Raven Golf Course garners national attention      The Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain has been recognized in the spring issues of three of the country's top golf publications as one of the best mountain golf courses in the country. Raven Golf is part of Snowshoe's parent company, Intrawest, and will open April 18 for the season.      Golfweek Magazine ranks Raven as one of the "Top 100 Modern Courses" in the country and the number one public access course in West Virginia Raven ranked #62 on the list, moving up two spots from last year.      "The recognition by Golfweek as one of the top modern courses and being the number one public course in the state says a lot about the experience we have to offer here at Snowshoe," said Gary Williams, Snowshoe Mountain's Director of Golf. "We take pride in our unique course and work hard to keep it one of the best."      "Travel & Leisure Golf" recognized the course as one of the best 100 courses to play under $100, ranking Raven in the top 25. This honor is given to golf courses which prove you don't have to pay $200 a round to enjoy some of the best golf in America. Williams said, "Again, an honor like this says a lot about The Raven and the quality of service and the experience of a great mountain course. You don't have to be one of the most expensive to be the best, just treat your guests with respect and give them a golf experience like no other in the country.      "Washington Golf Monthly has chosen Raven as one of the "100 Must-Play courses of the Middle Atlantic." The magazine recognized public golf courses from New Jersey through Virginia for the seventh annual rankings.

     "There are a lot of courses in this region to play, but The Raven here at Snowshoe offers something different on each hole, making it a course you should experience and I think Washington Golf Monthly agrees, and that is an honor," said Williams.
     The Gary Player Signature course opened in 1993 as Hawthorne Valley Golf Club and in the spring of 2001 became a part of Intrawest's Raven Golf Group.
     Player used the unique topography of the region to create a distinctive 7,044 -yard example of the finest mountain golf course anywhere. The course features such varied terrain that the front and back nine look as though they were from two separate courses.
     The front nine is challenging, traversing through lush woodlands accented by clear mountain streams. Beautiful dry-laid rock walls support many greens and tees. Elevation changes of more than 200 feet from tee to green add variety and challenge to the course.

It's a watery world near Raven's most challenging holes.

     The back nine meanders across rolling meadows interrupted by several pristine evergreen-rimmed lakes. Huge, grassy knolls and rock formations affect the play.
     With each fairway, you will find yourself awed by another view of the spectacular Allegheny Mountain Range.
     Golfers are provided with the Pro Shot GPS system, giving them detailed information about the course, such as the layout of each hole, distance to the center of the green and key hazards from the seat of the golf cart.
     Raven is the only golf course in West Virginia to offer this space age assistance at no extra charge.
     For more information on the Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain, go on-line at www.snowshoemtn.com.

     Don't hit the wildlife! A deer grazes unconcerned near one of the greens on the Raven.

Gary Player, designer of the Raven course.

SnowShoe Sponsors Physically Challenged Youth from Marlinton

Joey Buck is adapted with equipment Joey and George Hurley meet SnowShoe personality Roy Riley

Hurley guides Buck downhill as he gets the hang of steering-by-leaning.

