Waterville will be home to a new world-class ski facility on Quarry Road as a result of generous donations from the College and the Harold Alfond foundation.

Alumni Michael Roy ’74 and John Koons ’72 were instrumental in developing the Quarry Road project. Both men currently reside in Waterville; Roy serves as city manager, and Koons is a dentist.

According to President William “Bro” Adams, Roy approached the College seven or eight years ago about acquiring the property and developing it into a recreation area. The College agreed to sell the land to the city of Waterville at a discounted price of $50,000. Koons firmly believed that with the help of the College, Quarry Road could become a leading ski facility. His enthusiasm convinced the College to become a sponsor. In this role, the College donated more money to develop the trails and to buy a Pisten Bully, a special grooming vehicle, to maintain the snowy trails. With these advantages, Quarry Road was already on its way to success.

Having acquired these basics, Koons’ vision grew even larger. He believed that, with a competition loop and snowmaking technology, Quarry Road could be one of the best facilities of its kind. Koons approached the College to ask for further sponsorship to fund the competition loop, arguing that it would be a perfect facility for the College’s Nordic ski team. The College made another donation, making it’s total support for Quarry Road $275,000.

The competition loop should be completed by the end of the fall, after it has been homologated. Homologation is necessary to make the track meet Nordic standards for length and elevation. “This is exciting because there are only a few homologated trails in the entire nation,” Adams said.

Additionally, the Harold Alfond Foundation has agreed to fund snowmaking technology. Adams believes that the combination of snowmaking technology and a homologated competition loop will make Quarry Road “top rate and such a great facility for [the College] to have.”

Adams was initially interested in donating to the Quarry Road project because he saw it as an opportunity to contribute to Waterville’s economic development. “Since there are so few homologated trails in the nation, having Quarry Road will bring people into Waterville,” Adams said.

Adams believes that Quarry Road will have further benefits for the College. “What is so great about Quarry Road is that it will be a facility for the Nordic ski team, it will be a facility for all Colby students and we don’t have to operate it,” he said.

“Personally, I like to ski, and I am excited to use the facility and to see what it becomes,” Adams said.