Stratton Mountain Resort
Cliff Drysdale Tennis School

Stratton Mountain, Vermont

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In summer, the grassy slopes of 3,936-foot Stratton Mountain, the tallest peak in southern Vermont, funnel down to an Alpine-inspired village, whose shops, restaurants, and lodges line a single cobblestone street open only to pedestrian traffic. At the far end, that street passes beneath an archway topped by a clock tower and ends in an open plaza, site of the base lodge, the Family Fun Zone (see Children's Programs), and the gondola to the top of the mountain. The gondola passes over slopes covered with grass and carries not skiers but sightseers, mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers. The resort is also home to the Cliff Drysdale Tennis School, whose sports complex includes both red-clay and hard tennis courts. Add to that access to 27 holes of golf, horseback riding, children's programs, a lake for water sports, numerous hiking trails, and summer music festivals, and you have the most dimension-rich summer resort in all of Vermont.

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Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 802-297-4230

Stratton has a long if episodic association with tennis. The John Newcombe organization ran tennis camps there in the 1970s and '80s and during that period it was the site of a Grand Masters tournament. Later, Andre Agassi first burst into national consciousness in 1986 when as a qualifier he reached the semifinals of the former Volvo International Tennis Championships, which was held at Stratton from 1985-89 (the event moved to New Haven when local property owners refused to allow the construction of a permanent tennis stadium), and Stratton briefly hosted the Acura U.S. Women's Hardcourts Championships. In the 1984, it further enhanced its tennis credentials by building an impressive sports center with indoor courts, two racquetball courts, a complete fitness area, massage rooms, an indoor lap pool, and a fully equipped tennis and fitness shop. And the resort subsequently brought in the Cliff Drysdale Tennis (CDT) organization to manage the racquet-sports programming.

Tennis Staff. CDT's Robert Menzies has run the racquet sports program since 2013. took over as tennis director late in 2013 after spending part of the summer there familiarizing himself with the program. A native New Zealander, he grew up playing tournaments, even qualifying for a national ranking, before committing to academics. He studied Sport and Recreation at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, with a particular emphasis on coaching, nutrition, and sports psychology, and then joined CDT becoming head pro at the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Florida before taking over at Stratton.
The roster of summer tennis option is diverse. There are daily clinics, open play session, and group and private lessons. Those looking for a more structured program can opt for the midweek or weekend tennis camps, which variously devote from 2½ to 5 hours a day of group instruction, live-ball drills, and match play. Groups and teams can tailor their own program.

Junior Tennis Camps and Academy. During the summer months, the facility hosts a large junior rackets camp that features tennis, pickleball, swimming, group games, and other activities. Targeted to 5- to 14-year-olds, the program runs midweek and weekends and is open to players of all levels (the on-court sessions are divided by age group and ability). Juniors who take there tennis more seriously can opt for the Stratton Mountain Academy. Geared to players 11 to 18, it takes a more focused approach, with lower student:pro ratios, private lessons, and instructive match-play sessions. Finally, Menzies has addressed underserved population of players: the 14 to 18-year-olds, especially those hoping to make their high school tennis team. Rather that funnel them into an adult camp, he created a Mountain Strong program specifically for them. It follows the same format and low student:pro ratios as the adult program, while giving teens an opportunity to get together with other teens, with tennis as the common language. "It proved very popular," Menzies told me.
Court Complex. The sports complex consists of six red-clay courts, four outdoor with blended lines for pickleball, and two indoor tennis courts.

Ratings (215 Reviewers)
Tennis Overall Instruction Tennis Staff Lodging Spa & Fitness Dollar Value Kids' Programs Solo Travelers	Game Matching Junior Tennis Pickleball Cuisine Other Recreation Setting Romance
Cliff Drysdale Tennis School at Stratton Mountain Resort Ratings ( 271 Reviewers)
Tennis Overall Instruction Tennis Staff	Junior Tennis Pickleball

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Stratton has 27 holes of golf designed by Geoffrey Cornish, who named each nine for its features: Mountain, Lake, and Forest. There is also a well-regarded 22-acre golf school.

