to the Thaddeus Stevens School which featured colorful ornaments made by the students. Northeast Kingdom Youth Services will receive $100 on their behalf. 

Best Lights went to Tim Scott Real Estate whose tree featured holiday messages from the students of Peacham Elementary School. 

Best Decorations went to Café Lotti whose tree included ornaments featuring local Artist Dorian McGowan’s sketches of area residents. The latter winners have not yet chosen charities. The trees will be on display until just after the New Year.

From the Boston Herald...Don’t tell anyone, but our friends in Burke, Vt., are having a party this fall, and we’re invited. There will be music and food, parades and raffles. Folks will gather on the picturesque town green and celebrate. The crowning touch: the splendid beauty of the Burke region in autumn... READ MORE

An accomplished executive in the ski industry who ascended to success early in his career, Willy possesses the entrepreneurial flair that characterizes our unique school, along with a firm grasp of its strengths, its challenges, and a deep and enduring commitment to its values and core beliefs. In Willy’s own words, “I am incredibly honored to be the next Head of School for BMA. Burke can have an immense impact on people and it certainly did in my case. I have drawn on my Burke experience throughout my career and personal life and look forward to the opportunity to give back to BMA with direct involvement. I appreciate the weight of this appointment and I will be working hard not only to live up to the impressive standards that Warren, Finn, Kirk and Jory have set but also to find new ways to move our school forward in a very dynamic environment.”

A former student, teacher, coach, Trustee and Board Chair, Willy has been involved with just about every aspect of BMA over the past 25 years. In the Press Release attached below, you can read more about Willy’s background, the search process and some of his accomplishments as a trustee and Board Chair.

READ MORE...

Best Sports Town:  Runner up- EAST BURKE!

Best Bike Shop:  Runners up:  Village Sport Shop and East Burke Sports
Toughest Event:  Runners up - CircumBurke Challenge and Rasputitsa, both events happen in East Burke.

Best Apres Bar:  Runner up - Mike's Tiki Bar in East Burke

Best Photographer:  Runner up:  Local shutterbug, Herb Swanson

READ MORE...

Details of the agreement were included in a filing late Tuesday afternoon by Michael Goldberg, a court-appointed receiver overseeing the property following investor fraud allegations against the resort’s past owner, Ariel Quiros.

Members of the United States Ski Team will train and hold elite skiing competitions at Burke Mountain, Goldberg wrote in the filing.

“Simply put, entering into this contract makes complete sense and is expected to raise the prestige of Burke Mountain, and in turn, drive hotel room sales,” Goldberg said.  READ MORE...
 

And the winners are…

Best School Tree – The Newark Street School featuring a peaceful purple doves theme ($100 will be sent on their behalf to The Newark Kids Winter Sports Program).

Best Family Tree – The Tierney Family tree with old family photos, marriage announcements, etc. laminated as ornaments ($100 goes to their chosen charity, the Mountain View Farm Animal Sanctuary).

Best Business Tree - TIE - Passumpsic Savings Bank won with a red & white Grinch theme ($100 to a yet to be named charity) and the KT Cabin (vacation rental owned by Tom Grimble) tree also won with their ode to Kingdom Trails and the community featuring decorations with names of trails, local businesses and purple & gold lights ($100 will be sent to H.O.P.E. on Tom’s behalf.)

Best Lights – The Foggy Goggle Osteria won with beer mug ornaments that light up! ($100 will be sent to Kingdom Kids on their behalf.)

Best Decorations - TIE - Thaddeus Stevens School tree was a winner featuring a Japanese theme and hand-made origami ornaments ($100 will be sent on their behalf to Northeast Kingdom Youth Services) AND East Burke Market won with ornaments featuring photos of store employees and customers ($100 to a local hospice.)

VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TREES

WATCH NOW Part 1

Part 2 video

READ MORE...

No need to worry, though, the Mountain is now in good hands with Leisure Hotels & Resorts managing the property while the lawyers and courts do their thing.  We, in Burke, are doing our thing - Burke Mountain Resort is open and operating with the Bike Park and Campground NOW OPEN for Summer 2016!  The Burke Mountain Hotel is complete - beds are made, there's soda in the vending machines and staff are being hired in anticipation of a Grand Opening in September 2016!

