LUDLOW, Vermont ??” At the close of the winter’s first holiday weekend, all indicators are pointing to a great ski season ahead for Okemo Mountain Resort. Okemo opened for the season as Vermont’s only operating ski area on Friday, Nov. 18. With 7 lifts servicing 31 trails on Sunday, Nov. 27, skiers and riders are enjoying twice as many trails on the final day of their four-day holiday than on Thanksgiving Day. The mountain currently offers 171 acres and 12.3 miles of terrain for early-season skiers and riders of all abilities. Snowmaking efforts are scheduled to continue as weather permits, with hopes of having all 117 trails open in time for the Christmas holiday period.

“Whenever we have a good Thanksgiving weekend, it bodes well for the rest of the season,” says Okemo Vice President and General Manager Bruce Schmidt. “This was a very good weekend and we met our projections.”

Okemo’s Learning Center reported a 60 percent increase, compared in revenue over last year, during the four-day Thanksgiving holiday. Although participation in learning programs increased by 30 percent, more enrollment in high-end programs led to the revenue increase.

Okemo Director of Lodging Michael Normyle reported that resort lodging was up 12 percent over last year’s Thanksgiving weekend. In looking forward, he also noted that lodging reservations at Okemo are 20 percent ahead for the entire winter season.

With the holidays just a few weeks away, lodging inquiries and reservations for the end of Dec. have been picking up. For those planning a Vermont country Christmas, there is still some availability at Okemo’s condos and Jackson Gore Inn, but the week following, through New Year’s Eve, is 90 percent booked, according to Normyle.

For more information about Okemo Mountain Resort, or to inquire about holiday reservations, please call (800) 78-OKEMO (786-5366) or visit www.okemo.com.