Indiana

Indiana: No Going Through Hoops To Ski - Remember the 1986 Gene Hackman film "Hoosiers," about a six-member basketball team from a tiny Indiana high school that went on to win the Indiana State Championship? It was based on the true story of the Milan Indians actual state championship season in 1954,... Full Overview

Indiana: No Going Through Hoops To Ski -

Remember the 1986 Gene Hackman film "Hoosiers," about a six-member basketball team from a tiny Indiana high school that went on to win the Indiana State Championship? It was based on the true story of the Milan Indians actual state championship season in 1954, although the film played fast and loose with some facts, like there were 10 players not six, the coach was 26 not 55, and more. Anyway, the film showed scene after scene of fervent fans driving through a vast, flat, agricultural landscape. So it may come as a surprise to find the state thriving ski areas.

Among them is Ski Paoli Peaks, an Indiana favorite. The area is owned by Peaks Resorts, so true to the group's game plan, it has an impressive arsenal of state-of-the-art snow guns. Paoli Peaks has a 300-foot vertical, 65 skiable acres, five chairlifts, two surface tows and a carpet. The full snowmaking coverage allows the resort to make 12 inches of snow in one night on all its terrain. Paoli Peaks welcome riders. The area has two terrain parks and a half pipe. Paoli Peaks draws numerous skiers from Indianapolis, Bloomington (home of Indiana University), and Louisville, Ky. There's also a snow tubing park, and a Kids Snow Kamp that provides all-day supervision for children age 5 to 12.

Perfect North Slopes has 23 trails, a tubing park and two terrain parks, served by five chairs and eight surface lifts. There's plenty of flexibility to maximize your value, as your lift ticket is valid for eight consecutive hours. There is no lodging at the ski area, but the resort has negotiated packages with motels and inns from Cincinnati Airport area to Petersburg and Ft. Mitchell, Ky. and other nearby communities. Perfect North Slopes is in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, 30 minutes from Cincinnati and 80 minutes from Indianapolis and Lexington.

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