LUDLOW, Vt. — As we stood by the fire at the base of Okemo Mountain, a spotlight emerged from above. Like a ship plowing through a foggy evening our snow limo heaved out of the darkness. Somewhere up on the mountain, a five-course tasting dinner awaited.
Climbing aboard the cushy snowcat, 16 of us departed for Epic. The mountain’s daytime restaurant transforms into an intimate dining room on Saturday nights. The nocturnal ride up trails and through tunnels on a tricked-out groomer took a mere 10 minutes, but the transition from one world to another was magical, punctuated with headlight glimpses of frozen creeks and snow-draped trees.
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Why did you ignore Sugarloaf in Maine - the largest ski area east of the Rockies? They too have an excellent evening gourmet dining experience about 2/3 of the way up the mountain at a large, but rustic in a way that is compatible with the rest of the mountain, facility named Bullwinkles. For the evening dining experience it is reached by a snow cat which is a totally memorable experience, especially during periods of a full moon. During skiing hours Bullwinkles is open for lunch and other refreshments - especially their much renowned "cheap wings" and COLD draft beer.