New Hampshire Ski Areas Make Capital Investments Ahead Of 2024-25 Season
New Hampshire’s ski areas have unveiled significant capital improvements designed to enhance the guest experience at their resorts, according to Ski New Hampshire, the statewide association representing over 30 alpine and cross-country resorts. These enhancements include new and renovated buildings; expanded snowmaking capabilities; new technology, lifts, and equipment; and more.
“Millions of dollars have been invested into New Hampshire ski areas this year. Each investment reflects the resorts’ commitments to provide the best possible conditions and services for their guests and to foster a vibrant skiing culture,” said Jessyca Keeler, president of Ski New Hampshire.
Major Capital Expenditures
Last summer, Gunstock Mountain Resort embarked on a $4.8 million capital expense plan that included $1.6 million for snowmaking expansion on the mountain, widening one trail, and extending and reconfiguring another. Additional plans include expanding a deck for outdoor dining at the Stockade Lodge, and a new Campground and Nordic Skiing Welcome Center, which is currently under construction. The new $1 million structure will provide visitors with modern facilities, a spacious check-in lobby and expanded retail space for equipment, clothing, provisions, and sundries.
In the next phase of its multi-year redevelopment project, Cranmore Mountain Resort is finishing construction of The Lookout building which now sits parallel to Cranmore’s new Fairbank Lodge at the base of the mountain. In addition to 17 new residences with ski-in/ski-out access, Cranmore’s patrol team is getting its own spacious, state-of-the-art ski patrol facility. This facility, more than twice the size of its predecessor, is strategically located opposite the base of the Skimobile Express. It will feature a small urgent care room with two emergency treatment beds donated by Memorial Hospital, two oversized treatment recliners, an electric garage door with rollers for smooth trauma sled delivery, enhanced lighting, expanded storage, and electronic sliding doors with an airlock.
Snowmaking Upgrades
Like most years, a major portion of this year’s ski area capital investments is going into snowmaking, according to Keeler. “Newer, more efficient equipment has made a dramatic difference at ski areas, improving snow production and snow quality, particularly in the early season, and at the same time increasing sustainability and reducing energy impact,” said Keeler. “It enables ski areas to open earlier and to stay open even when Mother Nature isn’t producing as much snow as we’d like.”
At Loon Mountain Resort, over 100 new semi-automated snowmaking hydrants are being installed on Loon Peak and North Peak trails, including Haulback, Brookway, and Bear Claw Extension. Snowmaking upgrades have also been expanded to South Peak trails including Cruiser, Ripsaw, Escape Route, and Chipper. Additionally, snowmaking has been installed on Upper and Lower Stinger. Together, nine trails will see improved snowmaking coverage.
With a $100,000 grant awarded through the Northern Border Regional Commission and matching funds, Whaleback Mountain in Enfield has also purchased and is installing additional snowmaking guns, a water pump and an upgraded electrical supply, effectively doubling its snowmaking capacity.
In Henniker, Pats Peak purchased and is installing four new semi-automatic fan guns. An additional 12 new HKD Impulse snow guns on Downdraft trail will enhance the capability to produce snow even at marginal temperatures. This equipment provides an efficiency boost of at least two degrees, which might not seem significant, but in the realm of snowmaking, the difference between 26 and 28 degrees is substantial.
In other snowmaking upgrades, Cranmore Mountain Resort is expanding two separate systems in the snowmaking line enabling snowmakers to boost and maximize pressure resulting in higher quality snow and increased production rates. They will also be adding eight new high-production snowmaking guns.
Mount Sunapee upgraded 20 snowguns with low-e snowguns that will improve snow production, snow quality, and energy efficiency. Great Glen Trails has also invested in energy-efficient snowmaking, adding power to the top of the tubing hill so that the snow guns will be electric-powered. Jackson XC has been working to improve its pumping capacity and will be extending its snowmaking to include additional distance on the Wentworth Resort Loops.
Lifts, Trails, Facilities and Groomers
While focusing on improving the reliability and efficiency of its snowmaking systems this summer, Wildcat Mountain also installed a new bull wheel at the summit to ensure a smoother ride up the mountain, and performed trail work in the glades off Lower Polecat.
This summer, Jackson XC has been rebuilding the Kellogg Trail to make it more weather-resistant and easier to ski by moving it away from an eroding river bank while recontouring it to make it more skier-friendly. Terrain adjustments on the Ellis River Trail were also made to reduce the amount of climbing and ease some previously challenging curves. Other trailwork was done to improve conditions for the Riverbank Trail, a beginner trail that includes the popular Storybook Path.
Whaleback Mountain added a new Sunkid surface lift next to the Lower Spout racing trail. This lift will provide a more direct path to the racing trail for racers and access to Canyon and Scrimshaw trails, home to Whaleback’s terrain park. This additional lift will help improve skier/rider flow during peak periods, and in providing access to the lower mountain, enable the ski area to open earlier.
In preparation for its 60th Anniversary, Attitash Mountain has been sprucing up its facilities, has added a new haul rope on the Abenaki, and is bringing back the Hunky Dory trail for natural skiing and riding.
In Lincoln, Loon Mountain Resort completed a redesign of its Octagon Lodge Patio. The fresh outdoor space features a snow-melt surface that will keep the patio clear for guests to enjoy in the winter. Slopeside, guests will access the patio from a new walkway that improves flow to and from the Octagon Lodge. Overall, the redesign makes this mountainside location more accessible for guests in every season.
Pats Peak in Henniker is putting the finishing touches on its new 6-bay Mountain Operations Building that will bring state-of-the-art capabilities to the Mountain Operations Team. This 19,000-square-foot building will expand maintenance capabilities by over 400% and streamline operations, providing staff with the additional resources to offer guests the best experience possible.
Gunstock Mountain Resort is also wrapping up the final details of its new mobile maintenance building. Multiple bays with a truck lift and a snowcat lift will allow Gunstock’s mechanics to operate more efficiently when vehicles require maintenance.
King Pine in East Madison has refreshed and will be reopening their snack bar for easier guest access, and continuing food and beverage service in the Evergreen Room and Pine Cone Café. The resort is also working to revitalize its Nordic program with a newly purchased grooming machine that will be used to try to get more trails open this year.
Mount Sunapee also purchased a new groomer as did Cranmore Mountain Resort, Crotched Mountain, and Abenaki Ski Area in Wolfeboro. Advances in snow groomers have made it possible for ski areas to create and provide a great ski surface in all sorts of weather as well as to create features in terrain parks.
New Technology
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio waves to passively identify a tagged object. RFID is integrated into season passes, day tickets, and other products at ski areas and can be used to automatically open lift gates at ski areas. Once the RFID Card is received, it can be reloaded from the comfort of home or during the car ride up, allowing guests to go right to the lifts. This year, Bretton Woods, Cranmore Mountain Resort, and Pats Peak are introducing RFID ticketing.
Crotched Mountain installed new fiber optic lines enabling large amounts of data to be transmitted reliably at higher speeds. This will result in improved communication across the mountain.
Ski New Hampshire is the statewide association representing 30+ alpine and cross-country resorts in New Hampshire. For more information on ski areas, trail conditions, vacation planning, and events at Ski New Hampshire resorts, visit SkiNH.com. For statewide travel info, go to VisitNH.gov.
