Killington Resort Announces Nearly $6.5 Million in Improvements for the 2011-12 Season

Killington Resort announced today a number of summer projects that will enhance skier and rider experiences for the 2011-12 season.

Most notable is the removal of the Peak Lodge from the 4,100 foot level of Killington Peak which was originally constructed as the return station of the original gondola and included a dining facility. “Constructed in the late 1960’s, this facility has reached its usable life span and it is time for it to be replaced,” stated Chris Nyberg, president and general manager of Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC. The existing building is currently serviced by the K-1 Express Gondola.

Pending permit approvals, the removal of the existing building and the new replacement facility and related infrastructure is expected to cost nearly $7 million when completed and will consist of a multilevel restaurant and meeting space facility. The structure will be somewhat smaller than the building it is replacing and reside at the same location as the old structure. “Our primary goal is to replace the existing facility with a building designed to provide optimal views from nearly any point inside the building and the exterior design to blend itself to the preexisting location on the landscape,” Nyberg explained.

The removal project is expected to occur this summer and the new facility constructed the following summer with anticipated completion date of Christmas 2012.

The architectural firm of Robert Carl Williams Associates in Pittsfield, Vt. has been retained for design and planning.

This new facility will become the highest gondola served restaurant and meeting space venue in eastern North America. Situated near Killington Peak in the Green Mountains, the 22,000 square foot facility will provide vistas of the Adirondack Range in N.Y., the White Mountains of N.H. and the Green Mountains of Vt.

"This facility will be an icon for not only the Killington Region in Central Vermont, but for the entire state. The views and experience that the new facility will provide to our guests will be unsurpassed,” Nyberg said.

In addition to the removal of the existing Peak Lodge structure, there will be several other important infrastructure projects undertaken this summer to prepare for the construction of the Killington Peak facility. Projects will include; installations of waste water treatment and fiber optic lines from the summit area of Killington Peak down to the base of the K-1 Express Gondola.    

The K-1 Express Gondola base area will also be getting a facelift this summer. The maze area will be covered and heated. Additionally, the gondola car storage area and adjacent guest drop-off area is being renovated.

For the 2011/12 season, a new tubing park will also debut adjacent to East Mountain Road across from the Killington Grand Hotel using the Killington Golf Course Clubhouse as the operations base.

Continued enhancement of the on-snow experience at both Killington Resort and Pico Mountain will take center stage this summer with a dedicated crew that will focus on trail and glade work. “We will be pruning and trimming gladed areas as well as clearing new growth,” stated Jeff Temple, director of mountain operations. “Several years ago we began our trail development project. We’ll continue the program this year by finishing up projects at Bear Mountain and concentrating on Snowdon and Skye Peak this summer as we continue to enhance skier flow."

Killington Resort will also be continuing a substantial investment in its snowmaking system with new replacement snowmaking pipe, hydrants and valves. “We are investing in our grooming fleet with the purchase of three new Prinoth grooming tractors and adding over 150 low energy snowmaking guns to the arsenal,” Temple stated. “The energy cost to produce air for the snowmaking process is the single largest expense in the production of snow. With the increased cost of all types of energy, making snow as efficiently as possible is critical to provide a quality experience to our guests in an environmentally responsible manner.” Man-made snow is critical to the sustainability of Killington’s snow surfaces and is necessary to survive the weather variables seen in the East.   

Other areas of Killington Resort receiving improvements this summer include; base lodges, existing chairlifts and the Killington Golf Course. In addition, Killington Resort and Pico Mountain will invest in a new rental equipment fleet providing the latest technology in ski and snowboard equipment to its guests. Also of note is a new disc golf course being built at Pico Mountain that will open July 1.

Download Killington Peak facility architectural renderings here.