Jay, Vermont - December 6, 2011
The Northeast Kingdom has long been a magnet for skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts, but a new tourist attraction set to open next week will likely draw a new crowd to the Kingdom.
Jay Peak is home to some of the baddest terrain in all the east -- and now, not just on the ski slope.
The resort's new 20-million dollar Pumphouse Waterpark is like no black diamond you've ever experienced. "It's like lighting your hair on fire excitement," said the resort's J.J. Toland.
From start to finish, the waterslides are a slippery slope that's worth venturing onto. The Chute's 300 foot long thrill ride begins with a 60-foot free fall. There's only one other slide like it in the world and that's in Japan. "The first time is the best. The floor drops out beneath you and you're totally not expecting it and not sure what's going to happen. The Chute is a long drop and you get the blast of cold water at the end," said Jay Peak's Tyler Hanley.
And as much as this reporter hates to admit it, the slide had me scared out of my mind. Once you step inside the rocket ship, there's no turning back.
And if a 60 foot free fall isn't your thing, why not try riding some waves. For the first time ever in Vermont, you can now ski and surf all in the same day. "It's definitely a unique concept for Vermont," Toland said.
The beauty of surfing indoors, is that anyone can look good on a board, and Once the water's turned on, the waves are continuous -- which means sooner or later -- you fall off.
For the less adventurous, there are some calmer alternatives, and each of the four slides at the resort is different. Some wind their way outdoors, others are pitch black. "You know when you're in a nightmare and you don't know what's next. It's sort of like that," said Abby Fraser, a visitor from Williston.
It's a ski resort rockin and rollin with the times -- no matter the weather -- no matter the season. A new way to play -- at Jay Peak resort.
A day at the waterpark costs 35-dollars for adults, 25-dollars for kids 14 and under. Children under the age of four get in free. The park officially opens to the public on Monday.
