Page 14 - Nov_13

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By Paul M
cMorris

HAVE yOUR SEASON PASS? Skis tuned? Snowpants out of the closet? Mountain Power Corporation can’t deliv- “mountain cottages” under construction.
While you’re getting your gear ready for the snow, Vermont’s er the juice, a new Prinoth BR350 groom- The gateway to Jay has also been rerouted
ing machine, and contiuing historic base and a new 2,000-square foot special event
Alpine ski areas are preparing to debut their recent improvements lodge renovations. Plus, they’re developing facility, “The Barn,” has been added to

and additions. The big trend this year is improving snowmaking a groundbreaking backcountry children’s stage weddings and entertainment.
instructional program.
facilities to keep things skiable when powder days aren’t as plenti- kIllINGtoN aNd PIco
burke mouNtaIN
The long-awaited, new and improved,
ful as we’d like. Resorts are also building new lodging facilities
The focus is on real estate development 15,000-square foot Killington Peak day
to keep guests on the premises longer and allow them to be more here with a new 112-suite hotel under lodge is slated to open in December, com-
comfortable while there. All in all, Vermont’s Alpine resorts are construction. The Hotel Burke is slated for plete with casual couches and coffee tables
completion by December 2014. Look for for laidback lounging between runs. Pico
bigger and in most cases (sorry Ascutney) better than ever. Here’s
a new hotel with an aquatic center, tennis also gets a new Andrea Mead Lawrence

what Vermont’s ski areas have in store for you this season.
facility and an indoor mountain biking fa- day lodge, which will service the clientele
cility coming online in 2015.
of the Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports
and the Pico Education Foundation. Up
haystack mouNtaIN
on the trails, Pico will be sporting a new
ascutNey mouNtaIN
here this season with 6,000 feet of the
This private facility currently has more glades while Killington customers will mountain’s main snowmaking pipeline
than 200 members and is seeking to add appreciate $2 million spent on snowmak- There’s good news and bad news here.
1,300 more by February. Club initiation ing pipeline upgrades, four new grooming First the bad: The ski area will not be oper- replaced. Down in the base lodge, the
fees started at $20,000 and are expected machines and an expansion of the heated ating this season. No surprise. The good: carpeting has been replaced and a new
A civil court case was settled over the sum- outdoor stairway added for easier access.
to peak at $65,000. To accommodate area of the K-1 gondola loading area. All mer which will enable the ski area’s cur- The rental shop has upgraded one-third of
these high-rollers, owner Jim Barnes has told: more than $11 million reinvested for
plans to help expand the Mount Snow this season.
rent owner, MFW Associates, LLC to sell their gear with new Burton and Rossignol
Airport.
the property and fixed-assets to a potential equipment.
mad rIver GleN
buyer. We’ll see if anyone steps up to this
fiscal plate for next season. Batter up?
bromley mouNtaIN
Jay Peak
The mountain’s trail crews have been hard
The venerable Stateside base lodge is his- at work in the offseason pruning the chal- Vermont’s “Sun Mountain” has reinvest-
tory. Gone. In its place, a new and im- lenging gladed terrain while cutting a few boltoN valley
ed $650,000 in snowmaking firepower,
proved day lodge with hotel and 84 new
new discreet routes as well as working on
Snowmaking is the focus of improvements
backup generator power when Green

14 vtsPorts.com
November 2013