Montpelier, VT – From snowmaking upgrades to new lodges and hotels, Vermont skiers and riders will discover that the state’s successful 2012-13 ski season has resulted in investments and improvements from north to south this winter.
Jay Peak Resort
Jay Peak Resort will unveil $43 million in improvements for the 2013-14 winter season. Projects include a new 80,000-square foot Stateside Hotel and base lodge with restaurants and locker rooms, a rental center, 84 new mountain cottages, and a complete revamping of the resort’s entrance. In addition to the Stateside projects, the resort debuted the Barn at the end of the summer. The 2,000-square foot facility hosts weddings and events and is located between the first tee and ninth green of Jay Peak’ golf course.
Burke Mountain
Burke Mountain will see plenty of change over the next few years. Phase I (a $98 million investment) will see construction of two hotels modeled after the Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak. The new Hotel Burke will be home to 116 suites. The company recently received project approval under Act 250, Vermont’s land use law, and anticipates breaking ground this fall to begin welcoming guests in December 2014. Construction of an aquatic center, tennis facility and indoor mountain biking park will start next summer, with plans to open in summer 2015.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Following an investment of over $1 million in snowmaking enhancements last winter, Smugglers’ Notch Resort will incorporate 100 high efficiency tower guns into the fleet this season. The new guns will allow more snow to be made at a wider temperature range, improving early and late season coverage and in-season coverage, with greatly reduced energy costs.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe Mountain Resort’s continued investment in state-of-the-art snowmaking operations includes an additional $3.4 million in new equipment and upgrades for the 2013-14 winter season, which consist of 120 HKD tower guns, four Super Pole Cat fan guns and miles of new snowmaking pipe. Add that to the $4.7 million invested last summer for a two-year total that includes 445 HKD tower guns, 150 energy efficient land guns, 20 Super Pole Cat fan guns and seven miles of new snowmaking pipe. These improvements allow Stowe to operate with greater energy efficiency, increases potential for more early season terrain, increases overall snow quality and allows mountain operations to resurface the mountain quickly.
Topnotch Resort & Spa
Topnotch Resort reopened on June 28 after a $15 million investment. Situated in Stowe, the new Topnotch offers a fresh experience for guests with handcrafted Vermont touches. Guests are welcomed to the resort with a new arrival experience and lobby; two new restaurants: Flannel and The Roost, both using Vermont fresh ingredients in contemporary menus; outdoor event spaces, all new guest rooms, new spa treatment menu with healing pathways, a refurbished Tennis Center and more. Two outdoor pools and an outdoor hot tub are perfect places to relax after a day of skiing on Topnotch’s nordic trails.
Trapp Family Lodge
The 2013-14 Nordic season at Trapp Family Lodge will be one for the records as they prepare to host two National Championship Nordic Events. March 1-8, 2014 the Junior Nationals will begin in a newly designed Nordic Stadium and improved FIS homologated race course. Youth ages 14-18 will descend upon Stowe for this gathering of elite Olympic hopefuls for a week-long festival of Nordic Racing. March 14-16, 2014 the Ski-Orienteering National Championships will begin with a full weekend of exciting racing as competitors ski from check-point to check-point while navigating maps to pick the shortest route.
Bolton Valley
Bolton Valley is replacing 6,000 feet of snowmaking pipe for the 2013-14 season. The new pipe will help to ensure smooth operations all season long. Bolton is also updating one third of the ski and snowboard rental fleet with new equipment from Rossignol and Burton. Base lodge upgrades will include a new outdoor staircase and new carpeting.
Mad River Glen
Mad River Glen’s goal is to maintain and preserve the experience rather than overhaul or upgrade it. The ability of Mad River Glen to consistently reinvest in the mountain’s infrastructure is a testament to the success of the Cooperative that owns this venerable mountain. Both the skier-owners and the management understand that skiers come to Mad River for the unique combination of legendary terrain, sense of community, low skier density and intimate atmosphere. In 17 years of co-op ownership, Mad River Glen has invested nearly $5 million in capital improvements.
Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush has added two new groomers to their fleet for the 2013-14 season, helping lay out great corduroy for skiing and riding pleasure. They’ve also invested $300,000 in the purchase and installation of 70 low energy HKD tower snowguns. Also on the improvement list is the repaving of the Mt. Ellen parking lot, additional seating at the Mount Ellen base lodge and Gate House Lodge and new carpet at the Mount Ellen base lodge.
Sugarbush’s new Rice Brook Development continues along as scheduled for an early winter move-in date. New homeowners will enjoy views of the Roxbury Mountains and Lincoln Peak, and true ski-in/ski-out convenience.