Bill Hungate Age: Early Baby Boomer Born: Evansville, Indiana Wife: Vicki Step-Children: Brandon and Brandolyn Education: MBA from Florida State Military: Navy Occupation: Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Snowshoe Resort Hobbies: Avid motorcyclist (he owns a Harley-Davidson Softtail Deuce), boating, fishing, hiking, and everything in the great outdoors Philosophy of Life: Hard work will get you there. Personality Profile       Bill aka "B. J." Hungate's introduction to Snowshoe Mountain Resort happened in May, 1979, with a flight to Lewisburg and literally nauseating trip north on U. S. 219.       He returned the next October, which would have been unremarkable, except that Pocahontas County was covered with about three feet of snow while leaves were still hanging on the trees, with an RV full of people to check out the resort's food and beverage facilities. Because of that extraordinary snowstorm, the area didn't have electricity for about two weeks.       He liked it anyway. After all, if you've been offered the opportunity to manage food and beverages at a fledgling ski resort, you want to know what the place can produce. And if Snowshoe Mountain could get that much snow in the middle of autumn, it would have to make you wonder what January was like.       Bill "got here from there" by way of the Navy and his friend Joe Seme, who had a brother named Danny in the ski industry in North Carolina.       When Danny Seme moved to West Virginia with "Doc" Brigham, he invited his brother and Bill along for the ride.       With the restaurant business experience he'd already accumulated and management experience at the Officers' Club in Corpus Christi, Texas, Bill was ready for the shot at a ski resort, especially since he'd already grown to love the slopes in places like Sugar Mountain, North Carolina, and Aspen, Colorado, where he really got hooked.       He managed food and beverage at Snowshoe for five years. During that time, Auntie Pasta's was built and the Skidder Pub became a fixture on the mountain.       Bill left when the resort fell upon its first troubled times, but returned at the behest of a federal trustee who was putting together a management team.       "My love of the mountains had surfaced again," Bill said. And he returned as Assistant General Manager. So he's been through several transformations at the resort, as well, before hitting his stride in the marketing game and making sure everyone everywhere has heard something about Snowshoe Mountain Resort.       But the hallmark of his every career has been hard work. "I like to work hard," he said, noting that younger generations seem to think they can get by without it. Not so, according to Bill.       There's plenty of hard work to go around in marketing and sales. The division encompasses not only the Marketing Department's which also features a full service in-house advertising agency and design service -but also a nationally recognized Communications and Television Department, Group and Conference Sales and Central Call Center, Guest Services and Database Management and a newly acquired Events and Animation Department.       With all those plates spinning, Bill still looks into the future for his division and the resort.       His goal is to make Snowshoe Mountain Resort as popular in the "Sun Seasons" as it is in the Snow Season. So Marketing and Sales will seek new initiatives to get the work out in the region that Snowshoe Mountain Resort is a premier mountain vacation experience every time of year. But Snowshoe's not just a great place to play, according to Bill, the resort is evolving into a world-class conference center with the addition of the facilities in Allegheny Springs.       Variety at the resort propagates variety in marketing, so Bill places more emphasis on enhancing innovative sales programs.       He's been married nearly 20 years to a woman he met while he was in the restaurant business in Indiana, but Vicki moved and they lost track of each other for several years. When she returned to Washington, D. C. after a backpacking trip through Europe, she called him at Snowshoe and wanted to stop by on her way to Indiana.       "We renewed the relationship," he said. The two were married in St. Thomas.       His parents will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary later this month.       The partnerships in his life have obviously been long-lasting ones. So it's no surprise that he also sees the resort making a lasting commitment to Pocahontas County and to West Virginia to achieve a united effort to enhance tourism in the state and the region.

Quality products keep Meck's ovens fired up

Sunny Given
Staff Writer

Meck's retail space is bright and full of delicious foods and handmade items. Carola Waybright, Julia and Hannah Meck A man and his oven..... James Meck with his revolving convection pan oven. Gas fired, it can bake 24 18 X 26-inch pans of cookies, breads or other goodies with less labor and better results. Convection baking circulates warm air flow within the oven, providing more even heating thoughout.

      They come for the sweet rolls. They come for the pies and cakes and cookies. They come for the bread, and they come for the pastrami and home-roasted beef.
      James Meck and family have been baking for 20 years. "The merchandise has changed a lot over the years, but a storekeeper is still a storekeeper." he said. The location has changed, too, from a back road to the highly visible store on Rt. 66 close to the intersection of Rt. 28/92. During ski season, Meck says it's like a freeway, with traffic going by all night.
      The Mecks live above the 2000 square foot bakery, making it convenient to get to work, but hard to call in sick. Wife Karen and daughters Julia and Hannah make up the family workforce, which is augmented by Carola Waybright. All of Karen and James' children grew up in the business. "We'd stand them on tubs and they'd help wash dishes when they were younger," Meck said. Jacob and Amos have their own construction business now, "but Jacob still comes by to show his sisters he can still put a pie together," Meck said, grinning. "He did very well with the donuts, too." Only one child, Rachel, hasn't kept her hands in the flour.
      The bakery is busy year-round. Winter and springtime are slower but each day the Mecks produce dozens of loaves, cupcakes, cookies and pans of yeast and sweet rolls, plus eight to 10 pies. Weekend output increases. That's not too shabby for a rural bakery 25 miles from Marlinton. But it's a drop in the bucket compared to summer production. "July 4th is when it gets crazy," Meck said. Output increases by threefold during the summer months and Meck usually employs an additional three part-timers. Fortunately, Meck has all the bases covered. "We do long production runs which allows us to freeze products and use them as needed." When they do prep work for pies, for instance, they prepare enough dough for about 90 crusts, then freeze or store it in the walk-in cooler.
      The scheduling allows overlapping of production and prep work. While dough is thawed and put in pie pans, someone is preparing fillings so actual production time is minimal. The two deck ovens can accommodate a dozen pies easily, so 40 minutes later pies are done. Bread doughs are handled the same way, and cakes are baked in advance and kept frozen. Icing is mixed in one of two large commercial mixers and stored in 2.5 lb. tubs.
      A typical day starts around 7 a.m. in the 1000 square foot production area. Most of the daytime baking is for the next day, especially for advance orders.
      The biggest sellers are the sweet rolls, which come in four varieties. Hannah Meck handles baking all but the yeast dough products, which James oversees.
      "Sourdoughs take longer to raise, and salt-rising doughs will stretch out over several shifts." he explained.
      The new revolving pan oven which replaces Meck's brick oven will be able to quadruple their baking capacity with better results and less labor, all in all a good thing with summer approaching. The revolving pan oven accommodates 24 18 x 26-inch pans at a time, and features both hearthstone and rack-type surfaces for a variety of baking. Meck has hearthstones for all the surfaces, but is still playing with the arrangement. The surfaces rotate within the oven kind of like a ferris wheel, allowing for continuous baking. When one product is done, that rack is rotated to the front and the trays removed. Including the two deck ovens, total capacity is 30 pans at a time.
      Quality is paramount to Meck's operation. "We use high grade stuff, and quality ingredients, and most everything is made from scratch. We don't worry so much about the price, but about quality," he added. "We roast our own beef, because I wasn't satisfied with what I could buy."
      Speaking of meats, the deli at Meck's stocks a goodly selection of cheeses and meats, including pastrami and hard salami, "Which is hard to get around here," Meck stated. Homemade barbecue, butter, canned chow-chow, pickled beets and vegetables are also available. Lunch specials and deli sandwiches are for sale, too. The deli accounts for about one-third of their business. Obviously, the quality has something to do with it.
      Retail space is about 25% of the 2000 square foot operation. Everything is bright, shiny and welcoming. Homemade throw rugs, jellies and cookbooks are on display. You can even buy an official Meck's apron. The baked goods are right by the door when you walk in.
      And if they could bottle the aroma of their fresh-baked goods, James and Karen Meck could retire early.

