Welcome to Round Hearth Ski Tours!

Click here to view our 2009-10 winter ski/ride rates
Click here to view our winter availability calendar

When YOU work with ROUND HEARTH SKI TOURS, YOUR Youth Group Trip planning truly is made easy!

If your Youth Group ranges in size from 10-150 guests, make ONE phone call to Round Hearth Ski Tours & we'll handle ALL the details for YOU!

Let Our Family of Professionals work with YOU to meet YOUR needs!

Your hosts -- Merry & Grady Vigneau & family -- have owned and operated New England's premier youth group facility, the Round Hearth, located in Stowe, VT since 1988; America's #1 Teen Resort!

"Our family, along with our professional staff, welcomes you to the Round Hearth at Stowe! OUR management  focus is on meeting YOUR needs.   Our business mission is to create and effectively implement YOUTH-ORIENTED environments & atmospheres keying in on healthy lifestyles & safe choices.  Our consistent & acclaimed success have clearly made our unique ski dorm the RIGHT CHOICE for YOUR most memorable youth ski & ride vacations!"

As a team, the Vigneau's bring to both lodges the perfect blend of skilled Manager and caring Host. Merry's professional background in operations & culinary management proves that group hospitality & dining can be exciting, comfortable, & delicious! Grady has committed most of his adult life to group leadership, young & old, as a coach & program director. In 1984, after a decade of coaching college football, Grady enrolled at Columbia University where he earned an MBA & moved on to a professional stint in management consulting. In '88, the Vigneau's moved to the mountains of Vermont where they have always enjoyed working -- & skiing! -- with you!

Click here to read more about the Vigneau's and our incredible team of dedicated professionals

Click here to request additional information

How we do it...

Our complete wholesale packaging service makes YOUR PLANNING SIMPLE & EFFICIENT for groups of any size.  We eliminate expensive middlemen, enabling you to obtain one low, low price for lodging, meals, lift tickets, & round trip transport & transfers on a DVD equipped highway coach. You choose your bus size of 47 or 55 seats!

Our complete packages with round trip bus originate from your choice of school, church, or other departure point throughout New England and the northeast from Washington, DC to Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, southern Ontario, and all points in between. Upon arrival at our lodge, we'll be sure to greet you with a bright smile, a blazing fire, and even your lift tickets! After skiing each day, come home to relax or soothe your sore muscles in our relaxing outdoor alpine hot tubs!

Our genuine concern & flexibility means we'll work directly with YOU to tailor YOUR ski vacation to meet YOUR needs. We can arrange options like rentals, lessons, daily bag lunches, special events, celebrations, workshops, unique side trips, and even in-lodge religious services. If your plans include skiing & riding both Stowe & Smugg's  (or even other Vermont peaks!), let us know. We can quote special "ski & ride around" packages which allow you to enjoy all the best that the Green Mountains have to offer!

Our group marketing & sales support (trail maps, posters, stickers, brochures,...) makes selling your trip easy & fun.  We are fully insured.

Professional and personal references are plentiful and always readily available.

We are Vermont's Youth Group Specialists

The Round Hearth features: 

• Safe, secure, & convenient locations on both Ski & Ride Resorts' access roads
• 24 hour professional -- & C.P.R. certified -- staffs motivated to meet YOUR needs
• Separate dorm wings for boys and girls featuring modern college dorm-style baths
• Efficient & comfortable bunkrooms sleep an average of 6-8 guests each
• Semi-private rooms & baths for leaders - privacy without isolation from your kids!
• Hearty Homecooking w/ a full & always fresh salad bar                             
• ALL YOU CAN EAT! -- all the time! Including cookies on arrival,
  breakfasts, dinners & even apres-ski cocoa & munchies!
• "Kids-oriented" self-contained social & entertainment complexes

"In two words -- CUSTOMER SERVICE!!  You can expect the highest quality of professional attention in a genuine down home Vermont, family-style environment. Best of all, we always deliver with a smile!"

-  Jason Kirchick, Director of Sales & Marketing

Lodge Information / Winter Ski Season

High Schools, Youth Groups, Churches & Ski Teams

• We are a chaperone's BEST friend! We offer endless activity, controlled egress, & 24 hour professional leadership.
• We guarantee you a 100% youth group environment.  -- We do not mix high schools & colleges!
• For your health, comfort & peace of mind, we enforce a 100% smoke-free & substance-free environment.
• We feature exciting DJ Dance & Karoake Nights all winter!
• Stowe's two biggest outdoor hot tubs soothe tired muscles -- young or old! -- no matter how fierce the winter weather!
• Our multi-purpose space, the Mansfield Room (w/ big screen TV!), is also perfect for meetings, services, ...
• Our Billiards Parlor, Game Room, & "yesteryear" ring tosses are sure to be big hits with the young and the young at heart -- great fun & challenge in a healthy environment!
• Savor our fun Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Festivals, mid-winter barbeques, birthday parties & snow volleyball games!
• Food, Food, Food!  We'll keep you stuffed with fresh baked cookies on arrival, "all you can eat!" homecooked meals, & apres ski hot cocoa & munchies every afternoon!
• New to Stowe? We'll provide you a 1st morning "Mountain Services Guide" to lead you smoothly & confidently through the maze of rentals, lessons, ski & ride options, & even point out the best on-mountain cafeterias & shops!

