If you’ve ever tried to teach a five-year-old how to ride a rope tow, you know the struggle. The slipping gloves, the panicked grabbing, and the inevitable tears before you’ve even made it up the hill—it’s a rite of passage for ski families, but it’s definitely not the fun part.
That is why I am absolutely thrilled to share some fantastic news out of Franklin, New Hampshire. The Veterans Memorial Recreation Area—affectionately known as "The Vets"—has just debuted a brand new magic carpet lift!
A Game-Changer for Beginners
For decades, this beloved community hill relied on a rope tow and T-Bar to get skiers up the slopes. While nostalgic, those surface lifts can be incredibly intimidating for new skiers and riders. The new magic carpet changes everything. It allows for simple, stress-free loading and unloading, meaning your kids can save their energy for actually skiing down the hill rather than fighting to get up it.
This addition is part of a larger evolution at The Vets, driven by a dedicated team of volunteers and community members. It’s exactly the kind of grassroots effort we love to see.
Why We Love The Vets (And Your Wallet Will Too)
Let’s be real: skiing is expensive. While we all dream of big family trips to bucket-list destinations like Telluride—which holds an impressive 72.9/100 on ShredIndex and is worth it if you can find accommodation—sometimes you just need a low-stress, affordable day on the snow.
The Vets offers incredible value for families:
- Lift Tickets: Typically cost around $15 on Thursday nights.
- Free Weekends: Thanks to generous sponsors, weekend skiing is often free!
- Activities: Beyond the 10 trails and 230-foot vertical drop, they have a sledding/tubing hill and a frozen pond for ice skating.
Gear Essentials for Magic Carpet Days
Even on a small hill, keeping the kids warm and safe is priority number one. Here are a few things I never leave home without when taking beginners out:
- A Good Helmet: Safety first, always. I love the Smith Glide Jr. Helmet for its adjustable fit and warmth.
- Hand Warmers: Cold fingers lead to meltdowns. Keep a pack of HotHands Hand Warmers in your pocket just in case.
- Ski Trainer Harness: If they are graduating from the carpet to the T-Bar eventually, a Lucky Bums Ski Trainer Harness is a back-saver for parents.
More New Lifts Across New Hampshire
The Vets isn't the only spot getting an upgrade. It’s been a busy season for New Hampshire ski areas:
- Bretton Woods & Pats Peak: Both opened new quad chairlifts.
- King Pine: Added a magic carpet to their tubing area.
- Loon Mountain: Added a new surface lift for beginners.
- Whaleback: Debuted a new surface lift just this week.
- Waterville Valley: Wrapping up their T-Bar project.
How You Can Help
The Vets is a non-profit effort, and they are currently fundraising to replace their aging T-Bar. If you want to support affordable family skiing, consider donating to their project. It takes a village to raise a skier!
See you on the slopes, Emma
