The Rocks Estate - News & Events

Rocks Estate Offers “New Hampshire Maple Experience” This Spring

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which owns the 1,400-acre Rocks Estate, partners each spring with area inns and other businesses to unveil the sweet mystery of New Hampshire’s delectable maple syrup and provide hands-on learning.

“Illustrating what we have to offer north of the Notch is always on our minds at The Rocks,” said Nigel Manley, longtime Rocks Estate manager. “The idea of the Maple Experience is to collaborate with other area businesses to provide fun and education for families and visitors of all ages.”

Maple Experience participants will learn how to identify the sugar maple trees that produce the sweet sap for making syrup, discover the history of maple sugaring, and see part of the process demonstrated.

Fourth-generation sugarer Brad Presby will demonstrate the modern technique for sugaring in the newly restored Sawmill/Pigpen building at The Rocks. The turn-of-the-century building has been renovated to serve as a sugar house and year-round maple education center featuring maple sugaring artifacts from the extensive collection of the late Charlie Stewart, a legendary sugar maker from nearby Sugar Hill.

In continuing with its tradition of partnering with area businesses, the Rocks has again teamed up with the famous Polly’s Pancake Parlor in nearby Sugar Hill to offer a tasty twist to the popular sugaring program.  The Parlor will offer an abbreviated menu at The Rocks from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. each day of The New Hampshire Maple Experience. “We are so pleased to be able to team up with the Rocks again this season,” said Kathie Cote, co-owner of Polly’s. “This is a natural fit that will add to the visitors’ experience at this years’ maple program.”  Polly’s waffle and pancake mixes will be available for sale again this season.

For those looking to turn the Maple Experience into a weekend-long North Country stay, The Rocks collaborates with local inns to offer weekend vacation packages. Visit www.therocks.org/vacations.php to find participating lodging establishments.

The New Hampshire Maple Experience is scheduled for March 13, 20, 21, 27, 28 and April 3, with tours taking place throughout the day. Reservations are required but walk-ins are welcomed on a space available basis.

For more information, please visit www.therocks.org. For reservations and other inquiries e-mail info@therocks.org or call 603-444-6228.

The Rocks is the North Country Conservation and Education Center of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (www.forestsociety.org). The Forest Society is non-profit membership organization founded in 1901 to protect the state’s most important landscapes and promote wise use of its natural resources.