Quote about Round Hearth Lodge:

"Stowe's biggest fireplace is in Vermont's most famous ski dorm.  Around that fire, there have been more ski stories swapped & tales of derring-do told than in any one place in ski country!"
SKIING Magazine

A Note to all Youth Group Leaders: 

"REMEMBER!  OUR BUSINESS IS 'KIDS'! Also, we at Round Hearth Tours personally own and operate our youth group facilities -- As such, we have a very personal interest in working with and hosting only the highest quality & well-chaperoned youth ski & ride groups.  Our concern means that you will share one of our two dedicated youth facilities with only other equally outstanding and interesting people!  A consistent, safe, & fun mix of guests is as important to us as it is to you.  Thank you in advance for your support!"

Merry & Grady Vigneau
Owners, Round Hearth Ski Tours

Letters & Testamonials about Round Hearth Ski Tours Service:

Dear Round Hearth:

Just wanted to let you know what an AWESOME time our group had this past weekend at your lodge and Stowe. Your staff was wonderful, and our trip was coordinated smoothly and made it so easy for us to set up. We truly appreciate the opportunities your establishment provides to relax, enjoy the slopes, and just hang out and be together.  We look forward to visiting again in the future! Have a great day!

Tiffany Babcock, Youth Minister
Salt & Light Young Adult Ministries

“We picked out the dates.  Round Hearth Tours then planned our entire ski & ride vacation.  We received top value at a price that was the lowest in the industry by more than 25%  -- all with just one phone call!”

Woody Tunnicliffe, Group Leader
St. John's Church, Hingham, MA

Stowe Mountain Resort

• Ski Vermont's highest peak (4,395ft)! -- legendary Mount Mansfield!
• 49 long trails to excite all abilities (75% are beginner or intermediate level!)
• 11 modern lifts ensure you'll ski more & wait less!
  - (You'll love our warm and comfy "super fast" 8 passenger gondola!)
• You like long trails?  Check out Stowe's 2,360 ft. vertical drop!
• Challenge yourself on Stowe's famed uu"Front Four" --
  -Goat, National, Starr, & Liftline -- They are the nation's best!
• Riders! -- Stowe has major league terrain parks that all rock!
• Enjoy exciting weekend Night Skiing & Riding at the Gondola!!
• Over 300 inches of annual snowfall & state of the art  snowmaking
  -ensure that your skiing & riding will be great!
• Stowe is a XC Skier's paradise -- more than 150km of trails!

Quotes about Stowe Mountain Resort: 

STOWE:  #1 OVERALL IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA!!

-- SKI Magazine
-- SKIING Magazine

 
"If you only ski once this winter, MAKE IT STOWE! This mountain is the real thing! From the legendary Front Four to the Tollroad, Stowe has something for everyone --  Steeps, cruisers, moguls, you name it.  It's the best!

-- NEW ENGLAND SKIER Magazine    

 
"THE BEST Place to Board in the EAST!"
-- SNOWBOARD Magazine

Please Read: Important note on trip details

10% VT ROOMS & MEALS TAX:  This Tax must be added to the Lodging & Meals ("L&M") portion only of your vacation package.

GROUP TRIP DEPOSIT & CANCELLATION  POLICIES:

(1) NON-Refundable TRIP CONFIRMATION Deposit of $1,500 for each group of 20-55 people. An additional $500 is required for each bus reserved. Trip Confirmation Deposit is due by the later date of October 1 or within 4 weeks of your booking date. The deposit is MANDATORY for confirmation of bed space.  Organization check or Credit Card (MC/Visa) accepted.

(2)  A 2nd CONDITIONALLY Refundable LODGING DEPOSIT of $100 per person.  Lodging Deposit is due 6 wks prior to your trip. Lodging Deposit is refundable in part or wholly contingent upon number of beds rebooked. R.H.Tours can cancel trips if deposit schedules are not met. Bus deposit refunds vary by company.  Organization check only is accepted.  Credit cards are NOT accepted.

(3)  Full trip balance is payable upon arrival.  Organization check only is accepted.  Credit cards are NOT accepted.

GROUP SIZE "SHRINKAGE":  Guaranteed group size is set 10 weeks prior to your arrival.  Within 10 weeks, group size "shrinkage" in excess of 10% of originally booked numbers will be charged to cover resultant empty beds.