Mammoth Lakes, Calif., Nov. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When Mammoth Mountain opens for skiing and snowboarding on November 8th visitors will be treated to a sneak peak of enhancements sure to please everyone from the littlest skier to mom & dad, foodies, and the biggest rippers to hit the halfpipe. Mammoth's many improvements will be unveiled in the coming weeks including a new terrain park ideal for beginners and children, daycare for infants, affordable family lift tickets and a host of new dining options that will satisfy nearly every taste. Skiers and riders will also find new features added to two of Mammoth's top rated terrain parks and new locales to recharge and connect at Main and Canyon lodges.
Unbound Takes Skiing and Riding to a New Level
Mammoth is renowned for its stellar terrain parks with a superpipe that's the first to open and last to close in North America.
This season, Mammoth Mountain is making it easy for beginning skiers and riders to get their first taste of what it's like to catch some air with the introduction of the new Unbound Playground Progression Park. It's an ideal introduction to terrain parks with approachable features that allow beginners to learn how to do tricks and master the rails and box slides. The gradual progression--from a few inches off the ground to big boy heights--allow snowboarders and skiers to learn at their own pace and move up to the next level of difficulty as they're ready for it. With smaller, low-risk features on the top that gradually give way to intermediate and medium sized features at the bottom, the progression park helps riders build the skills to go bigger. Instructional boards positioned throughout the park provide self-guided pointers and the parks secluded location lessens the intimidation factor. This is the place kids will want to hang out this winter and gives parents another reason to love Mammoth Mountain.
Also new this winter, two of the top-rated terrain parks in the country--Mammoth's Main Park and South Park--get even better with new high-end, urban-inspired features called the Downtown Collection.
New Improved Tube Park
A lot of work went on under the snow this summer to make a day a Woolly's Tube Park and Snow Play area even more fun for the family. Now with a gentler slope, kids of all ages are sure to enjoy the experience. Lifts whisk tubers to the top, where they can ride down one of six groomed lanes. Also new is an expanded snowplay area for the little ones with a carousel and plenty of space to climb small mountains of snow or build a snowman. Afterward, warm up by the heaters and sip hot cocoa.
Oh, Baby! Introducing Infant Care
Back by popular demand, The Village Day Care now offers infant care in addition to care for kids ages 2 to 6. Parents can leave their bundles of joy in the capable hands of the day care staff at the state licensed facility and then enjoy some time on the slopes or a night on the town. The day care's trained professionals are educated in the field of child development and have gone through background checks. Best of all, the new Mammoth Mountain Child Care is within walking distance of lodging in The Village, so parents can easily transport their little ones to the facility, dropping them off and picking them up with ease. Child and infant care is also available at Main Lodge.
$30 Kids Lift Tickets
Mammoth Mountain is giving parents' pocketbooks a much-needed break this winter by offering a $30 Kids Lift for kids 7-12. Children 6 and under are always free.
Recharge and Connect at OUTRIDE Cutting Rooms
After a day on the slopes, visitors can stop by mophie's OUTRIDE Cutting Rooms slopeside at Main and Canyon Lodge to recharge their electronic devices and upload, edit and share videos of their day on the mountain.
Skiers and boarders who get by with a little help from their friends now never have to worry that they'll lose track of their best buddies thanks to Mammoth Mountain's new mobile app. The app uses GPS to allow friends and family members to find each other on the slopes.
Mammoth Takes Flight on December 18th
Winter air service will resume to the Mammoth Lakes Yosemite airport from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco. For this winter the flights from San Diego and Orange County are more convenient with morning departures so skiers and boarders can hit the slopes by lunch. Los Angeles and San Francisco service will continue with two scheduled flights. The full schedule can be found at Mammothmountain.com/VacationPlanning/GettingHere/ByAir.
Taste of Mammoth: Local. Seasonal. Elevated
This winter Southern California's culinary scene finds a new mountain home at Mammoth Mountain when dining options invite guests to discover a variety of fresh flavors accented by local and seasonal fare.
The most anticipated culinary happening in the Eastern Sierra this winter is the opening of Campo Mammoth. Celebrated chef Mark Estee is bringing his popular restaurant to the Village at Mammoth with the addition of a vibrant après ski offering. Inspired by Estee's travels through the rural villages of Italy, Estee's cooking ethic ensures authentic flavors with hand-made authentic Neapolitan style pizza, catch-of-the-day seafood, hand-pressed pasta and pig dishes served in an establishment that is as much a gathering-place as a restaurant. The restaurant also features a kid friendly menu ideal for families.
Lakefront Restaurant, at Tamarack Lodge, also welcomes a new chef, new look and new menu when doors open on November 8th. Chef Michael Plapp will lead the kitchen at this long-time favorite for a special night out on the town with his style of seasonally inspired American cuisine.
At Main Lodge, the new Green V (formerly Broadway Bakery) is Mammoth's first and only 'wellness' concept featuring vegetarian, vegan and gluten free fare. Open for breakfast and lunch, Green V offers free trade & organic coffees and teas, fresh-squeezed juices, whole grain salads & pastas, and hearty soups. To satiate the sweet tooth, try our vegan ice cream or a grab a gluten free brownie.
The fresh approach will continue at all three on-mountain lodges with new menus including made-to-order pasta dishes, a redesigned soup station with more options including vegan chili, a new authentic Asian cuisine station, and an enhanced emphasis on kids' options. And for the coffee aficionados, illy will now be exclusively served at all locations.
Other new dining options:
- Fans of the Yodler, slopeside at Main Lodge, will want to head upstairs to its new Fondue Loft, serving chocolate, cheese and broth fondues daily.
- ChowNow or later: either way leave the cooking to us. This season skiers and snowboarders can take their favorite dishes from the Mill home by simply ordering from our app and swinging by the Mill on the way home for ready-to-eat hearty fare.
- Mammoth has refreshed the burrito snow cat with Little Mill, which will serve a variety of casual fare including pulled pork sliders.
Getting in the Holiday Spirit
Mammoth's holiday event, the Night of Lights, will add sparkle to Mammoth Lakes on December 22. A nearly 20-year-old tradition, the Night of Lights celebrates the magic of the holiday season with a winter lights show against the majestic backdrop of Mammoth's ski slopes. Guests of all ages are invited to ride the complimentary Village Gondola to Canyon Lodge where they can enjoy a fun-filled night complete with a firework show, torchlight parade, live music and more.
For more information about Mammoth Mountain, visit http://www.mammothmountain.com/
About Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.3 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail. Specific businesses owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village Lodge and Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes, California. For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit http://www.mammothmountain.com/">MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.
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