Stateside Comes into its Own
The new Stateside Lodge at Jay Peak Resort
If you’re a longtime Jay Peaker, you probably spent sometime in the old Stateside Base Lodge. Positioned at the bottom of the Stateside area (near the Jet triple and Bonaventure Quad), the old lodge was well-broken in thanks to 50 years of use, and while it had a level of nostalgia, the building was tired and even a little … on the smelly side. It came down in 2013 to make way for a brand new 85-room hotel and base lodge.
Some friends and I spent the weekend at Jay earlier this month, and we spent the majority of our time on the Stateside part of the mountain, taking steeps runs of the Jet, and hitting the powder in the trees in Timbuktu while the snow was killer. We hit the skiing and riding hard in the morning, making the most of some ridiculously good snow. It was cold though, and by 1 p.m. everyone needed a break, for fuel, bathrooms and to warm up our toes. The new Stateside Lodge, with ski-in, ski-out access, had all that we were seeking. And we weren’t the only ones to enjoy the amenities—the place was packed! A full-service Bullwheel Bar and fast-moving bartenders kept skiers and riders happy and mellow. Downstairs you can find affordable cafeteria-style food (I scored a slice of pizza and a yogurt parfait for less than $7) as well as Howie’s, a restaurant with satisfying fare –paninis, poutine, chowder and the like. In the base area there was plenty of space for helmets, jackets, and other gear, providing a place for day trippers to get ready and store their stuff for the day. (I’ve got to hand it to Jay for offering a free place to store your gear; finding quarters for those tiny lockers can be a real pain in the butt.)
It’s nice to see the new Stateside area hit its stride. We’re creatures of habit; I typically start out Tramside when at Jay. But after this trip, I think my habits will change. With a climbing wall and independent movie theater coming to Stateside soon too, I’ll have even more reasons to break my routine.
Coming soon to Stateside at Jay Peak Resort
By Sky Barsch. Sky is a writer and editor in Montpelier, Vt. Her passions are mountains, trails, traveling and food, plus her adorable powderhound, Siena.
