DEC & Olympic Authority Announce Updates To Modernize Belleayre To Meet Additional User Demand

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) today released the final Unit Management Plan (UMP) for the Belleayre Ski Center. Belleayre Ski Center is located in Highmount in the town of Shandaken, Ulster County, within the Catskill Forest Preserve and is the only State-operated ski center in the Catskills.

"The Catskills are home to beautiful natural treasures that attract people from across New York State and the country," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "The Belleayre Unit Management Plan will guide the ski center's future sustainable management with new and improved upgrades that will help Belleayre continue to attract visitors to the Catskill region throughout the year."

Olympic Authority Sustainability Officer Emma Lamy said, "The adoption of this Unit Management Plan Amendment gives the Olympic Authority the ability to increase efficiencies within the snowmaking system, ensure the safety of guests from parking areas to ski slopes, diversify the beginner and intermediate terrain to increase accessibility, provide reliable Nordic skiing terrain, expand the hiking and mountain biking trail systems to become more of a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the Catskill Park, ensure guests with electric vehicles have a place to charge, and much more. Belleayre Mountain is a beloved Catskill treasure with the opportunity to become a world-class destination, encouraging sustainable outdoor recreation for years to come."

Belleayre Mountain General Manager Bruce Transue said, "With the UMP finalized, we now have a road map for the future, for development, improvements, maintenance and more importantly growth and the stewardship of the local area."

This is the second amendment to the Belleayre UMP since the Olympic Authority assumed management responsibility of the Belleayre Ski Center in 2016. The plan proposes upgrades to trails and ski center infrastructure that will allow the center to run efficiently and effectively, improve the visitor experience, and expand the usability of the site by the public in non-winter months.

The following significant management actions are included in the final UMP:

1. Construction of new gondola cabin maintenance building;
2. Creation of a new beginner ski area with conveyor lift;
3. Re-alignment of existing Lift 7;
4. Creation of a pedestrian staircase connecting parking lots A and B;
5. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations;
6. Expansions of the administration building and Longhouse Lodge;
7. Modifications to existing Nordic and Alpine ski trails;
8. Creation of new hiking and mountain biking trails; and
9. Relocation of the previously approved snowmaking reservoir.

The final UMP for the Belleayre Ski Center can be viewed on DEC's website.