By Kate Bartlett
Honoring the Late Edna Northrup.
Holiday Valley is paying tribute to one of their founding members, Edna Northrup, as they renovated their main restaurant, John Harvard’s. Edna’s is officially open for business, with a soft opening Friday, December 8th. The revamped restaurant is officially open for business on December 15th.
According to Dash Hegeman, Marketing Director at Holiday Valley, the space was due for some aesthetic and functional renovations. “The goal was to make better use of the layout while also freshening up the look of the restaurant,” says Dash. “Since that work was happening anyway, it brought about a discussion on the John Harvard’s brand. We held some very thoughtful discussions about changing the name of the restaurant. Ultimately, the decision was made to not only change the name but to pay tribute to one of the founding members of Holiday Valley, Edna Northrup.”
The menu has been updated yet retains the fan favorites like the Smokehouse Burger and assortment of Stone Fire Pizza’s. “Our chefs added a few new dishes that are sure to be a hit this winter like a Western New York Coq Au Vin (Crispy Roasted Half Chicken) and a Pesto Encrusted Australian Seabass”
The interior of the restaurant received a nice overhaul with new chairs, tables and color schemes but most importantly, Edna’s still offers some of best dining views in Ellicottville. “Summer or winter, the views from Edna’s give you a great background while you dine. The bar area still has TV’s for anyone looking to have a drink and catch a game.”
Edna’s at the Tamarack Club is now more than just a place to enjoy a great meal and enjoy a fantastic view of the slopes while you eat. It’s a part of Holiday Valley history. “Edna Northrup was an amazing woman whose influence helped shape the foundation of Holiday Valley,” says Dash. “Having the opportunity to highlight her story more and show guests of Holiday Valley what a pioneer she was when it came to skiing in Ellicottville is very exciting.”
Amongst her many accomplishments, Edna hiked the Appalachian Trail in its entirety, climbed Mr. Rainier at the youthful age of 68, and then at 84 years old, she hiked to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest. “Her energy and enthusiasm for being in the great outdoors was so inspiring and her passion for Holiday Valley was contagious,” says Dash.
Dash comments “personally, I’m thrilled with the rebrand. The artist, Tyler Frisbee, who created the logo did a fantastic job of incorporating Edna’s signature Tyrolean hat into the design. Jane Eshbaugh gave him a lot of insight into who Edna was and what she liked. He took those details and did a really nice job of creating a logo that is aesthetically clean and works well in the global setting of Holiday Valley.”
As mentioned, Edna’s at the Tamarack Club is now officially open for business. Stop in this season to pay homage to this legendary woman, while enjoyed great views and an elevated dining experience. Visit https://www.holidayvalley.com/explore/dining/Ednas-at-the-Tamarack-Club/ for more information.