In 1961, Bob Minor and six other investors bought a 166-acre dairy farm. With a dream and a concept for a family recreation area, Bob bought out the other investors in 1962 and began excavation for the Sun Valley Lake. He worked around the trees to preserve their magnificent presence, may of which still stand today.

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On July 1, 1964 the front beach opened for business. The first entire fun-filled season of operation was in 1965, when eighty families joined Sun Valley. 1966 brought with it the high slide; the first of its size in New England. Untold numbers of children have spent hours climbing the stairs to the top and whizzing down the slide to skim across the surface of the spring-fed lake. The Minor family had a favorite picnic area and in 1967 they let a family use it as a campsite. Today that spot is known as site #28.

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Completion of an additional 465 feet of beach, the "back beach", came in 1968. The first twelve campsites were completed. Beach members had the option to add a seasonal campsite to their membership. Site #22 was the first campsite to be occupied that year.

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In 1970, a snackbar was opened, with members of the Minor family serving their customers refreshments across the counter. The first paving was done to the main parking lot in 1971, with more to follow in 1972. Tennis arrived at Sun Valley in grand style in 1973 with state-of-the-art hard courts equipped with lights for night playing.

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1982 brought the new all-purpose building in the large field, which is now used as a banquet hall. Two years later the front beach pavilion underwent major renovations and became known as the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse Cafe opened in July, 1984.

 

Sun Valley Camping Cooperative came into being on July 14, 1988, giving campers the opportunity to own their sites and work together with each other and the Minor family to ensure the peace and natural splendor of this camping resort. Charming wooded campsites continue to be available for sale to Sun Valley "veterans" and newcomers alike.

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Throughout the 55 years of improvements and expansion, Bob Minor continues to be the driving force behind his dream of creating the finest in family recreation. He always works with the land to preserve its natural beauty. Bob's unrelenting determination and perseverance have given all of us this treasured respite from our hectic worlds... the place we know as Sun Valley.