 

Aye, That's the rub

Massage therapists buck the trend in Marlinton

In Conjunction with WVU and Marshall

Snowshoe Mountain announces the first ever
SnowShoe Institute to be held this summer

Broker's Corner

 
Things to consider when you are buying property at SnowShoe
Beverly Regester Figg, GRI
Contributing Writer
      Are you buying property for investment purposes or are you looking for a second home?
      Do you want to put your property on a rental management program to help cover some of the costs of your investment?
      If you do want to rent your property, how many weeks will you want to set aside for personal use?
      How much space and how many bedrooms do you want in your mountain property?
      Do you prefer a ski-in/ski-out location or are you looking for a private retreat?
      What is a comfortable price range?
      All these questions need to be considered and are the things your real estate agent will need to know to help you find a property that will fulfill your needs.
      There are many mountaintop vacation condominiums to choose from in all price ranges. The selection of year round homes is more limited. Many purchasers are buying lots in and around the resort with the plans of building in the future or buying purely for speculation. Lots that are available within Snowshoe Mountain Resort have water and sewer hook-ups available and are generally priced considerably higher than lots located outside the resort's boundaries.
      There are even more questions and considerations when buying land.
      Most of the lots for sale in the Snowshoe area are located in neighborhoods that have covenants and restrictions. Purchasers should ask about minimum square footage requirements, availability of electrical service (the closest connection), average cost of well and septic installation and what the annual maintenance fees are and what they cover. What recourse does the buyer have if water can't be found? Most experienced real estate agents can help a buyer answer these questions and concerns and help purchasers prepare an offer that addresses the important issues involved with making a purchase.
      As with any purchase, there are certain risks involved. It seems that most of the property owners in the Snowshoe area are pleased with their investments, and many owners are repeat buyers.
      If you are ready to take the leap, call on one of our local realty companies to give you a private tour of some of our unique mountain opportunities. Beverly Figg is with Keith Realty at Snowshoe Mountain.

Discover a SnowShoe Mountain Summer
      While many people think of Snowshoe Mountain only as the region’s premier winter recreation area, the Pocahontas County four-season resort also offers a full menu of outdoor recreational activities and events during the summer and fall.
      Discover why so many people travel to the scenic Allegheny Mountains of south central West Virginia each summer and fall.
      "Whether you’re seeking the thrill of mountain biking or looking to play the best mountain golf course in the region, we have something for you," said Bruce Pittet, Snowshoe's General Manager. "We're excited about our new outdoor adventure program that features everything from horseback riding to a skeet shooting range."
      Snowshoe Mountain conducts events throughout the summer and fall including the region's largest chili cook-off, a symphony festival weekend, the region's largest Bluegrass Festival in July, mountain biking camps and races and the Autumn Blues Festival.
      "Besides enjoying the cool, scenic mountains during the summer and fall, we our guests to be entertained by exciting events," said Pittet. Snowshoe Mountain is the hub of Pocahontas County tourism and visitors can easily branch out from the resort into the county and discover many of the area's attractions and amenities.

