Consider that Wildcat introduced its zip-line cable ride in 2007. The exhilarating half-mile descent - at heights up to 70 feet and speeds up to 45 miles an hour - was in such demand that the daily allotment of rides was often sold out before noon.
According to Tom Caughey, the general manager, "We sold almost every single ride available from day one." Wildcat proceeded to double ZipRider's capac ity from two cables to four last summer, allowing up to four riders at one time.
Many ski resorts in the Granite State are retrofitting their properties to add golf and other warm-weather pursuits. For a select few, though, summer has always been high season.
MOUNT WASHINGTON RESORT The Mount Washington is one of the last of the grand hotels, built around the turn of the 20th century. The imposing resort with the mountain as its backdrop opened in 1902 and has been host to presidents, celebrities, and history: The World Bank was established at an international monetary conference there in 1944. Nearby, Bretton Woods Ski Area holds the record for longest ski season in the state (183 days, from Nov. 10, 2004, to May 11, 2005). But for 97 years, before it was winterized in 1999, the resort shut down from late fall to spring.
Winterization has been accompanied by a summer revitalization. The resort's 27 holes of golf, 18 of them by legendary architect Donald Ross, have been restored and improved. A 25,000-square-foot spa just opened, and the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour debuted in December. One of the longest tours in the United States, it incorporates a series of suspension bridges and trails, and a ride-along guide provides history and descriptions of the region. The 3 1/2-hour tour concludes with the Williwaw Racing Zip, a 20-minute thrill ride (canopy tour $95, $89 for guests, reservations required; Williwaw ride only, $15). Route 302, Bretton Woods. 800-314-1752, 603-278-1000, www.mountwashingtonresort.com.