One by one, q by q, the infamous Q's all over the property are being removed and the name is officially back to what it always was ... BURKE MOUNTAIN RESORT!
 

For more info on Mountain happenings, events, jobs available and more, visit www.skiburke.com.

From the steep, old-school New England tech high up on Burke Mountain to the bike park below and the fast-and-fluid trails on Darling Hill, there truly is terrain for every rider in East Burke...READ MORE

They did it!  Thank you to everyone who donated and spread the word to make it happen!

when they visit the Burke area, they now have the option to stay in our first slope side, full service Hotel scheduled to open this December, 2015" stated Sechler.

The Q Burke Mountain Bike Park is FREE to ride Monday through Thursday with no lift access and at your own risk. Hours of operation will include Fridays, 3pm-7pm; Saturday & Sundays 10am-6pm.
 

For more information about the Q Burke Mountain Bike Park and the brand new Q Burke Hotel and Conference Center opening in December, visit

Best Trail Network = Kingdom Trails!

Best Downhill Mountain - Q Burke Bike Park!

Gnarliest Trail = Upper J Bar!

Best Retail Sports Shop = Village Sport Shop!
Best Apres Spot = Mike's Tiki Bar!!!!!

Read about all the winners...

COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS

From the Caledonian Record..."A ground breaking for the new hotel at Q Burke Resort on Burke Mountain Tuesday afternoon drew promises of 2,300 new jobs linked to the Q Burke resort, with an average of 300 construction workers on the hotel job site and a staff of 250 employees hired to run the new facility.

Bill Stenger, one of the partners in the Jay Peak ski area, promised to keep the jobs local."  READ MORE...

From VTDIGGER.com..."Q Burke Resort’s 180,000-square-foot hotel is slated to open in December 2015, along with an aquatic center and tennis facility. Construction will commence next spring or summer. Two more hotels, adding another 116 units to the mountain, are set to follow."  READ MORE...

The Landowner Appreciation and 20th Anniversary Celebration will be at the Inn at Mountain View Farm - all are invited!

KINGDOM TRAILS ASSOCIATION MISSION
To provide recreation and education opportunities for local residents and visitors while working to conserve natural resources and create economic stimulation.We strive to accomplish this mission by providing a network of quality non-motorized trails for all level of abilities incorporating the best of the local scenery and natural diversity. We have permission of over 50 landowners and businesses that make this all possible.
 

Kingdom Trails Association (KTA), a 501(c)3 charitable organization, was established in 1994 by a group of visionary residents and business leaders in the area. Their goal is to encourage recreational use of the Northeast Kingdom that is ecologically sensitive and promotes the natural beauty of the region. Major support for this effort has come from the National Park Service; the Vermont Community Foundation; the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation; the Connecticut River Valley Partnership Program, The Windham Foundation,Vermont Community Foundation, Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, KTA members, and volunteers.
 

KTA is a volunteer driven endeavor. A nine member Board of Directors, comprised of dedicated local citizens, creates policy and strategic planning. Kingdom Trails’ staff manages the day to day operations.
 

Visit the Chamber Facebook Page to see pictures of all the trees.
 

from red tricycle ..."Tucked away in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, The Wildflower Inn is a village-like resort comprised of restored New England farmhouses and barns and located on over 500 acres of pristine farmland. Boasting an animal petting barn and a wide range of children's programs, the innkeepers at The Wildflower pride themselves on being family-friendly. (They have eight children themselves!) With spectacular pastoral views, the warmest hospitality, and no shortage of fun things to do, it's no wonder Boston families keep coming back to The Wildflower Inn."  READ MORE...

And the Winners are……

VIEW ALL THE WINNING DISPLAYS...
 

Watch the segment about Lake Willoughby!

