WE SEE TODAY, WHICH IS DEFINITELY AN UP.
♪ AUDREY: TENNEY MOUNTAIN OF PLYMOUTH IS EXPERIENCING A REVIVAL.
>> WHEN YOU COME TO TENNEY, YOU GET AN ORIGINAL UNIQUELY AMERICAN SKI AREA.
AUDREY: ALESSANDRO INSOLIA IS A 32-YEAR-OLD ENTREPRENEUR WHO HAS NEVER OWNED A SKI RESORT BEFORE, BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP HIM, HIS MOM AND HIS SISTER FROM BUYING TENNEY MOUNTAIN IN 2015.
>> I FIND SOMETHING THAT EVEN IF I DON’T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS, I WILL RESEARCH IT.
IF IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE IN THE LONG RUN, THEN I WILL LEARN ABOUT IT AND THAT IS MY NEW ENDEAVOR.
AUDREY: THIS NEW ENDEAVOR NOT EXACTLY SMOOTH TERRAIN WHEN ALESSANDRO GOT HIS FIRST LOOK AT THE PROPERTY.
TENNEY HAD BEEN VANDALIZED, EQUIPMENT WAS RUSTED, BANGED UP YES, BUT NOT BROKEN.
>> IF YOU CAN IMAGINE YOUR BACKYARD LEFT FOR FIVE YEARS.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF GROWTH, A BIT OF A DISASTER.
WITH THE MOUNTAIN AND RAIN STORMS, RIVERS ARE CREATED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES.
THERE ARE 900 ACRES HERE.
WE HOPE WE CAN EXPAND THE LIFTS, EXPAND THE TRAILS.
THERE IS A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT WE CAN DO TO OFFER MORE AMENITIES ON THE MOUNTAIN ITSELF.
>> SHOCKING.
IT WAS AN ABANDONED SKI AREA, HASN’T BEEN TOUCHED IN 10 YEARS.
AUDREY: GENERAL MANAGER MICHAEL BLANCHARD IS AN ENGINEER, NOT A SKIER, BUT WITH A SCIENTIFICALLY TRAINED EYE, HE CAN SEE THE POTENTIAL.
IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME RUNNING A SKI AREA?
>> 100% FIRST TIME.
I DON’T EVEN SKI.
AUDREY: NO SIR.
>> JUST LEARNED LAST YEAR.
KNOWING IT WAS AN ABANDONED AREA AND WHAT ALLESSANDRO’S FAMILY IS TRYING TO DO AND TO ACCOMPLISH BY BRINGING IT BACK ON WAS VERY INTERESTING. DURATION,0:07.
AUDREY: TENNEY HAS A RICH PAST WHEN IT COMES TO SKIING, MORE THAN 60 YEARS IN FACT.
IN 1953, SAM HALL, A LAND SURVEYOR FROM RHODE ISLAND, CAME TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER SERVING IN THE 10 MOUNTAIN DIVISION IN EUROPE DURING WORLD WAR II.
HALL AND HIS PARTNER BOUGHT 400 ACRES AND BEGAN CLEARING THE LAND, CARVING OUT TRAILS, THEY BUILT A ROPE TOW AND T BAR, OFFICIALLY OPENING THE MOUNTAIN IN 1960.
>> THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF.
AUDREY: HANK HAS WORKED HERE FOR YEARS.
>> YOU NAME IT, I WILL DO IT.
YOU WANT CARS PARKED, I WILL DO IT, YOU WANT THE DRIVEWAY PLOWED , YOU WANT TICKETS CHECK.
WE DO A LOT OF STUFF.
>> I HAVE SEEN PARENTS BRING THEIR KIDS, AND NOW I AM SEEING TURNAROUND IS AMAZING AND THE HAPPINESS IN FAMILY ATMOSPHERE.
I ENJOY THAT A LOT.
AUDREY: THE REOPENING OF TENNEY HAS BEEN GRADUAL.
THE TWO BEING -- TUBING PARK OPEN FIRST.
THERE ARE 48 TRAILS OPEN, SOME, STEEP AND NARROW, GLADES OFFER EXPERT SKIERS A CHANCE TO SKI PEACEFULLY AMONG THE TREES, AND WHILE THE TENNEY RESORT MAY APPEAR TO BE SMALL, THERE IS A
LOT OF ROOM TO GROW.
>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE ASPECTS TO THE MOUNTAIN, NOT ONLY ARE THIS GREAT HISTORIC SKI MOUNTAIN, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP 900 ACRES THE WE HAVE SURROUNDING THE MOUNTAIN.
♪ AUDREY: THE TRIP TO THE TOP ON THE DOUBLE CHAIR LIFT, A FIXED GRIP DOUBLE CULT OF THE HORNET, IT IS A SLOW 15 MINUTE JOURNEY.
THIS PARTICULAR LIFT WAS BUILT IN 1962.
IT IS 1.2 MILES TO GET TO THE TOP AND WE PASSED THROUGH TO TOWNS, PLYMOUTH AND GROTON.
BUT RIDERS ARE TREATED TO STUNNING VIEWS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION.
>> I REALLY LIKE IT.
IT IS BIGGER THAN I EXPECTED AND NOT TOO BUSY.
I THINK IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME AND I AM DEFINITELY COMING AGAIN.
♪ AUDREY: INSIDE THE BACK COUNTRY BAR AND GRILL BECKONS SKIERS, SNOWBOARDERS AND LOCALS LOOKING FOR A QUICK BITE TO EAT.
HEAD CHEF JOHN RICHARD HAS WORKED IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN THE PLYMOUTH AREA FOR 35 YEARS.
>> LIKE EVERYONE HAS THEIR STORY FROM TENNEY, SO MY OLDER CHILDREN USED TO COME HERE TUBING 20 YEARS AGO.
ITS A BIT OF A PUB MENU BUT WE HAVE ENTREES, WE HAVE FUN THINGS LIKE RAMEN NOODLE BOWLS WITH FRESH INGREDIENTS, PASTA , BURGERS, SANDWICHES AND FRESH SALADS.
AUDREY: THE FUTURE VISION FOR TENNEY IS BIG, BEYOND THE SKI AREA THERE ARE PLANS TO BUILD ADDITIONAL HOMES, AND TURN WHAT USED TO BE A WINTER ONLY RESORT, INTO A SUMMERTIME DESTINATION.
BUT FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE LONG CONSIDERED TENNEY THEIR MOUNTAIN, LOCALS OR HAVE IT -- ARE GLAD TO HAVE IT BACK FOR THE WINTER SEASON, AT LEAST FOR NOW.
>> WE CAN COMING UP HERE SINCE 1964, 1965, AND WE ALL LEARNED TO SKI AT THIS MOUNTAIN.
IT IS JUST A NICE FAMILY MOUNTAIN.
♪