Excitement? Yeah, we got that

Snowshoe Mountain summer outdoor adventure programs
      Officials with the state’s largest private outdoor recreational area have expanded its Outdoor Adventure Program. Guests visiting Snowshoe Mountain this summer will be able to create their own mountain adventures, from leisurely hikes and chair lift rides to skeet shooting.
      The Snowshoe Outdoor Adventure Program encompasses such activities as mountain biking, sporting clay range, BMX racing, climbing, hiking, a skatepark, six-wheel ATV Tours, flyfishing school and guide service and many other amenities. The program's facilities will be available all summer long beginning June 1 and activity passes may be purchased for individual disciplines, as a five-activity pack or a pass to the entire network of activities.
      The program features a scenic backcountry cabin, "Sunrise Country Hut," that is available for guests for overnight camping. The cabin lies deep in the woods along the new Cheat Mountain Ridge Trail in the southeast portion of the resort’s 11,000 acres.
      "We wanted to offer overnight lodge-style adventures in the resort’s wilderness region," said Terri Shettle, Director of the Adventure Program. "The cabin is a great place to get away from everyday life and get back to nature."
      Rustic tent sites are also located near the backcountry cabin.
      The scenic lift rides will occur everyday on the Ballhooter Lift, one of the resort's detachable high-speed quad lifts located on the eastern basin of the Snowshoe area. From June 1 through Labor Day, visitors will be able to descend 800 feet in altitude to Shavers Lake.
      Lift ride prices will be $6 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Guests will load the lift at the summit of Snowshoe Mountain.
 

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

Pamela Pritt
Managing Editor
      They really don't want to have to do their jobs.
      But only because if they have to do their jobs, someone's in trouble.
      Just in case, the Shavers Fork Fire Rescue Squad trains relentlessly, preaches prevention and maintains a presence at Snowshoe Mountain with over 50 volunteers who work in nearly every aspect of the resort's operation.
      In terms of responsibility, the squad watches out for only 11% of the county's day-to-day population. But when the resort is at full capacity, 10,000 people depend on Shavers Fork Fire Rescue Squad. Only six cities in West Virginia have more population.
      And with houses in its area of first response clustered ever closer together, not to mention condominiums galore, the squad keeps vigil over 3000 of the county's 7600 housing units.
      "If something comes up, we're on top of it," said Fire Chief Drum Figg. "Everybody's a lifesaver." That's where training comes in.
      And it's not just training for the effort to save lives and houses. It's fitness training for the squad so that everyone who goes out on call is physically capable of the task at hand.
      Plans for the new 13,000 square foot fire station to be located near the Silver Creek entrance include a fully-equipped fitness center so that volunteers will have plenty of room for daily workouts.
      The fire station will also have men's and women's quarters, day room and kitchen, and bays for the ambulances and fire trucks.
      Squad members are voted on after a 90-day probationary period. Fitness, as well as knowledge, counts.
      The squad's newest addition is a $700,000 wonder on wheels with a ladder that will reach up to 110 feet in the air and is fully articulating.
      That means in the event of a fire high in the village, firefighters will be able to control the blaze.
      The big truck wasn't in use last week when a chimney fire broke out on South West Ridge Road. The squad had two trucks and an ambulance at the scene and the fire out in 12 minutes after the initial call at 5:23 a.m.
      But maybe Mother Nature also had a hand in saving nine lives and a duplex.
      During the evening, a black bear visited the family after they had grilled burgers outside. They didn't get a picture of the first visit, but they didn't give up.
      Neither did the bear.
      Every hour or so the family was awakened by strange noises they were sure was their hungry visitor, but they weren't able to get him on camera.
      At 5:20 a.m., they were certain they had him, but found a smoke-filled room instead. With some reluctance, since the bear was outside, they opened the door and the fire progressed.
      Fire Captain Ron Bailey assisted the family members to a hotel and told the kids it was "Smokey the Bear" looking out for them, easing the tension of a panicked family.
      According to Figg, that's what the squad and the resort as a whole is about -making sure families have a great vacation even if they have trouble.
      But it's not just fighting the fires that's on their minds each Tuesday as they drill. It's prevention. Thus, chimney checks and education, the venue of Greg Thomas, are routine at the resort.
      This year, the squad has responded to eight fires, most of them in dumpsters or cars. But they're responded to countless bumps, scrapes, sprains and breaks in their EMS capacity.
      Take Landon Marshall, EMS Chief. She recently used the Heimlich maneuver to stop a man from choking on a piece of meat in Yodeler's Pub. She was in the right place at the right time -which is what makes the difference for Shavers Fork Fire Rescue Squad. Volunteers are everywhere guests are everyday.
      "We owe it to our guests to give them the e-ticket," Figg said. "We're here for families. This is their vacation. This is their time."
      "The nice thing about Intrawest is it's a family,' Figg said. That means property owners are on the squad's executive board and so are members of Intrawest management.
      The great thing about Shavers Fork Fire Rescue Squad is they're there when you need them. Every time.
      "We'll risk our lives to save your life one hundred percent of the time," Drum said. "Heck, we'll risk our lives to save your cat eight percent of the time."