Getaway: Ski Report - What's New in the Mountains of New England
Editor's note: For Nov. 7 publication.
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times (sorry Charles Dickens). Last year's ski season started with warmth - and no snow - and ended with the best snowfall, and some of the best ski conditions ever in March and April.
Everyone's hoping the weather won't be big news again this year. What certainly is big news is the demise of the giant American Skiing Company and new owners for Sugarloaf and Sunday River in Maine, Attitash in New Hampshire, Mount Snow, and Killington and Pico in Vermont.
New capital is flowing into these resorts as the new owners improve their facilities. Given the horrendous start to last year's season, it's not surprising that energy-efficient compressors, snow-guns and groomers are tops on everyone's shopping list. In fact, Attitash, Bretton Woods, Killington, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf and Sunday River all started making serious snow for the season in late October.
New lifts, trails, base lodges, slopeside villages, spas and health clubs will come about thanks to the new owners, but all take years of planning and construction. We'll see the results down the road. But other projects that have been ongoing for years are now producing results.
New Hampshire
New owners and/or operators will eventually mean change at Attitash (Peak Resorts), Ragged Mountain (RMR Pacific) and Loon Mountain Resort (Boyne USA). But what you'll see already at Loon, in Lincoln, is that after more than a decade of planning and permit processing they are finally opening three new runs - two groomed trails and a new glade - with two new lifts as the first phase of their expansion onto 2,450-foot South Peak.
Though the slopes at Bretton Woods in Bretton Woods are going to look pretty much the same this year, the off-slope experience is changing with a new 25,000-square foot spa and health club and 30,000-square foot convention center attached to the elegant Mount Washington Hotel. You'll see it rise before your very eyes as the season progresses, and it should be open in late 2008.
Vermont
Four resorts have new owners in Vermont this season: Killington and Pico (Powder Corp.), Mount Snow (Peak Resorts) and Bolton Valley (Redstone). All will have much-needed upgrades before snow flies.
But the biggest and most visible changes are at Stowe, which is looking brand new - at least Spruce Peak where they've replaced slow lifts with new high speeds, added a new gondola to connect the Spruce base with Mount Mansfield across route 108, and created some new trail configurations. Stowe is also smack in the middle of building a complete new base village, including a base lodge and a huge slopeside hotel. The base lodge should be on-line in December while the hotel will open later in the season.
Believe it or not, there's a brand-new lift at Mad River Glen, where nothing is ever supposed to change. But traditionalists needn't worry. It doesn't look like a new lift. MRG spent $1.5 million this season to fully restore and refurbish their iconic single chair. You can enjoy the same 45-minute wait in line for the 11-minute ride to the top in glorious solitude.
Maine