The Alexander Twilight Theatre is in Vermont's rural Northeast Kingdom and is located at Lyndon State College. It has been the center of entertainment and education not only for the College but for the greater Northeast Kingdom community for over four decades. In its glory years, the Alexander Twilight Theatre was the best of its kind from Montreal to Boston and acts headlining in NYC were also seen at Lyndon. We are trying to bring the theatre back to its glory years so it can provide diverse entertainment which would benefit Northeastern Vermont and all the passionate, creative individuals that love and enjoy the performing arts.
 

We are now actively in the process of raising funds to complete installation of all new dimmers to control the new lighting instruments as well as an architectural control system that will allow remote access to house/practice lights without the assistance of professional staff and also a new HD Projector system. The outdated features and fixtures become grossly apparent when the limitations of an aged theatre make the booking of performances, conferences, and outside groups a challenge.
 

Proper lighting at the Alexander Twilight Theatre has always been critical from these dimmers. They were substantially used to set the tone and the mood in all major past performances such as "West Side Story", "Pippin", "Two Gentleman", "Godspell", "Arsenic","The Hobbit", to the more recent ones such as "These ruins are Inhabited" plus many others. Of note, in 1977 a Michael Valenti piano concert, which was held in the theatre, was then turned into an LP. These are just a sampling of the types of quality performances that will once again be allowed to return with these upgrades. This will include stand-alone events that can be used by outside groups without a technician on site as well as rehearsals due to the remote access of house/practice lights that the architectural control system would allow.
 

Our first major production of 2014, The Twilight Players Spring Production "The Drowsey Chaperone" April 24-27, 2014 will be greatly enhanced and enjoyed due to the new upgrades with the raised funds.

In summary, what used to be the crown jewel of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont has become its handicap due to its aged equipment. With this upgrade many acts and performers will once again be able to return for the whole Northeast Kingdom to enjoy!
 

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There have been a lot of stories, reports and rumors that have come up since QBurke Mountain Resorts purchased the resort in the summer of 2012. Some right. Some wrong. Some pretty close. But one thing is for certain. Change is coming to Burke. Change to the tune of up to $108 million in investments over the next several years. Change that is already evident to the skiers and riders
who’ve benefitted from the $1,000,000 in snowmaking upgrades added in the off-season.

Want to keep up with all the updates and plans?  Keep an eye on their blog for all the latest news.

 "...Thoreau said "give me a wildness no civilization can endure," and he could have been ordering the Northeast Kingdom, the most remote realm of the state, a domain admired for her refusal to compromise with the contemporary world, a place more Vermont than Vermont. She has, however, become a mountain biking mecca. Lilias Ide, the lavishly tattooed operations manager at Kingdom Trails, describing the trail experience, uses the word "stimulating." She also says the color green, a hue I more associate with Christmas and St. Patrick's Day, is sexy. It seems a suggestion that inhabits some previously uncharted crevice between the glib and the profound.

I think about this aperçu while riding the chairlift to the top of Burke Mountain, where several of the more extreme single-track trails launch. And watching the waves of green undulating beneath me, 50 shades of green, I find myself agreeing with Lilias. The woods transcend the ornamental; raw, wild, exciting and implacable, a lusty, voluptuous stealth of Nature. And then the route down, sinuous as a snake, the perfume of churned earth sparking the nose, the cool wind on the face, the hot pant of sun on the neck, and in front, a pair of toned legs pumping. She is right...this is the velocity of desire..."  READ MORE

The team members at the Comfort Inn & Suites, St. Johnsbury earned the award this year AGAIN! The hotel has earned this distinguished honor two years in a row! In addition, TripAdvisor recently recognized the hotel for its environmental efforts and named the property a gold level hotel in their new "GreenLeaders" program.

The Wildflower Inn was also awarded for their outstanding service..."This prestigious award, which places you in the top-performing 10% of all businesses worldwide on TripAdvisor, is given to businesses that consistently earn high ratings from TripAdvisor travelers." from Trip Advisor

Congrats to Kingdom Trails!  They were just named as one of the Ten Great Places for Mountain Biking in USA Today!  A well deserved honor!  READ MORE...