Seven Springs, PA Scott Bender Resigns

Our phone has been ringing off of the hook!  Effective today, Scott Bender, CEO of Seven Springs Mountain Resort handed in his resignation. Rumors have been flying for the past month of his departure. They all have been strongly denied by Scott and those around him.

We believe his talents are going to be utilized here in the Laurel Highlands (Hidden Valley has yet to hire a General Manager). At the inner circle of management for the Nutting's there are few "top dogs" remaining from the Dupre era.

Home owners in ALL of the Associations should take the time to be very involved! What ever hand shake or written agreements there have been in the past Scott was in the middle of working out the details. Without his presence there could be many changes in the days ahead.

More to Follow!

Seven Springs, PA 2008 Recordings June 23-30

99 Southwind   $728,350 

Hidden Valley, PA 2008 Recordings June 23-30

1313  West Ridge       $290,000.

Lot 42 StoneWood      $400,000

Hidden Valley, PA New Development

We've been expecting this release!

Headlines for the Sunday Somerset Daily American (June 22) read, "Resort Plans Housing Development" by Tiffany Wright. These releases usually are posted on the Hidden Valley site for reference although it wasn't there yet this morning.

Permitting has come through for "four buildings with four condominiums near the North Summit slopes," They are hoping to have approval for two more buildings which would bring the total number of offerings to 24 units. Located off of Gardner Road the condos are to be approximately 2,000 square feet. No mention of prices yet but they hope to have the properties on the market for the Fourth of July.

Also 30 lots are expected to be soon offered in the new "Green Tee" development. Which when completed would have a total of 72 lots along Hightop Drive.

Appreciation rates were quoted "at about 15 percent a year over the past five years." Our statistics show that the average sales price over the past five years has appreciated 8.65% with 2007 seeing an appreciation rate of only 1.07%!

Major expansions are planned for snow making, slopes, trails, and facilities. If you haven't signed up for your season ski pass do it before next Tuesday to take advantage of the discounted rates!

Seven Springs, PA 2008 Recordings June 16-20

There were no recorded sales for this time period.

Hidden Valley, PA 2008 Recordings June 16-20

5007 Summit        $197,500

1477 Gebhart        $185,000

1963 South Ridge  $321,000

Laurel Highlands Back Yard Tour

Each year the Laurel Highlands Tourism Bureau spends a day visiting local members. This trip is always a great and gives us a chance to meet the owners and have a behind the scenes look at the many great attractions the Laurel Highlands area offers. Here is where we went and here is the Virtual Mapping Link.

Hidden Valley Our group was greeted by Bill Doring, VP of Buncher Company. Our first stop was at John Harvard's Restaurant on Route 31 near the entrance, modeled after the same restaurant in Monroeville. This restaurant offers an upscale continental menu with microbrew beers. The featured selection is the Hidden Valley Ale. We then went to the resort and the slope side café for coffee. Bill gave us a presentation on the new pipe lines for the additional snowmaking, upgraded chair lift system, future slopes and skier lodge at the top of the slopes, and future meeting and wedding services. Over all they have a very impressive updating plan and this resort should be a must stop for visitors in the area. About the only thing slowing down their plans was the permitting process.

The Rockwood Mill Shops and Opera House, This property was constructed between 1898 and 1905 as two distinct sections. The three story side housed a feed and lumber mill that was instrumental in the expansion of Rockwood and the surrounding area. Remember back then the B&O railroad was a major source of transportation! The two story side contained a storefront for the mill and upstairs an opera house. It was very popular at the time for traveling performers, local theater productions and lectures.

As times changed the property lay dormant. Enter Judy Pletcher, who in 2000 rolled up her sleeves and began restoration! It's now on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Charming shops and food services with more than 12 retail vendors can be found here. The opera house stages a variety of musical entertainment week days and weekends (check the on line schedule) and can be rented for special occasions.

