Lyndon Outing Club Is Keeping Winter Recreation Fun And Accessible For All Vermonters
Vermont is known across the country for its world-class winter recreation, with ski resorts found in all corners and mountaintops of the Green Mountain State. They say Vermont kids learn to walk on skis, in fact, as this sport is a celebrated part of the state’s very culture. However, in recent years, this pastime has become more exclusive for American skiers — and less accessible for Vermonters. Inflated rates, long lines, and overbooked resorts have become all too common in Vermont, putting this popular activity out of reach for many. And this is where Lyndon Outing Club, a Vermont ski club, enters the picture.
Established in 1937 by a group of local ski enthusiasts, Lyndon Outing Club was once the celebrated epicenter of winter recreation in the Green Mountain State. This ski club in Lyndonville, Vermont, was home to a competition ski jump and once served as training grounds for Olympic ski hopefuls, and has hosted sled dog races, snow sculpture contests, and slalom races. Today, however, Lyndon Outing Club serves a much more noble — and necessary — function: providing quality, affordable, family-friendly outdoor recreation experiences to all.
Every year, something marvelous happens in the Northeast: a sequence of seasonal sea changes.
The spectacular fall foliage that paints states like Vermont, New York, and Maine in gold, pumpkin, scarlet, and copper hues begin to dim, making way for an equally resplendent season...
...winter. There's nothing like winter in the Northeast, and Vermont, in particular, is known for its enchanting winters, where snow-capped peaks, Swiss-style ski resorts, and endless mountain vistas dazzle beneath fresh (and abundant) blankets of snow.
Vermont has long embraced the winter weather that comes with life in the far Northeast, with tots pretty much taking those first tentative steps on skis!
This culture of winter sports and thick-skinned, tough-as-nails outdoor enthusiasts is part of the very fabric of the Green Mountain State; it's who Vermonters are.
And Lyndon Outing Club (LOC) has long celebrated Vermonters' love of all things skiing and winter recreation. It started in 1937, initially as a small ski area that included both Nordic and Alpine skiing, along with ski jumping, a winter carnival, and more.
At the time, there were three ski jumps here, too: 15, 25, and 40 meters. In the '50s, the LOC even served as a location for the Nordic Olympic trials.
But what set this attraction apart wasn't its Olympic clout -- then, or now. Former board president
Susan Russell explains that LOC is "one of only a couple of remaining small ski areas (and only two) that are solely overseen by volunteers."
And this spirit of democracy and community is truly the heart and soul of LOC.
It's said that "teamwork is dreamwork," and this adage most certainly applies here. "We have operated since 1937 through the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our town and surrounding communities," says Russell, adding that community members pitch in and help with annual clean-up days, donations of labor, and materials when things need fixing.
"Their time and talents for hosting events and activities" is a crucial part of LOC's long-standing success, especially in an industry where monetary success and rapid expansion have made family-friendly, inexpensive ski resorts a rarity in the Northeast and out West.
But it's not all work and no play at LOC; this year-round resort is always buzzing with folks looking to embrace the Great Outdoors of Vermont.
Shonyo Park, which houses the Lyndon Outing Club's ski area, also has a skate park, a beautiful hiking trail, and a lodge that is often rented by the public during non-ski season. Shonyo Park recently added a mountain bike trail system and skills park, too, which just opened this summer, as a way to encourage year-round recreation in the area.
While LOC's board members, volunteers, and community definitely respect its legacy and history, it's a spirit of fun that's at the heart of it all.
"We are inspired by watching the scores of children who have grown up here learning to ski on our small hill; by seeing them develop lifelong friendships; by the stories our alumni tell about the fun times they had here," says Russell.
And with that comes a commitment to keeping the slops accessible for all, she adds. "We are inspired to be able to offer qualify, affordable outdoor recreation during a time when everything costs more and being outside is so important to our health and vitality."
At the end of the day, LOC provides quality, affordable outdoor recreation that is accessible to the public, says Russell. "There are no membership fees. This provides everyone an equal opportunity to access the beauty of being outdoors, the ability to take part in varying levels of exercise, and the opportunity for any community member to take part in stewardship of this lovely piece of the Northeast Kingdom."
So how can you help? Visit and volunteer! And in the meantime, check out the Lyndon Outing Club's web store and purchase some skiing swag to help spread the word!
Many thanks to Susan Peters Russell, former board president at LOC, for sharing the story of this amazing Vermont ski club. Learn more about Lyndon Outing Club at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Of course, Lyndon Outing Club is just one of the many great small businesses doing great things in Vermont; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Vermont article. And be sure to follow Only In Vermont on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Green Mountain State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
