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Home » TRAVEL AND LODGING » NEW HAMPSHIRE » Purity Spring Resort
Purity Spring Resort     BY: Dan Houde / Purity Spring Photo Library
Purity Spring Resort

East Madison, New Hampshire

By Peter F. Demers | November 16, 2011

Purity Spring Resort is a year round family resort that has been owned and operated by the same New England family for 100 years.

Millbrook
BY & COPYRIGHT: Dan Houde/Purity Spring Photo Library

Purity Spring Resort has been owned and operated by the Hoyt family since its beginning in the late 1800s. Edward E. Hoyt, founder of Purity Springs Farms, started with a small country inn, sawmill and a water-bottling operation. The Hoyt Natural Mineral Spring Water Company bottled the aptly named Purity Spring Water and shipped it via train to New York.

His main competitor in the bottled water business was a Maine based company – Poland Springs. When a railroad line was constructed close to the Poland Spring facility, Hoyt realized that he needed to focus his energies on the tiny hospitality business he had also started.

Today, the company he founded has spawned five different companies offering seasonal activities for families young and old.

The Purity Spring Resort is actually composed of four different resort facilities that provide activities and lodging throughout the year.

What makes the Purity Spring Resorts special and unique is that all of the many activities and facilities offered are on the same site.   So families can drive to their vacation destination, winter, summer, spring or fall, and not have to use their car to reach their lodging, restaurants or to access the many activities offered throughout the year.

Skiing
BY & COPYRIGHT: Dan Houde/Purity Spring Photo Library

Another unique offering of Purity Spring is the impressive range of accommodations available to suit the budgets of any family.   There is a country inn, a seven guest room lodge dating back to the early 1800s, another lodge directly overlooking the ski resort, small comfortable single family cottages scattered throughout the grounds, full service condo units and four different five to eight room lodges available for larger parties and to accommodate the winter and summer camps offered.

It’s always interesting to learn how New England ingenuity has over almost 100 years transposed a spring water bottling facility into a four season resort with something to do for every member of the family.

In 1932, Edward’s son, Milt, opened Camp Tohkomeupog for Boys when he was just 21 years old and before he headed off to Brown University. A few years later, Milt’s sister, Ellen, opened Camp Wampineauk for girls. The girls’ camp closed in 1977, but the boys’ camp is still operating at the same location. In addition to the two camps, Milt and Ellen assisted their father in running the inn.

In 1938, a rope tow was installed near Bald Ledge. Occasionally, Milt brought small groups of guests to the inn during winter weekends to try the relatively new sport of skiing. In 1944, Milt left his teaching position in West Hartford, Connecticut to develop Purity Spring Resort into a year-round business. He opened the inn and the camp to guests and hosted ski camps during the school vacation weeks.

During the summer, the Hoyts worked to develop the inn into a family resort while continuing operation of the boys and girls camps. In 1962, the first trails were cut for the new King Pine Ski Area. In 1976, Ted, Laura, Bob and Susie Hoyt (and their respective spouses) took over the day-to-day management of the resort from their father, Milt. Today, the fourth and fifth generations of Hoyts operate the expanded Purity Spring Resort in much the same manner as their earlier relatives did.

Today, King Pine Ski Resort offers a wide variety of winter activities for families that include skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating and sleigh rides, as well as a two week ski camp during school vacation.

Kayaking in the Fall
BY & COPYRIGHT: Dan Houde/Purity Spring Photo Library

In the summer, generations of families return to engage in a whole range of outdoor and indoor activities including hiking, tennis, mountain biking and the full range of water sports offered through Danforth Bay Camping and RV Resort and the Bluffs RV Resort designed for senior citizens aged 50 or older.

Additionally, the very popular Camp Tohkomeupog, the summer camp for boys started by Milt in 1932, still introduces kids to the great outdoors and establishes the friendships that cause them to return with their own families year after year. A highlight of the summer activities is the lobster bakes held every Thursday night.

Purity Spring is truly a year round resort providing activities like yoga and ballroom dancing, a wonderful spa and a newly opened restaurant.

The best testimonial to Purity Spring is the generations of families who return year after year throughout the year. The Hoyt family and staff, one of whom has been an employee since 1944, have succeeded in creating a family resort that reflects a love of outdoors and wholesome fun for children of all ages.

Details:

Purity Spring Resort

1251 Eaton Road, Route 153, Madison, NH 03849

(603) 367-8896 or (800) 373-3754

www.PuritySpring.com

Details:

Purity Spring Resort

1251 Eaton Road, Route 153, Madison, NH 03849

(603) 367-8896 or (800) 373-3754

www.PuritySpring.com

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