Located on a beginner trail that connects two of Smuggler’s peaks, the learning center is literally a ski-through educational experience in which the front side of the building was fitted with windows, allowing guests a peek into the inner workings of snowmaking.
According to Barbara Thomke, public relations director at Smuggler’s Notch, the learning center accomplishes many different things: “When an area makes a behind-the-scenes improvement such as this, it is always difficult to market the change. With the snowmaking center, people not only see the vast changes being made to improve their skiing experience, but kids and parents can learn how snow is made and learn about the effects on the environment.”
In addition to the pump house, interpretive displays have been set up for guests on weather, snow crystals, effects on the environment and the history of snowmaking.
The ski school also has made use of the center, bringing people through and allowing them to play with a computer-simulated snowmaking system located inside the building. A character, Frostie the Snowmaker, was also created to make appearances at the center to the delight of the children.
In the end, the management at Smuggler’s Notch call the experiment moderately successful, but time will tell. The $22,000 investment has brought in positive feedback, but more importantly for the area, it has helped people learn.
