Clematis currently in full bloom at the Birch Ridge Inn

Clematis currently in full bloom at the Birch Ridge Inn

Late May and early June can be unique times in Killington. Summer weather is starting to get established. Everything starts to quickly either flower of turn green to take advantage of a short growing season. Even though the number of guests in the area is relaxed from the winter, the amount of work innkeepers and other business owners need to do to maintain their businesses usually goes up. This year has been no exception.

While I have not written a blog in a couple of weeks, the ground work has been laid for a summer full of activity. We have had a slightly above average number of guests at the inn this June. The sense we are getting, which is not necessarily a reflection of reality for those who do not live in a resort town, is that the economy is starting to turn for the better. Only time will tell. But we have heard optimism in conversation with our recent guests, where 12 to 18 months ago the mood was definitely more pessimistic.

Most of my spare time has been spent coordinating the efforts for the Ninth Annual Killington Wine Festival which will take place this year on the weekend of July 16-18th. Last years festival brought about 500 people into Killington for the events held over the weekend. This year we are planning on similar numbers. I am sure you will be hearing more about the Wine Festival in the next couple of weeks.

Mary and I have also spent a fair amount of time developing plans to support the 2 large golf tournaments in town in July and August. The first tournament, the week of July 5th, is the New England Women's Golf Association(NEWGA) Championship at Green Mountain National. Mary is on the tournament committee and is responsible for "Hospitality". Over a hundred women from around New England, plus some of their spouses and friends, are expected in Killington the first week of July. It should be a busy week.

The second tournament, the week of August 2nd, is the American Junior Golf Association(AJGA) Killington Junior Golf Championship. While that is taking place at Green Mountain National, the Vermont Junior Open will be taking place at the Killington Resort Golf Course. Both events will bring in around 200 junior golfers to Killington, with their parents and siblings. While Mary has focused on NEWGA, I have been communicating with AJGA to develop opportunities where we can participate.

Throw in plans to open the restaurant at the inn at the end of next week and hiring a new innkeepers assistant (our current assistant, Mickalyn, is due to have her baby in August), and you start to wonder what happened to the spring hiatus. It is good to be busy....

Where every you may find yourself, keep it in the fairway and don't forget the sunscreen.