News/Press

Legacy Fund Breaks Ground for Memorial to the Old Man of the Mountain - 2010
Franconia Notch- Construction of a monument to the Old Man of the Mountain officially began today, as a ceremonial groundbreaking launched Phase One of the project that is expected to be completed this fall.  Wielding sledgehammers, a group of six people ceremonially began the removal of the grass island to make way for a granite plaza and the unique “Profilers” that will point toward the cliff where the Old Man stood until its collapse on May 3, 2003.
    George Bald, Commissioner of the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development; Dick Hamilton, chair of the Legacy Fund; Dave Nielsen, former caretaker of the Old Man of the Mountain; Frank Grima, president of the Franconia Area Chamber of Commerce; and Ron Magers and Shelly Bradbury, designers of the monument, represented the public-private partnership that has worked for seven years to provide a fitting memorial for New Hampshire’s official symbol.
     The planned memorial design by Magers and Bradbury was announced in early 2007 after a public design competition.  Magers and Bradbury displayed a proto-type of the Profilers to demonstrate the principle of their design.  By sighting along the edge of these rods, viewers can align the random shapes on the rod to "see" a composite outline of the Old Man of the Mountain in the former location of the stone face.  Phase one will include the erection of seven of these stainless steel "profilers" or metal rods, on granite bases at the shore of Profile Lake, and a landscaped plaza with benches and engraved pavers.  Major supporters for the project include McDonalds Restaurants of New Hampshire, Mount Washington Resort, Woodsville Guaranty Bank, Ocean Bank, Littleton Coin Company, and Richard Gould.  Swenson Granite of Concord will supply only New Hampshire-quarried granite for the monument.
     Phases Two and Three of the planned memorial include a gateway honoring those who worked to preserve and protect the Old Man, and five large standing stones that, when viewed in alignment, form the profile of New Hampshire's signature emblem.  “This first phase will cost about $200,000,” said Hamilton, “and we encourage supporters to order an engraved granite paver to be part of the memorial and help fund the project.”  Pavers purchased by Labor Day will be installed in this first phase, according to Hamilton, which should be completed in October.
     Plans for the other two components of the monument have been scaled back from the original projections of $5 million,” said Hamilton, “and we hope that this first phase will spur new interest in completion of the entire project.”
     According to a March, 2010 visitor analysis by the Institute for New Hampshire Studies at Plymouth State University, the planned memorial to the Old Man of the Mountain could draw an estimated 20,000 more visitors annually, with additional spending by these travelers of $1.7 million.
     The Legacy Fund has raised about $650,000 to date, and has funded the annual Profile Awards since 2004, and a new exhibit, “The Story of the Old Man of the Mountain,” that opened in the Cannon Mountain’s Tramway building in 2009.
     Those who wish to remember the Old Man and purchase a paver can order one at the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund’s website.  Pavers may be purchased in three different sizes, to be engraved with the purchaser's name or remembrances.  The sale of pavers was announced last month at ceremonies marking the seventh anniversary of the Old Man's fall on May 3, 2003. For more information on the memorial, or to purchase a personalized paver, visit this website.

TYLER WALKER WINS MONO SKIER X GOLD in Aspen, Colo. - Jan. 2009 
Right from the beginning, it was clear the Mono Skier X title was going to be Tyler Walker's (Franconia, N.H.).  The New Hampshire native took the lead out of the gates and as his other competitors struggled, Walker pulled away to claim the gold.  View entire article 

TYLER WALKER WORLD DOWNHILL CHAMPION
Tyler Walker of the US Adaptive Ski Team, won the World Championship for Downhill last week at the World Cup Finals held at Whistler, BC. A field of 130 athletes from 30 countries competed at the World Cup Finals sponsored by the IPC (International Olympic Committee). The finals are usually held at the Olympic venue in the year preceding the Paralympics. Click here for full story

TYLER WALKER WINS WORLD CUP DOWNHILL Sestrere, Italy
Following two days of heavy snow and cancellation of training and race runs, Tyler Walker (sit-ski; Franconia, N.H.) won the IPC World Cup downhill on January 21, leading five U.S. Adaptive Alpine Ski Team athletes into the top 10.  Read full article here 

MOUNTAIN VIEW GRAND RESORT & SPA receives 3 Awards- 2008
Mountain View Spa was recently named among the top five resort spas by the highly respected Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The 14-room spa received a score of 97.0 out of 100 for Service, making it the highest ranked on the list of 54 of the best resort spas in North America and the Caribbean.  Click here for the full story.

NEW HAMPSHIRE TO*DO MAGAZINE- Oct. 2008
Lovett's Inn is the focus of a featured article titled "Lovett's Inn- Something to Write Home About", that includes grand historic details and the touches and talents brought to the Inn by these owners since 1998. Featured on the second page is a "need to know" insert regarding accommodations, area highlights and a thorough list of attractions, places to visit and things to do in the Franconia Notch Region. www.nhtodo.com

NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND JOURNEY MAGAZINE- Sept/Oct.
Feature article by George Geers of Concord titled "Fall Around Franconia". The article features the famous 100 mile loop and lists Robert Frost Museum, the Iron furnace, Polly's Pancake Parlor, Sugar Hill Sampler, the Rocks Estate, the Cog Railway, Cannon Tramway and the New England Ski Museum as "must stop" places before travelers and leaf peepers move on to Route 302 toward Bretton Woods and Crawford Notch.

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL NEWS
An article by Craig Davis, "Must Visits", If You Go: New Hampshire- includes kudos to the Franconia Notch State Park; Cannon Mt., Flume Gorge, and Aerial Tramway. Also the Mt. Washington Cog Railway and the best lodging deal the author found: Kinsman Lodge, run by the Thompson family since 1906 and highlighted Sue Thompson's homemade granola and pumpkin muffins- with the cozy amenities, of course!

BED AND BREAKFAST.COM- July 2008
Sunset Hill House was selected by BedandBreakfast.com editors as one of the best undiscovered inns for fall foliage trips. "Sunset Hill House has always been one of our favorite fall foliage destinations", stated Sandy Soule, Editor of BedandBreakfast.com- one of the most highly recognized authors in the B&B industry.

MONTREAL GAZETTE- June 2008
Adair Country Inn and Restaurant was the Inn of choice for an article titled "Grand Estate in the White Mountains Feels Like Home". The last two paragraphs are about our exceptional region, Franconia Notch attractions and our annual Lupine Festival.

YANKEE MAGAZINE- June 2008
Sugar Hill is listed as one of the top 10 prettiest New Hampshire towns in an article; "A Sampler of New England's Prettiest Towns" with a wonderful photo of lupine varieties by Leslie Grima of Pine Needle Card Company.