SUGAR BOWL, CALIFORNIA
With approval from the United States Forest Service this past summer, Sugar Bowl broke ground on a $3 million lift installation and terrain expansion, improving lift-serviced access to advanced and expert terrain on the west side of the resort. The Crow’s Peak chairlift, a new, fixed-grip Doppelmayr triple, will run at 500 fpm with a capacity of 1,800 people per hour and rises just under 1,000 feet. The fixed grip was a necessity due to limited space at the top terminal (no room for a detachable), but is actually beneficial in terms of running during inclement weather.

Serving terrain that in the past has had hike-to access from the Disney Express Chair, the new Crow’s Peak chair will expand the resort’s skiable acreage from 1,500 to 1,650. The terrain enhancements will include two new groomed runs, additional tree skiing, and chutes and cliffs.

Avalanche control off of Crow’s Peak will increase due to the greater number of skiers and riders in the area. Previously, this terrain has been deemed open, yet “uncontrolled terrain.” It will now be controlled to a higher level.


JAY PEAK, VERMONT
Jay Peak’s massive new Stateside base facility is just one part of the resort’s $500 million growth initiative that kicked off this summer. The new Stateside base area is projected to be completed by Christmas, 2013. The roughly 80,000-square-foot base facility includes a 12,000-square-foot base lodge, 160-guest restaurant, locker rooms, a rental center and a 70,000-square-foot, 84-room hotel. Windham Millwork, Inc. is the architectural firm behind the project and this will be their third hotel project at the resort.

In addition to the Stateside facility project, construction continues at Jay with 84 new mountain cottages and townhomes, which will be built between the resort’s existing entrance and where the new entrance will be, farther east on Route 242. The condos are planned to be completed by December 2013 as well.

The third component of Jay Peak’s summer projects included a new wedding and event space, which opened this past July. The Barn, as the wedding facility is being called, is a 2,000-square-foot facility located between the first tee and ninth green on Jay Peak’s golf course.

After Vail Resorts (VR) purchased Afton Alps, Minn., and Mount Brighton, Mich., last December, little time was wasted before VR announced that it would be investing $20 million this summer into the two areas. The investments included enhancements and upgrades to dramatically improve the guest experience.


AFTON ALPS, MINNESOTA
The improvements at Afton Alps include snowmaking improvements, a new guest service facility, a new terrain park, a new lift ticketing and scanning system, EpicMix racing and RFID technology.

The area’s snowmaking will see a complete overhaul and expansion, starting with the addition of 22 energy-efficient SMI guns and 50 low-energy SMI tower guns to its existing snowmaking arsenal. The area is also constructing a new state-of-the art snowmaking pump house, which will double the pumping capacity from 1,800 gpm to 3,600 gpm, with space for an additional 1,050 gpm pump in the future.

The resort’s new guest facility building will be a complete renovation of the existing building to include a new ski school center, ticketing and pass sales office, customer service center, six product sales counter stations, two manager offices and a new public restroom.

The third major enhancement to the guest experience at Afton Alps will be the new terrain park, designed and built by Snow Park Technologies (SPT). SPT will design, construct and install the signature features. Additional features will be built by the terrain park staff at Keystone and Northstar and will be shipped to Afton Alps. They will also be traveling to the area to perform upgrades to the existing features. The park will include three levels of progression features from beginner to advanced, including the following:?60 features, ski and snowboard cross course, a new learning park for kids, and two new custom rope tows for quick and convenient park access.

In addition to the newly-designed terrain park, the area will construct a new terrain park village, with indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to relax or warm up and watch the park action.

The new lift ticketing and scanning system will be completely electronic and provide the resort’s guests with fast acess to the lift for both season passholders and single day guests.

Vail Resorts’ EpicMix Racing will also be implemented at Afton Alps this winter. The social app lets skiers and riders of all abilities track their vertical feet and race times. Race times, digital medals, overall leaderboards and leaderboards with family and friends will all be available on both the EpicMix website and mobile application.

Finally, Vail Resorts will install its EpicMIX RFID technology at the area, so skiers and riders can track their runs at all the Vail resorts.


MOUNT BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN
Resort-wide improvements at Mount Brighton include expanded snowmaking, new chairlifts, slope grading, a new terrain park, new racing hill expansion, new children’s ski and ride school center, new base area facilities, and EpicMix technology.

The snowmaking expansion nearly triples the capacity of the area’s former snowmaking capabilities. The overhaul includes a new automated pump house, 43 new, energy-efficient SMI guns, 17,000 feet of higher capacity pipe, and 92 new hydrants.

Two new, fixed-grip Doppelmayr quad chairs will be installed at the area to replace two older lifts. In addition, the relocation of an existing fixed-grip triple chair will open up better terrain for the third portion of the progression terrain parks. Two existing fixed-grip triple chairs will be refurbished, including new VFD drives. An existing double rope tow will be relocated to make room for the installation of two new Sun Kid conveyor lifts.

The entire base area at Mt. Brighton will be transformed starting with a completely re-imagined entry facade that sports a new roof line and enhances the guest entry experience. There will be two renovated and updated food service areas, the first being a quick-serve restaurant, Ski Hill Grill, that will serve as the primary food service area for fast dining and includes a full service bar. The second is a sit-down restaurant named Ore Creek Mountain Grill. Both new restaurants will receive all new kitchen and food prep areas.

Also included in the base area renovations is the new children’s ski and ride school center. This has been designed specifically for children, with pint-sized dining and play areas. The center will offer a new slate of skiing and riding programs that will allow the area to offer both full and half day children’s ski school lessons, 7 days a week, and the resort will also offer a comfortable and secure environment for the indoor time.

The area’s new terrain park will mimic the overhaul at Afton Alps (above). SPT will design, construct and install the signature features, and Keystone and Northstar will build the others. Mt. Brighton’s new terrain park will also include three levels of progression features from beginner to advanced and comprise?60 features, ski and snowboard cross course, and a new learning park for kids.

Finally, Vail Resorts will implement its EpicMix Racing programs at the area, along with the Vail Resorts EpicMix RFID technology.