killington sale finalized

[newpylong1]

More details:

What are the key details of the announced two-year snowmaking system revitalization?

The highlight of our snowmaking revitalization project is the purchase of 1,000 new HKD low-energy snow guns, the majority of which will be tower mounted. 490 guns are being installed ahead of the 24/25 season and will mostly be replacements/upgrades for existing tower guns with older technology to improve energy efficiency. A small number of additional land guns are included and will feature a new tripod base to improve versatility on steep terrain. Cruise Control, Needles Eye, Outer Limits, Swirl, Timberline, Great Eastern, Blue Heavan, Bear Trax, lower Skyeburst, upper Bittersweet and Panic Button are all slated to receive new snow guns. Lastly, 4 new fully automated fan guns will be installed along the lowest section of Superstar trail.

The remainder of the new guns will be installed during summer 2025, the majority of which will be new tower guns. In addition to improving our energy efficiency, these new tower guns will allow us to be nimbler and more efficient with our trail opening and resurfacing efforts. Our snowmaking system currently relies heavily on land-based equipment which needs to be moved from trail to trail for expansion and resurfacing.

[hillbangin]

Looks like they are moving away from Poma and will be installing a Doppelmayr 6 at Superstar.

Never noticed till a trip to Big Sky - the Dopps are just way nicer.

[RustyK]

And replacement of the 1971 triple chair!

With the old superstar chair!

[rogman]

And replacement of the 1971 triple chair!

With the old superstar chair!

I’ll be the guy at the midstation sitting in a lawn chair downing a six pack while watching the mayhem.

[Big Bob]

Looks like they are moving away from Poma and will be installing a Doppelmayr 6 at Superstar.

Never noticed till a trip to Big Sky - the Dopps are just way nicer.

Having ridden them at both Sunday River and Loon I would have to agree, but no bubbles for Superstar. If they install the D Line model the safety bar is auto locking and cannot be unlocked during a lift evacuation without somebody sliding down the haul rope to release them!

[KingsFourMan]

With major snowmaking upgrades, a new Superstar 6, and a revamped Skyship gondola on tap for 25/26', what do you think the next priorities will be?

I'm guessing snowmaking upgrades will likely be a yearly thing for the next several years and that the Rams Head lift will be the next lift priority. Beyond that, I'd have to guess it would be the Snowdon triple. Pico will probably get some love too for 26/27'. I think we might see 2 lifts a year get upgraded at K and possibly 1 at Pico for the next several years.

I also think we'll probably see a multi-year master plan announcement coinciding with the announcement of the eventual village groundbreaking announcement if not sooner. I'm sure that Great Gulf would like to see that happen and since they are now a part owner of Killington, my guess is that it will happen.

[snoloco]

I read on another site that Snowshed will be the next lift. I get that Ramshead needs a capacity upgrade more, but Snowshed is another Yan conversion, and I think they're at a point where replacing those older lifts has to take precedence. If this were 10 years or even 5 years ago, then there would've been more flexibility to do Ramshead first.

As for snowmaking, they need to do a lot more than just gun replacements. With the gun replacements, water will become the limiting factor if it wasn't already. So that's going to have to be upgraded next.

[jimmywilson69]

Pipes and Pumps not a sexy splash type of upgrade, but its what is needed.

I really don't see them doing either Snowshed or Ramshead until there are final, approved plans for the village. Even then would the bottom terminals need to be in a different location than they are now? No one knows until the final plans of the village done.

[Southside_Bobby]

I agree with Snoloco that their lift replacement schedule will likely be based on age and condition of the lifts being replaced. Frankenstein lifts first.

And replacement of the 1971 triple chair!

With the old superstar chair!

And if they ever do replace the S3 (considering it was recently refurbed, I think it is fine), it better be with another fixed. Of all the K fixed lifts, the S3 is probably the most important on a powder or icy morning.

[KingsFourMan]

I agree with Snoloco that their lift replacement schedule will likely be based on age and condition of the lifts being replaced. Frankenstein lifts first.

And replacement of the 1971 triple chair!

With the old superstar chair!

And if they ever do replace the S3 (considering it was recently refurbed, I think it is fine), it better be with another fixed. Of all the K fixed lifts, the S3 is probably the most important on a powder or icy morning.

Agreed, and due to trail density.

[Atomic1]

I hope the new SS chair will NOT be one of those lifts where the conveyor belt brings you out to the lift and scoops you up in perfect time …but I’ve seen a couple of nice crashes on those lifts at the Loaf and I believe it was Mt. Snow ..

[Skid Mark]

Does anyone have information on the new bike trails?

I would hate to see another Blue Magic, Black Magic or Sideshow Bob massacre of our glade trails/trees.

Hopefully they expand to the skier's right of Snowshed.

[snoloco]

I hope the new SS chair will NOT be one of those lifts where the conveyor belt brings you out to the lift and scoops you up in perfect time …but I’ve seen a couple of nice crashes on those lifts at the Loaf and I believe it was Mt. Snow ..

Loading conveyors work completely different on fixed grips and detachables. On fixed grips, they move you ahead slightly slower than the chair, so the chair eventually catches up to you and you sit down. On detachables, they bring everyone from the wait point to the load point, and line everyone up when they get there. My sources have told me that when a lift with a loading conveyor is temporarily operated without it, that it produced a notable drop in throughput. So in short, they work. It is diminishing returns with a smaller chair. They help a lot more on 6 packs and 8 packs than they do on quads.

[Mistergiff]

. Pico will probably get some love too for 26/27'. I think we might see 2 lifts a year get upgraded at K and possibly 1 at Pico for the next several years.

I dunno, I feel like investment in Pico is a different animal. Can't the parts from Superstar and Snowshed keep Golden and Summit running for a while?

[newpylong1]

Yep. Maybe the Rams Head quad goes over there, maybe it doesn't. But there is no shot in hell you'll big lift moves over there prior to the Interconnect.