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Resorts in the Northeast impacted by Tropical Storm Irene began rebuilding quickly. Here’s how they have progressed.

LOON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Tropical Storm Irene dumped 10 inches of rain over the area, causing the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River to flood, undermining Loon’s access bridge abutments and closing Route 112 east of the resort. A portion of the bridge collapsed three days later.

The damaged bridge was quickly replaced with a temporary pedestrian bridge for the 36th annual New Hampshire Highland Games, the largest Scottish Festival in the Northeast, which took place Sept. 17. After the Games, the bridge was to be replaced by a temporary two-lane bridge for vehicular traffic, slated to be in place by mid-November and to remain in place for Loon’s winter ski season.

Work on a permanent bridge is scheduled to begin next spring.



OKEMO, VERMONT
Most of the water damage unleashed by Irene was repaired within a month. Okemo’s Clock Tower Base Area suffered most of the damage, due to mud slides. Flooding also washed out Mountain Road, and water and mud washed through the base area, depositing several feet of silt and sand in the Snow Stars learning area, also known as Galaxy Bowl.

Okemo spent the first few days in the aftermath of Irene cut off from the world due to washouts and road closures, but access was restored in a matter of days. The lift shack in the Galaxy Bowl has been righted and the sand removed, restoring the area to its original grade. The two carpet lifts were rebuilt with new bearings and additional parts. They will be fully functional in time for the start of ski season. The clock tower is undergoing a facelift, work that was previously scheduled and is proceeding as planned.



SUGARBUSH, VERMONT
Sugarbush Resort sustained severe damage to its snowmaking pond due to excessive rainfall. During the height of the storm, the Mad River rose over the upstream south banks of the snowmaking pond, filling it with additional water as well as silt and gravel. The high flood waters eroded the southern banks of the pond, which caused the Mad River to eventually change course and flow directly into the snowmaking pond. The north end of the pond (downstream), including the engineered spillway at the northwest corner, remained intact.

With the help of state officials, Sugarbush restored the river to its original course by Sept. 1, a few days after the storm. The resort drained the pond and removed the built-up silt and gravel so that the pond can be refilled to pre-flood depth. Sugarbush president Win Smith says the pond will be repaired in time for the upcoming winter season.



KILLINGTON, VERMONT
Irene dumped nearly 11 inches of rain on the Killington area. Roads leading out of the Killington area were impassable after the storm, stranding roughly 300 guests and 100 employees at the resort. Killington's K-1 Lodge Superstar Pub, which sits on a separate foundation from the rest of the building, sustained the most damage. A large volume of water running off of Roaring Brook shifted the building off its foundation, causing it to collapse. The K-1 Lodge itself received only minor water damage. However, other base lodges incurred water and mud damage, and erosion affected several parking lots. On the plus side, lift towers and structures, lodging properties, the snowmaking pond and golf course sustained minimal damage.

The Superstar Pub will be replaced with a new deck and Meissl Umbrella Bar, named the Roaring Brook Umbrella Bar. Construction on the new deck began in early October.

The resort is making significant progress with its clean-up efforts of the base lodge, roads and lodging properties. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Vermont Agency of Transportation are diligently working to repair U.S. Route 4 and Vt. Route 100, the major east-west and north-south access routes to the area.



ATTITASH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Attitash Mountain Resort was hit by Tropical Storm Irene’s heavy rains and wind. Staff worked to clean up significant mud and rock debris that washed down from the mountain and covered much of the main base lodge area. The resort was able to quickly recover and open most summer attractions before the Labor Day weekend, but the resort’s new mountain coaster suffered the most wash-out damage and was closed for more than a month, until all structural track supports were secured, inspected for operation, and related track sections re-installed. The resort re-opened the Nor’Easter Mountain Coaster in time for the Columbus Day weekend, when Attitash also hosted its annual Oktoberfest weekend.



SUGARLOAF, MAINE
The Sugarloaf area received 8.5 inches of rain in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. The deluge washed away two bridges on Maine Route 27, one on the north side of the Sugarloaf access road entrance and one on the south side, which left the resort isolated for a brief time. The Maine DOT completed two temporary bridges on Route 27 that have restored traffic back to normal.

The resort itself sustained minimal damage. Two cart bridges on the golf course were damaged but quickly repaired. Roads on the mountain saw minor erosion damage, all of which has been repaired. The resort’s ski shop had water damage to carpets, which were replaced, but no structural damage occurred to any buildings.

Sugarloaf’s capital projects are still on track, including a new chairlift and continued terrain expansion onto Burnt Mountain.