Vermont is a major ski destination in the east, and has been since the beginning of the industry in the 1930s. The resorts of Vermont are popular with skiers and boarders from New York and Connecticut and the other states along the eastern seaboard. This year, as always, millions more have been spent to enhance the experience.
What’s New in Northern Vermont Skiing
Jay Peak Resort, Jay: The biggest changes this year come at Jay Peak Resort, the most northern of the state’s big resorts. Some $13 million has been spent as part of the resort’s ongoing revitalization program. The Tram Haus Lodge (opened 12/2009) has had 57 new luxury units added and has added Alice’s Table featuring a Vermont-inspired menu and the Tower Bar offers lighter options. A new ice arena, Ice Haus, has opened at the Nordic Center/Golf Clubhouse, which itself opened in June. Curling and skating lessons and hockey will be available to guests.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Jeffersonville: Rated for years as the best family resort in Vermont, Smugglers’ has added a new forest canopy zip ride with suspension bridges, rappelling and more than 4,000 feet of zip line cable. The attraction runs through a mature hardwood forest and is planned as a year-round feature of the resort. Skiing and boarding at Smugglers ranges over three mountains and the resort also offers skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and a raft of other activities as well as sup0erb child care and activities.
Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe: Stowe’s addition this year is the Spruce Peak Arts Center, a year-round facility for theater, music, dance, film, comedy, lectures and multimedia presentations. It will open in December, a part of substantial development in the Spruce Peak area over the past few years.
What’s New in Central Vermont Skiing
Killington Resort, Killington: Some of the major work at Killington over the summer had to do with a basic rebuild of the 88 mile long snowmaking system to make it more energy efficient and effective. New piping, guns and air cooling system to make the snowmaking system more efficient will greatly improve skiing conditions. Killington has also done significant regrading work on its trails and slopes to improve flow. Re working of some of the lifts, and in particular replacement of old seating should help to improve the experience.
Sugarbush Resort, Warren: In 2006 Sugarbush began its revitalization program with the initial phase of Lincoln Peak Village. This year that project took another $10 million step forward with two new lodges, a new entrance plaza and a new 12,500 sq. ft schoolhouse to house the resort’s children’s programs. Another separate lodge will house ticket services, passes, guest lockers, adult ski&ride, repairs and rental, restrooms and a café. In addition, more than two miles of snowmaking piping have been replaced in the Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen sections.
