Mammoth Mountain, CA – A five-year resort enhancement plan for California’s Mammoth Mountain ski resort will kick off for winter 2011-12. Changes in store will provide faster access to the slopes, a transformed culinary experience, a new high-speed quad, enhanced air service and a snow tube park catering to the whole family.

Mammoth Mountain is installing a new Doppelmayr high-speed quad chairlift to replace Chair 5, a fixed-grip triple. The new High-Five Express will whisk 2,400 people uphill per hour (600 more people per hour than the old chair) and will cut ride time in half. The new lift’s terminals will be positioned to provide improved access to more terrain on one of the mountain’s highest access points and most popular locales.

Direct-to-lift access will be available for day skiers and riders this winter thanks to a newly installed RFID gate system. The new system will help eliminate cumbersome lines both at lifts and ticket windows. By using MyMammoth passes that can be re-loaded with lift access credits online or over the phone, guests can bypass ticket windows altogether and head straight to the lifts. With 68 total RFID gates installed across 19 different lifts, Mammoth’s will be the largest RFID system at a ski resort in North America.

Thanks to MyMammoth Direct, guests who register with MyMammoth can save some cash as well. Preloading passes with a seven-day advance purchase will come with savings of nearly 15% on lift tickets. MyMammoth purchases for lift tickets can be made by calling (800) MAMMOTH, online at MammothMountain.com or through the mobile app Mammoth2Go for iPhone and launching this season for Android.

Mammoth’s Unbound Terrain Park continues to evolve for the coming winter. Extensive dirt work has been done to the half pipes at Main and Canyon Lodges to ensure the earliest possible opening. The Art Park, a hit last year in its inaugural season, will be returning with Jamie Lynn as the featured artist designing a whole new array of features. Resort partners Monster Energy and Oakley will be creating their own unique terrain features to add to Mammoth’s fleet of over 90 rails, boxes and jibs. The U.S. Snowboarding and Freeskiing Grand Prix, the West Coast Invitational and the ongoing Mammoth Concert Series will highlight the event lineup bringing activities and music to Mammoth throughout the season.

Mammoth is opening a new snow tube park this winter just above The Village at Mammoth. Families will also enjoy new kids dining options at all food venues and the return of a winter full of family events including the Night of Lights and Woolly’s Winter Carnival.

After teaming up to introduce the first ever “Roving Mammoth” burrito snowcat last season, Mammoth Mountain and Levy Restaurants will now expand their relationship for an industry-unique, resort-wide taste experience both on and off the slopes. Levy is  known for its large-scale culinary venues in Southern California as well as some of the finest restaurants in Chicago including the James Beard-winning Spiaggia.

Visitors yearning to take advantage of the fresh powder will now have even more ways to get to the slopes with new seasonal air service from San Diego and Orange County and additional options from San Francisco, in addition to continued service from Los Angeles and San Jose.

“Mammoth has always been about a celebration of mountain adventure and sharing these great experiences with your friends and families,” said Howard Pickett, Chief Marketing Officer for Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. “With nearly $20 million in resort improvements for the coming season, we are continuing to look for innovative ways to excite our guests and allow them to enjoy the best skiing and riding experience anywhere.”