When J. Clifford Forrest purchased Glendorn and officially took
over Nov. 4, 2009, he wasted little time expanding upon the
resort’s recreational activities.
Forrest, who had stayed previously on the property with his
wife, Tracy, was familiar with the full array of summer activities
and thought expanding on the winter experience was necessary.
The resort boasts a vast trail system that spans 1,280 acres of
land. Hiking, biking, swimming, tennis and fishing dominate the
terrain in the summer and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and
sledding take over during the winter.
The fishing that takes place on-site at Glendorn occurs at
Bondieu, Jill or Skipper Lake. Because of its shallow depth and
close proximity with the core of the resort, Skipper Lake was
selected as the site of newest winter experience — curling.
“For now we are backyard curling,” Glendorn Activities Director
Damon Newpher said jokingly. “Skipper is a great location and it’s
the first time anyone has done anything on the ice.”
The lake is indeed a great location because on its shore resides
a log cabin used by the curlers for warming and hydrating, as some
curling games can last over two hours.
“The cabin at Skipper was originally called ‘the schoolhouse’
because it was used to tutor some of the Dorn children,” added
Newpher.
“We’re a lot more about fun than serious competition,” Newpher
said as he pointed out a paperback copy of Curling for Dummies at
Skipper’s cabin. “But we have also had some guests compete in
successful curling tournaments.”
The copy of “Curling for Dummies” may prove to be a valuable
tool as the game, which is claimed to have been invented in
Scotland, and can truly make you feel, as the book says, like a
dummy. For the guests and for Forrest as well, it was their first
time curling.
A typical curling game consists of two four-person rinks
(teams), with each rink throwing (sliding) eight rocks per “end” of
play. The rocks used for play usually weighs 42 pounds and cost
around $300 each.
Teams alternate turns and each player throws (slides) two
stones. Each end starts with the leads (first players) alternating
throws, followed by the seconds, then the thirds (more commonly
known as vice-skips) and finally the skips, who throw last, plot
strategy and study how the rocks move on the ice.
Sweepers take place in front of the gliding stones and affect
both direction and distance.
As for scoring, a team receives one point for each of their
rocks that are within the house (similar to a bull’s-eye) and are
closer to the center than any of the opposition’s stones. The team
that scores throws first in the next end.
The ice sheet played on is 15-feet wide and 138-feet long from
hack to hack (rubber foot rests where the curling delivery begins),
while the houses at each end are 12 feet in diameter, with rings of
8 feet, 4 feet and one foot (the button) painted into the ice.
In Glendorn’s case, Newpher placed a removable house onto the
ice and allowed more ice freeze to over it.
Newpher said in all the resort has between $12,000-$13,000
currently invested into the new curling equipment, which includes
lighting, rocks, brushes, houses, hacks and custom curling shoes.
One shoe has a Teflon sole made for sliding and the other, known as
the hack shoe, has a grip.
“When we are having our curling tournaments, we had everything
fully lit in the evening,” said Newpher. “It is real nice when we
have everything set up. Skipper Lake turns into a stadium with the
bonfire, warming hut with a wood-burning fireplace and of course
some of our house hot chocolate.”
For now, however, the ice on Skipper Lake has almost completely
dissipated like a child’s snowman at winter’s end, leaving only a
puddle and ending any chance of curling for the rest of the
season.
But next year should even be a better year for curling at
Glendorn, with the planned addition of a tow-behind ice resurfacing
machine for a much smoother playing sheet. The resurfacing machine
will also open the doors to ice skating on the lake.
Besides curling, also fresh to the resort are guided sledding
tours on any of the six new Polaris four-stroke snowmobiles. The
guest sleds are fully loaded with heated grips for the driver and
passenger, while bibs, jackets, gloves and helmets are provided as
well.
Two guide sleds were also purchased so each group could be
properly instructed.
Newpher added, “The snowmobiles were purchased from Charlie’s
Cycle Center and we try to do business with the community whenever
we can.”
“We provide all the gear needed for the rides and the four
stroke machines are good for the guests because they are quiet and
have less exhaust smell on the guests.”
Forrest said he would, “like the property’s sledding trails to
merge onto the national forest loop so that the tours can travel to
places like the Westline Inn or The Willows. We can go right out
the back gate of the property and hit the national forest.”
Other guided tours for sleigh rides, horseback riding, hunting,
hiking, fishing and pleasure boating are offered. Forrest said that
a 31-foot cabin boat available to guests for fishing and boating
was being docked this summer at the Wolf Run Marina on the
Allegheny Reservoir. The planned purchase of four new drift boats
will also help expand the Glendorn fleet.
“Damon’s fishing program is world-class,” noted Forrest. “The
fishing on-site, as well as on the Allegheny and Clarion rivers is
as nice as fishing found in a place like Montana.”
Unlike most resorts, pets are welcomed and almost all of the
activities available are complimentary with overnight reservations.
Additionally unique to the recreational activities are
paddle-boating, canoeing, kayaking and a trap and skeet shooting
range.
For more information on the variety of other recreational
activities the resort offers, visit the Web site at www.glendorn.com or contact the
resort.