Trail Head in Rockwood, If you are planning on enjoying any or all of the Great Allegheny Passage (320 miles of nearly level ride or bike trails from Washington DC to McKeesport, PA) then take time to make a stop here. Wags and two of his friends did it in 5 days. Youngest rider was 50, so believe me that almost any rider can do the trail. There's a great movement to develop the "Trail Towns" along the way. At this trail head there is a bike shop and B&B. This is a great stopping point if you are doing the entire trail or a mid point for lunch and ice cream at the Opera House.

Flight 93 Memorial, Even though we've been here several times the emotional impact is still overwhelming. As the development process for the National Memorial begins (estimated completion 2011) a ranger has been assigned to tell the story. Visitors continue to leave mementos and messages on a large fence at the site.  

The Driscoll Center, in Somerset, is a large residence that has been converted to a museum for local and regional artists. During the summer they sponsor an arts, crafts, and vendor event in the park across the street. Dates for the Somerfest are July 18 to 20 and will offer fun and activities for people of all ages. This is one of best events in Somerset during the summer. Don't miss it.

River's Edge Cafe, What a wonderful place to stay over or just have a meal! This property sits right on the Youghiogheny River (Confluence) and offers incredible food. It's way more than a sandwich shop! They are known for their fresh seafood, pastas, char grilled chicken, steaks and fresh salads. Eat outside on the deck overlooking the river or inside but make sure you try it this summer!

The Parker House, This is a huge country inn that has updated conveniences! Think of it like a beach house except it's in Confluence. Bring the extended family or your best buds and rent the entire place for days or a week! It sits right next to the Rivers Edge Cafe so if you don't feel like cooking (even though the kitchen is very modern) you're covered. The Great Allegheny Passage Bike Trail is just across the river so this is another great trailhead to stay at.

Allegheny Recumbent Tours, Inc Trying out recumbent bikes was a first for us both! These are bikes where you sit horizontally. For an experienced rider it takes about 15 feet to get the hang of riding one, and for the non experienced there are trikes. These bikes are really comfortable and fun to ride. To get a better look at them visit the site of EasyRacers built by Sun Bicycles. They recommend calling ahead for reservations ESPECIALLY for the weekends! 888-395-2453

Green Gables, Certainly one the most enchanting properties for any celebration! That's if you love landscaped grounds around a lake in the countryside with a rustic stone establishment and an 1805 gristmill turned into summer theater! We're talking right out of a Kincade painting!

There's fine food with Chef Shay MacDonald who mixes ingredients from around the world with local harvests. Add an award wining wine list with nearly 200 selections to highlight the meal! Then check out Pennsylvania's oldest professional resident summer theater. Ticket Prices (hold on to your wallet!) $15 to $36 with students at $8 to $13. Check it out!!

Somerset Historical Center Early rural life in southwestern Pennsylvania is richly preserved on these grounds! The center has many early farming tools on display and several early settlement houses and structures. Get the kids out of the condo and show them life in the Laurel Highlands was not always flat screen TV and air conditioning.

Quecreek Rescue Site Even though we did not visit this site on this trip it is just up the road at the Arnold Farm. Learn how surveyors determined this spot as the rescue site and how the entire world was riveted by this miraculous rescue of 9 miners trapped 240 feet below.

Quest Coach A very big Thank You to Tracy Showman (owner) who escorted us in the 52 seat motor coach! Great space and luxury touring at its best! Tracey and Arthur, her husband recently changed the name of the company from Groomes Tours to "Quest Coach" to reflect their continued commitment to service their clients. Home for the company is Scottsdale, PA. They offer tours to great places and provide charter-only services for those who wish to plan their own trips. They have a fleet of 56 and 52 passenger motor coaches, a 21 passenger coach, and a fleet of school buses for all of your rental needs!

