What’s New at Vermont Ski Areas

Vermont Ski Resort Updates – Improvements for this Season

Vermont ski resorts Last season was a great year for Vermont ski areas, and now it’s time to bring on the new ski season! Vermont ski areas and ski resorts have added a host of improvements to their facilities–including new trails, new quads, additional glades, and cutting-edge upgrades in snowmaking–to name only a few. Better snowmaking, faster quads, and new trails all adds up to more skiing and boarding fun in Vermont. Vermont winter resorts are spending more than ever to improve and renovate … and that’s great news for skiers and snowboaders. Here is a synopsis of some of the recent improvements for this ski and snowboarding season. Ask us about Vermont or share Vermont ski area comments. To feature your Vermont business, contact us.

Vermont Ski Areas & Updates

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Smugglers’ Notch in Jeffersonville – Smugglers’ is honored to be ranked as the #1 overall resort in the Eastern U.S. and Canada by SKI Magazine readers, in addition to being recognized as #1 for family vacations for the 15th year. This year, Smugglers’ is adding a hundred new tower snow guns on intermediate and advanced terrain – look for the big guns on Chilcoot, Link on Madonna Mountain, Upper FIS and Smugglers’ Alley on Sterling Mountain. New family activities include a cabin cat ride and a mini snowmobile track for the wee ones on Sir Henry’s.

Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe – Improvements for the 2013-2014 ski season at Stowe include an investment of $4.7 million in enhanced and expanded snowmaking capabilities. This means over 300 new high power tower guns, 150 new land guns, 16 fan guns and seven additional miles of snowmaking pipe. This translates into more terrain opening earlier in the season, improved snow quality and more efficient grooming.

Killington Mountain Resort in Killington – Killington’s major Killington Mountain Resort, Killington Mountain, Ski Killington, Snowguns improvements continue to develop as part of their $20 million, 5-year plan. Improvements have included the Skye Peak Express Quad, the new Peak facility and additional snowmaking capabilities. It is estimated that Killington’s new Peak facility will be completed by Christmas 2013. Ski runs have been improved, lifts have been upgraded, additional snow guns have been purchased, and both interiors and exteriors of existing buildings have been refurbished. Construction is already underway at Pico Mountain on the new Andrea Mead Lawrence Lodge, a $1.3 million facility for the Pico Ski Education Foundation and the Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports Program.

Okemo Mountain Resort – Big News from Okemo! The Okemo GM says “this can change the way Okemo Skis!”. He’s talking about Operation Snowburst, Okemo’s nearly $1 million investment in a state-of-the-art snowmaking system that includes the purchase of 225 HKD SV tower guns and significant upgrades to pumps and pipelines. This ski and snowboard season should be better than ever with more skiing and riding on opening day than ever before. Plan now to visit Okemo this season.

Burke Mountain & Jay Peak – Known in the skiing world for its ability to mold amateur athletes into professional gate-crushers, Burke Mountain’s name is synonymous with its stellar ski school reputation. New in 2013, Burke Mountain has begun construction on the new 116-suite Hotel Burke, as well as an indoor aquatic and tennis center. Slated to open their doors in the 2014-2015 season, this will present the first true ski-in/ski-out hotel at Burke. Burke continues to partner Jay Peak, “Uniting the Kingdom”, as they phrase it. Snow bunnies in the Northeast Kingdom can ride both mountains on one unrestricted pass called “The Judge Pass”. There is nice lodging nearby at East Burke inns and St. Johnsbury hotels.

Jay Peak is also slated for massive expansions, including a new 80,000 square foot base lodge with restaurants, locker rooms, a rental center and an 85-room hotel. Jay is also giving the resort entrance a makeover and new mountain cottages are under construction. Take some time out this winter to experience Burke and Jay Peak, “the best kept secrets in the Northeast.”

Vermont Lakes & Waterways

Find Vermont Lakes & Waterway in every region. Champlain Valley, Northeast Kingdom, North-Central, South-Central and Southern Vermont.

Champlain Valley VT Lakes & Waterways
Burlington, Middlebury, St. Albans, the Islands of NW Vermont
North Central VT Lakes & Waterways
Montpelier, Barre, Randolph, Waterbury, Stowe, Mad River Valley
Northeast Kingdom VT Lakes & Waterways
St. Johnsbury, Newport, Barton, Lyndonville, Burke, Jay, Island Pond
South Central VT Lakes & Waterways
Rutland, White River Jct., Woodstock, Quechee, Brandon, Killington, Ludlow, Weston, Chester
Southern VT Lakes & Waterways
Bennington, Brattleboro, Manchester, Arlington, Newfane, Mt. Snow area