Middlebury College Snow Bowl
The Snow Bowl is upgrading its snowmaking system with the installation of 15 SV1020 tower guns on Allen and Ross. Ongoing glade work and trailside trimming will increase accessible surface area for skiing and riding.
Rikert Nordic Center
Rikert Nordic Center is rolling out a snowbike fleet this year to add to the fun. Snowbike rentals and bike specific trails will be available throughout the 2013-14 season.
Killington Resort & Pico Mountain
Killington Resort and Pico Mountain have announced over $11 million investment in capital improvements for the 2013-14 winter season, the most spent since Utah’s Powdr Corp. purchased the resorts in 2007. Additionally, construction is already underway at the base of Pico Mountain for the new Andrea Mead Lawrence Lodge, a $1.3 million facility for Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and the Pico Ski Education Foundation. The season’s most anticipated project is the state-of-the-art Peak Lodge facility being constructed at the 4,100-foot level of Killington Peak with a projected completion in December.
Quechee Ski Area
The Quechee Ski Area is a new Vermont Ski Areas Association member for the 2013-14 season. It is a great beginner mountain with an outstanding ski school and friendly staff that offers an affordable way to get hooked on skiing and riding. All trails are covered with snowmaking and grooming to a high standard. They also offer horse drawn sleigh rides between the base lodge and bottom of the mountain on select weekends.
Suicide Six and the Woodstock Inn & Resort
For the 2013-14 ski season groups can now “own” the 100-acre Suicide Six ski mountain for their next company outing of up to 200 people. The Woodstock Inn & Resort will be offering Mountain Mondays for corporate groups, available January through March 16, 2014.
Okemo Mountain Resort
Okemo’s Operation Snowburst is a nearly $1 million investment in the mountain’s snowmaking system that includes the purchase of 225 HKD SV tower guns to allow Okemo to maximize its water-pumping ability and snowmaking potential from the very start of the season. Under favorable conditions, Okemo plans to open multiple trails from the summit to the base on opening day in November.
Okemo is also opening another new glade this year and partnering with Killington, Pico and Mount Sunapee to offer a new season pass, “4.0 The College Pass.”
Bromley Mountain
Bromley has put another $250,000 into snowmaking improvements that include new guns, new pipe, a new air compressor and a new groomer. They are continuing the base lodge renovation on the second floor this season, brightening, refreshing and adding more seating to improve the overall guest experience. The Ski & Snowboard school is adding a backcountry offering for JETS, it’s premier children’s seasonal program, in addition to the all-mountain and freestyle groups.
Magic Mountain
Skier-sourced funding via the Magic Faithful Club helps Magic continue to invest in expanding its snowmaking system to improve coverage, open earlier and extend the season even longer. Fifteen to 20 new high efficiency mobile tower guns will be purchased this fall and an additional trail (Sorcerer) will be brought on-line to bring snowmaking coverage to 75% of Magic trails. In addition, there will be enhancements to the beginner area’s lift service and there will be a new, highly visible location for Magic’s terrain park and free-ride area. Also, Magic’s youth training program will be adding snowboarding to its freeskiing offering.
Stratton Mountain Resort
Stratton has invested $6 million in the mountain and resort experience this year, including snowmaking, lodging, on-mountain dining and Village food and drink. They’ve added three new snowcats, two new trails, and new double-black glade, the Squirrel’s Nest, bringing total woods runs to nearly 150 acres. One 1,500-horsepower electric snowmaking air compressor replaces a diesel model. Purchased in consultation with Efficiency Vermont, the new compressor delivers more cubic feet of air per minute using less, and cleaner, energy. The Inn at Stratton Mountain also takes on a new look and feel with a total remodel.
Mount Snow Resort
Mount Snow replaced more than four miles of snowmaking pipe this summer to improve the system’s efficiency and output. They’ve also invested more than $250,000 on brand new rental equipment and have performed a complete renovation of the Clocktower Building to streamline the rental experience.
Investments in amenities include the new novelty shop, Sweet Stash, featuring Vermont-made goodies, bulk candy, baked sweets, specialty hot chocolates and more. Also, after a full renovation, what was “Marketplace” inside the Main Base Lodge is now Market Fresh Café featuring grab and go breakfast and lunch items focused on local, fresh and healthy foods. Up on the second floor of the Summit Lodge, the former “Double Diamond Bar” is now The Bullwheel Tavern, modeled after an old world tavern featuring German and Belgian beers.