Turkey is History....now on to WINTER

Haven't made a contribution for a while so it is time for an update......even tho I have no pics.

All the hardware for the chairlift is installed. All the towers have been aligned. Yesterday the guys installed all the counterweight cable. Today, Tuesday, the gang is putting all the haul rope (the large steel cable that carries the chairs) over all the tower sheaves and bull wheels. The gentleman from Missouri that splices the cable is flying into Boone Airport Thursday and will splice the rope on the same day. Then some more small stuff will be installed. On Monday December 15 the engineer from Spokane Washington will fly in and we will do all the tests in his presence.........meaning the following weekend if all goes as planned.....and it probably will......we will be using this lift. Yeah!

Made some snow Sunday night but blew a water line at 11 pm and had to shut down to dig it up and make repairs. Repairs were done yesterday and snowmaking commenced at 4 pm and by 7 pm last night the temps had dropped enough that the guns were maxed out with water......til 7 am this morning when we had to start throttling back and then shutdown about 8 this morning.

Does NOT look like snowmaking temps tonite......but Wednesday night and Thursday during the day and Thursday night and Friday during the day and Friday night.............all look good for continuous snowmaking.

The rails are almost all cleaned up and ready to be put out. Setting another light pole on top today.......moving the final dirt for unloading the new chair today and tomorrow.....so things are getting wrapped up and ready to open........

.......speaking of opening.....we are TRYING........emphasis on TRYING .....to have Abbys Alley and the School Yard ready for this Sunday, December 7........but check our web or call before you come......cause it isn't for sure yet........then we will concentrate on getting Freeway covered so we can use the new lift and getting at least the bottom of the Drop Zone covered so we can access the park via Abbys Alley ......ASAP.

We'll keep you updated via emails, web, blog and voice mail on our phone system.

We have our Friday after Five this friday night........another Jimmy Buffet night......FUN...

Ordering new clothing today at noon so it should be available in a week or two.

More later....oh yeah, lots of snow flurries in the forecast too.....and KCCI this morning made a slight mention of watching a sizable system that might hit us next Monday.

Keep it white.....

Couple comments

Well......the sixth and final tower was set in place yesterday. Today the comm line is being installed that goes from top to bottom for all the safety communications. Getting closer to being FINISHED! Good chance the cable will be installed and spliced the week after Thanksgiving.

Tried to make snow last night but didn't get very cold til about sunrise. Made a little but not much. Looks like Saturday night will be snowmaking temps again.

Keep it White!

Progress in the midst of a snowstorm

Wow, ended up being more than a few flurries Saturday. Think we ended up with about three inches at Seven Oaks. Not enough to open on it's own but sure made things white.........and tough to work in which we did anyway. Maybe it is an indicator as to what this winter is going to be like. Snapped a couple pics during the heavy snow.

Like I said, even though the heavy snow was was coming down, we went ahead and put a few more things up for the chairlift! Got the top bull wheel installed and all the required hardware plus towers one and two. It was just too slick to get the equipment up the hill to set tower three........but that should still happen this week. Worked again Sunday putting the hoops around the towers. The hoops keep the chairs from ever swinging into the towers when the lift is operating.

Have a private party Friday night in the lodge and then a big fundraiser in the lodge Saturday night.

Looks like snowmaking temps again Saturday night after Thanksgiving..........might even get more snow made tomorrow night and maybe Tuesday night........we'll see and I'll let you know via the blog if we do.

Remember to get your date picked for your group's winter outing-------reservations are coming in on a regular basis now.

More later..........keep it white!

Surprise !

It started last night and is still going on this morning. Yep.......making snow! According to the forecast temps won't allow much more snowmaking the next few days but it is a start.

You can see our additional chairlift in the background of photo 2
At Seven Oaks we start each season with a single snowflake and end with a thousand memories!

Keep it White!

It keeps coming together

Quick note - Power room was set in place on top of the gantry today and the counterweight was moved into position. Then the day was filled with lots of other small components being bolted into place. More news tomorrow.....

Another Chairlift Update

Progress continues........

Monday November 17 - towers 4, 5, and 6 were set in place......see pics

Tuesday November 18 - the holes were dug for the top bull wheel tower and strut

Wednesday November 19 - 30 yards of concrete were poured around the top bull wheel tower and strut..........30 YARDS - thats four concrete truck loads --- BIG....and the last of the concrete pouring for this project!

Tomorrow we plan to set the motor room on top of the gantry and then start setting the last three towers. Stay tuned...

A couple quick notes

• the summer canoe, kayak and tube floats are finished for the year. Paintball continues.
• this friday night is our November Friday after Five - with wine tasting, cheese sampling and live music
• last week and thru the weekend, all the tower bases were set in place and concrete poured, just like tower one; another huge block of concrete was poured on Saturday for the corner opposite the counterweight, the top bull wheel new bearings and main shaft were re-installed, tower one was made ready to stand in place......and more.
• looks like this week tower one will be set in place and bolted; the power room will be lifted on top of the gantry and the counterweight, all 30,000+ pounds of it, will be set in place as well. We'll try to get some new pics this Saturday.
• staff is getting everything ready for the winter season this week as well. All the new signs for the lifts and park were ordered to be consistent with the new standard.
• several events taking place at the lodge this week and weekend also.
• See you friday night!