Fitness Center. A feature that dramatically enhances the tennis complex at Stratton is its Sports Center. It contains an indoor lap pool, whirlpool, two workout rooms—one in a windowed rooms on the main floor with 10 or so stations of Paramount and Trotter Nautilus equipment and some free weights, the other upstairs with an array of cardiovascular machines and a few Cybex stations. There is also am aerobics studio, tanning beds, and several massage rooms. The full-service pro shop sells both tennis and fitness clothing and equipment.

And ... In addition to everything else, Stratton has mountain-bike rentals, gondola rides to the top of 3,936-foot Stratton Mountain, fly fishing on the Battenkill River, paintball battles, and canoe and kayak rentals.

Children's Programs

During the summer, Stratton runs a daily adventure camp for children ages 6-12. It operates from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. from late June into early September and can include golf or tennis among the activities. There is also a day camp for children ages 4 to 5.

Lodging

There are two lodges at Stratton—the 125-room Black Bear Lodge (formerly the Stratton Mountain Inn) and the Liftline Lodge, both of which have outdoor swimming pools—and a broad selection of rental condominiums. Individually owned and furnished, these vary in size and quality. Among the newer and most convenient is Long Trail House, just across the access road from the village. This four-story building contains 75 very handsomely decorated studios, 1- and 2-bedroom units, all with fireplaces, full kitchens, convertible sofas, decks or patios, and its own outdoor swimming pool and whirlpools. Every floor has a washer dryer and there is a two-story-high lobby with a stone fireplace. Coffee and muffins are laid out for guests each morning and there is a concierge to book dinner reservations, ski lessons, massage appointments, or whatever other services guests need. Also attractive is Founder's Lodge, whose 1-to-3-bedroom units have underground parking, fully equipped kitchens, high-speed Internet access, and washer-dryers. The building also has a sauna and modest fitness center.

Restaurants

Only a few restaurants in and near the village at Stratton operate during the summer; however, there are numerous additional choices along Hwy. 30 at the base of the access road.

See Also

If you're looking for a tennis school in a resort setting, with options for families, also check out:

• Drysdale Tennis At Omni Amelia Island Resort, Florida
• The Bridges Vermont Resort & Tennis Club, Vermont
• Northstar Tennis, California
• Wintergreen Resort, Virginia

Rates and Reservations

Stratton Mountain Resort

Stratton offers everything from lodge rooms and studios with Murphy beds to four-bedroom condos. The newest and most appealing units are the studios and one- and two-bedroom units in Long Trail House, which opened in 1999. The rates below include tax and service. If you book a tennis package, you'll get the shoulder-season rate even in peak season.

Stratton Mountain, VT 05155 802-297-4000
Toll-free: 800-787-2886
Visit the website for current rates
Web Link: Stratton Mountain Resort

Cliff Drysdale Tennis School at Stratton Mountain Resort

6 Outdoor Red Clay, 4 Outdoor Hard (with pickleball lines), 2 indoor hard

Stratton Mountain Resort
10 Arbor Road
Stratton Mountain, VT 05155 Toll-free: 800-787-2886
Visit the website for current rates
Web Link: Cliff Drysdale Tennis School at Stratton Mountain Resort

Travel Essentials

Seasons. The outdoor tennis season runs from early May to mid October.

Travel Instructions. By Air: Although there is a regional airport in Rutland, Vermont, the nearest major airport is Albany, New York, 81 miles to the southwest. By Car: Stratton is 139 miles from Boston, 295 miles from New York City, and 210 miles from Montreal. The resort is four miles from Bondville, which is on Rte. 30.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing website or contact them at 6 Baldwin Street, Drawer 33, Montpelier, VT 05633-1301; Phone 800-VERMONT (800-837-6668).