Seven Springs, PA Erasing History

We recently discovered that the "Dupre" meeting room at Seven Springs has been renamed "Wintergreen" and that all of the history of the family that created Seven Springs is off the walls. In 1994 Abe wrote this story to honor "Grandma Dupre" and the family legacy. Yes, it's long but you don't build a resort in less than 200 words!

In Fond Memory of Helen Kress Dupre

1902-1994

... honoring the years of hard work and dedication she and her family have contributed to creating the Seven Springs we know, love and enjoy today.

Yesterday...

In 1927, Adolph Dupre was raccoon hunting with some friends from Ligonier. A moonshiner, defending his still, took a shot that came uncomfortably close to his ear. The men hightailed it out of the forest! But Adolph just couldn't forget the magic and beauty of those woods.

Helen Kress cast her own magical spell on Adolph as they dated only three months before tying the knot! The same year they were married, he returned to the woodlands and purchased two and a half acres for thirteen dollars at a tax sale.

 Helen and Adolph made their living from forest management, producing maple syrup, building and maintaining the farm and eventually from renting the cottages they built from the land. Over 20 years, a total of 28 cottages with native stone, hand-hewn beans, slab siding and their own individual half-acre lakes were completed.

Adolph knew that the business and professional people from Pittsburgh and Greensburg (even then) needed a place to escape. Helen had her hands full with the awesome responsibility of feeding and attending to the guests. The three kids began doing chores as soon as they were able to walk! The Dupres kept reinvesting their profits into more land. Adolph was a well-known man at the Somerset courthouse.

Finn Ronne, a prominent Antarctic explorer working for Westinghouse Research, knocked on their door on winter day in 1931. He told the Dupres that he had been to Harrisburg to research records and find out where the "snowiest" place was and that this was it. He wanted permission to ski.

Adolph liked Finn so much that he built him a warming hut. Other skiers weren't so welcomed, though. You see, the barbed wire fence that enclosed the pasture that the ski slope dumped into stayed up all year round. The skiers had to jump it or try to ski under it, often times ripping their clothes and damaging the fence. Adolph was forever mending it.

In 1935, the first mechanical rope tow, powered by a Packard Automobile engine, was installed for the skiers on Suicide Hill. They used the car wheels, without the tires, as pulleys to carry his tow. It provided smooth channels for the rope.

Twenty-seven years of backbreaking work saw tremendous growth for the homesteaders. They now boasted a club house (the Tyrol house), a ski lodge, nighttime skiing, seven rope tows, six slopes, nine trails and two tennis courts. Adolph passed away in 1955. Helen, Herman, Philip and Luitgarde pushed on with the dream.

The 60's came with a new indulgent outlook on life. Helen never understood the hippie generation. She said. "You've got to have a purpose - something to work for. We've never had time to stop & wonder if we're happy because there is always to much work to be done."

And work they did. The 60's saw the private club change to the world-famous resort. The first snowmaking system was installed, construction of the new lodge was completed and an additional 73 deluxe rooms and four executive suites had to be added.

Dining rooms were opened as well as ski shops. Seven Springs became a municipality, two lounges were opened, ski rentals were now available in the lodge and a convention hall with a seating capacity of 1.500 was added to the main lodge.

The next decade saw the opening of the 18-hole golf course, the construction of Lake Tahoe for an expanded snowmaking system and the completion of the ten-story high rise that added 313 rooms to the resort. Exhibit Hall, racquetball courts, a 3,000-foot airport runway and a new ski lodge were also constructed.

In the 80's, Kettler Forlines was invited to become the exclusive builder developer for Seven Springs, offering resort living in condominiums and townhouse communities in Swiss Mountain and the Villages. Major expansions for skiing and snowmaking occurred, including three triple chairlifts and one quad lift that increased lift capacity in over 20,400 skiers per hour, the addition of Giant Steps, Gunnar Slope and Turtleneck Trail (a skiable terrain which exceeded 500 acres), and the opening of the Learn-To-Ski area for beginners and the installation of the NASTAR race course.

Today (1994)...

