Schweitzer Mountain Resort - New Lifts, New Construction, Area Improvements
It’s been an exceptionally busy summer at Schweitzer Mountain Resort with two major construction projects currently in progress. On mountain, Schweitzer plans for the completion of two new chairlifts serving the North Bowl of the resort by mid-October. A Lietner Poma detachable quad chair, Cedar Park Express, will provide more access for intermediate skiers and riders in the resort’s back bowl. A complementing triple chair from Skytrac, the Colburn Triple, will allow advanced and expert skiers to reach the summit of the mountain and access the steeper terrain in Lakeside Chutes more quickly. Both lifts will be in service for the 2019/20 season. The addition of the two new lifts also provided the opportunity for Schweitzer to enhance the skier experience on the mountain with an increase in skier capacity, shorter expected lift lines, and an additional 7 new named runs added to the resort’s mix.
Schweitzer’s popularity as a winter destination has continued to grow with more visitors looking for ski-in/ski-out lodging, particularly on busy weekends and holidays. In response, Schweitzer commenced construction on a new 30-unit boutique hotel in the village. The hotel will offer a 50 seat restaurant, bar, and outdoor patio. The building will feature a small co-working space, exercise area, communal ‘living room’ and outdoor spa. The initial round of construction began this past summer with the water, sewer, and gas infrastructure being put into place as well as concrete foundations for the building’s underground parking. Schweitzer expects construction to finish next summer with the hotel open for reservations in the fall of 2020.
Access to the resort was improved this past summer with the Independent Highway District (IHD) resurfacing the main Schweitzer round-about and 6.5 miles of the access road. Simultaneously, Intermax Networks installed fiber optic cables running from the valley to Schweitzer which will improve the bandwidth for all internet and WiFi users at the resort.
Schweitzer spent an additional one point six million dollars on maintenance projects this summer including the purchase of a SS Extreme Skid Steer Mulching Mower. This aggressive mower has enabled Schweitzer to mow through thick alder and vegetation, as well as mulch and consume tree stumps without needing an excavator. A steel tracked Skid Steer was also purchased to help operate the mower on steeper terrain. As of September, approximately 50 acres of terrain on Little Blue Ridge Run, Vagabond, Snowghost, Have Fun, Zipdown, Cathedral Aisle, Springboard and Stella’s Run had been mowed with more possible, weather depending this fall. In addition to the mower, Schweitzer purchased a Prinoth Bison winch snow cat and a new Techno-Alpin T8 snowmaking machine.
Other projects receiving attention were the creation of additional seating in The Outback and Lakeview Lodge with the partial enclosure of the deck at The Outback and transforming the area underneath the Taps Bar deck to provide more seating. A new Snowsports yurt to serve as a warming hut and focal point for kids’ programs was built near Musical Carpet and a larger awning to protect guests while purchasing tickets at the main ticket windows. The Lakeview Lodge’s existing flooring was also upgraded and the Rental Department acquired a new fleet of adult Rossignol rental skis.
In an industry continually dominated by resort consolidation, Schweitzer remains independently owned & proud of the improvements the resort is making under the guidance of an active and engaged board of directors. Schweitzer is unique in that it does not exist on Forest Service property and owns all 7,000 acres of land on which it operates.
