Liberty venues becoming popular attractions for birthday parties

UPDATE: (8/16/2017) These facilities no longer offer birthday parties.

Liberty University, as a proud member of the Lynchburg community, enjoys being able to share many of its recreational facilities with local residents. Now, two of its most unique attractions, Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre and the LaHaye Ice Center, are among the most in-demand destinations in the area for children’s birthday parties.

Snowflex now averages 30-40 birthday party reservations per month, not including other engagements, such as business meetings or dinners.

Located on Candlers Mountain Road, Snowflex offers year-round skiing, snowboarding, and tubing on its snowless, synthetic surface with beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes. The Barrick-Falwell Lodge features comfortable accommodations for gatherings of any sort. Birthday packages are available for tubing or skiing/snowboarding.

“One of our priorities here is to make sure that we have a really positive and safe environment for family and friends,” said Naomi Joseph, event coordinator for Snowflex. “We host parties for people from all over the community and we strive to ensure this is a place that kids want to keep coming back to.”

She said that instructors provide lessons to make it easy for children to enjoy the activities.

“It helps them learn to take on a challenge,” Joseph said. “There is no place like Snowflex in the Western Hemisphere, it really makes for a memorable experience.”

• For more information, visit Snowflex online or its Facebook page, or call (434) 582-3539 or (866) 504-7541.

The LaHaye Ice Center offers public ice skating times for the Lynchburg community. The center currently averages about 30 birthday parties a month, with that number steadily increasing. Birthday packages include a choice of Friday night, Saturday afternoon, or Sunday afternoon skating as well as a reserved party area with tables and chairs provided. Afterward, free cleanup is provided.

“Being this far south, there are not a lot of places that have ice, so to have a party at the LaHaye Ice Center is cool, it’s unique,” said Mike Morrison, promotions coordinator at the ice center. “It is a great environment, and it is something unique to Lynchburg. We have a disco ball and we will play the kids’ favorite music over the speakers.”

• For more information visit the LaHaye Ice Center’s website, email LaHayeIceCenter@Liberty.edu , or call (434) 592-3953.

Lynchburg Mom, a website designed to connect families in Central Virginia with local deals, events, and activities, recently ranked Snowflex and the LaHaye Ice Center as Nos. 1 and 10, respectively, on its “Top 16 Birthday Party Locations in Lynchburg.”