The Dupres have grown from a family of five with humble beginnings to a family employing a staff of 1,400 in the winter and more than 800 year round that services one million customers annually. The 90's are here. Two years ago, Seven Springs celebrated its 60^th anniversary. Now that Helen is gone, you may wonder what direction Seven Springs will take. Well, the visionaries are still here. The underlying belief that people want to get away from it all is still deeply imbedded in the Dupre's philosophy.

Seven Springs is currently working with professional consulting firms in the ski and resort industries to map out plans and improvements for the next five years. They're reviewing slope planning and development, traffic patterns, food, bar, and hotel services as well as other amenities that may be up and coming. As the builder/developer for Seven Springs, we have agreed that a goal of 40 new homes a year is in line with their game plan.

This year alone you will see improvements totaling in excess of three million dollars at the resort. The indoor swimming pool has a new look from ground up, the hotel lobby has been renovated and new carpeting will appear in many of the lounges, restaurants and meeting rooms. New interior signage has been added, a state-of-the-art bowling alley is up and running (AMF AccuScore automatic scoring machines that speaks ten languages!) and the golf course has a new Verticut mowing unit and a computerized irrigation system. Hair Expressions is expanding and providing additional services, "Calasis at the Springs" will offer facials, pedicures and waxing (look for special discounts for homeowners!) and a new fly fisherman's club (catch and release) is forming for 1995.

Family fun and adventures are prominent in Seven Springs' future. Activities for your family in the summer include bonfires with cookouts and hayrides, horseback riding, mountain biking, volleyball, racquetball, golfing, tennis, shuffleboard, bocci, Alpine slide, bowling, swimming and miniature golf.

For the children, Kid's Korner offers child care services seven days a week for kids that are of walking age of older. Then there is Kid's Kamp that features sporting events, nature studies, arts & crafts, hayrides, picnics, fishing and indoor and outdoor games for ages 5-12. Lunch and snacks are provided as well as half and full day sessions. Three and five day packages are also available

Festivals have become a real crowd pleaser over the last few years. Mark your calendars for the Wine & Food Festival, Autumnfest/Open Houses, Polkafest and the newest, the Laurel Arts Jazz Festival. It features three days of jazz from Brazilian to BeBop. Day, evening, and weekend passes are available.

Tomorrow...

Twelve years later the resort is sold to the Nutting Family ending the Dupre's 74 year dream. Family to family, growth and progress continue.

ENJOY ATVS * BIKES * ARGOS * RHINOS * SNOWMOBILES?

Many of our friends who ride have been telling us stories of their favorite trails being closed down. Several come to the area specifically for family fun on their motorized toys (isn't that what garages were built for?). We understand their disappointment with the shrinking number of accessible trails BUT PLEASE don't give up on us so fast!! Here is the mapping link.

We want you to know about MOUNTAIN RIDGE TRAILS RESORT, LLC. Their business caters to all of the above! We believe with over 2,500 available riding ACRES you will be hard pressed to run out of trails! If you do they have access to an additional 500 acres!

This year celebrates their third year of operation and they are being recognized as the largest ATV and Motocross Park on the EAST COAST! Their grounds offer rolling hills, extreme rock climbing, mud pits, and hills that they say will challenge the best riders. Trails are marked GREEN for Family Oriented, BLUE for Advanced, and BLACK for Expert (rocky).

From Somerset you're a 20-minute ride to get there. Follow 281 North to Rt. 30 East to Reels Corner (out by Indian Lake) and follow Rt. 160 South. They are open Thursday through Monday and keep Tuesday and Wednesday open for private groups. Check the site for times and rates!

July 5-6 will welcome the second Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) event to the resort. Then July 17-20 come on up and enjoy QuadFest! We sure hope that if you enjoy the facilities that you'll add a comment!

Seven Springs, PA 2008 Recordings June 1-13

Southwind  5      $747,565

Southwind  4      $732,126

Southwind 100    $454,160