Killington “Fiercely Independent” Resort Update 2024

The “newly independent” Killington Resort and the KPAA held their annual resort update last night, and it was by far the most well attended we have ever seen. Everyone wanted to come out to meet the new owners of the resort, see what updates were in the works, and get some answers to their questions.

The meeting certainly did not dissapoint! (Other than that there will be no June 1 skiing in 2025, but hey, we’re getting a new lift!)

We’ll give you a quick rundown on the meeting and have a copy of the slides below as well.

1. Village Site Plan Overview:
   • The first phase of the village development will include over 650 ski-in/ski-out condominiums, Ram’s Head singles and townhomes, 110,000+ square feet of retail and dining, two public squares, an 85,000+ square-foot ski lodge, and improvements to Snowshed Pond.
   • The Ramshead roads and clearing are hoping to start in January 2025.
2. Seasonal Visuals of the Village:
   • Renderings show the village in different seasons, highlighting its integration with the surrounding landscape and the aesthetic appeal during summer, autumn, and winter.
3. Village Features:
   • There will be public areas with pedestrian pathways and spaces for outdoor dining, featuring a vibrant atmosphere with people enjoying the amenities.
   • There are over 800,000 skier visits to Blue Mountain – with only 700 vertical feet!
4. Village Entertainment:
   • A focus on outdoor entertainment, with events likely to include live music and performances in the public squares.
   • Great Gulf sees over a million summer visitors to Blue Mountain based on summer programming!
5. Development Timeline:
   • Infrastructure construction is underway by the town.
   • Key project developments like Ramshead Access and resort parking projects will start in Q1 2025.
   • Other milestones include submissions for regulatory approvals, sales launch in late 2025, vertical construction in Q2 2026, and the first phase of occupancy between Q4 2027 and Q2 2028.
6. Snowmaking Improvements:
   • Killington has optimized snowmaking by moving HKD sleds, resulting in a 50% reduction in diesel usage.
   • A comparison between K3000 and HKD snowmakers indicates significant cost savings with the HKD units.
   • 1,000 new snow guns!

7. Superstar Express Updates:
   • The new Doppelmayr six-pack lift will enhance comfort without bubbles, with heavy chairs to resist wind. The lift capacity remains the same, but the line is being relocated slightly.
8. Superstar Bottom Terminal Redesign:
   • The loading design will be similar to the Snowdon Six lift, with changes to the entrance layout for improved accessibility.
9.  Spring Skiing:
   • Recognition of the grooming team’s efforts to extend skiing to June 1.
   • Planning for snowmaking in other parts of the mountain to support spring skiing.
   • There will be no June skiing on Superstar. The resort is hoping for April and then construction must begin.
   • World Cup 2025 is questionable due to construction.
10. Skyeship Gondola:
    • All 116 gondola cabins are being replaced next summer with a design similar to the K-1 cabins.
    • A new gondola barn is being constructed.
    • The doors have all been fixed for this year.
11. Pico Snowmaking System Projects:
    • Significant snowmaking upgrades include new pipes, pump house replacements, and improvements, with a $6 million investment.
    • Water transfer between Killington and Pico to support snowmaking operations.
12. Pico Upgrades:
    • Installation of 44 new low-energy snow guns, doubling the existing number.
    • Terrain park expansion and upgrades to Bonanza.
13. Pico Magic Carpet Partnership with VT Adaptive:
    • Development of a covered magic carpet lift to support adaptive ski and snowboard programs.
    • Pending permitting process for the installation.
14. Summer/Mountain Biking:
    • Gravity Logic will continue expansion of trails and infrastructure for mountain biking activities during the summer season.
15. Grooming Fleet:
    • Expansion of the grooming fleet to include five machines with snow depth technology.
    • Plan to add three groomers per year to maintain trail conditions.
16. Needles Eye & Skyeship Challenges:
    • Issues with the Needles Eye lift drive last season, with downtime that lasted too long.
    • Repairs have been completed on the Skyeship gondola doors.
    • More routine maintenance in addition to upgrades is planned.
17. Guest Feedback Last Season:
    • Complaints about the shuttle system, ticket prices, conditions page inaccuracies, and promises about Southridge operations.
    • Plans to address feedback, including shuttle upgrades, mid-week specials, and on-mountain safety improvements.
18. Weather on Website:
    • Improved weather forecasting with multiple temperature points across the mountain.
    • Enhanced webcam setups for better live viewing of mountain conditions.
19. Moving People Around the Mountain:
    • A comparison of the average visitor distribution from FY17-FY20 to FY21-FY24 shows a significant increase in Friday visits (up 40.5%) and moderate increases on weekdays, with a decrease on weekends.
20. Crowding & Employee Parking:
    • Addressing perceptions of overcrowding and emphasizing the importance of effective parking management for both guests and employees.
21. Skye Peak Express Maze Improvement:
    • Improvements to the lift queue management to enhance the flow and reduce congestion, include moving the RFID gates and expanding the maze.
22. Wayfinding:
    • Installation of new directional signage and the addition of a new trail, “Field Goal,” while removing the trail “Low Traverse.”
23. Sustainability & Community Giving:
    • Commitment to sustainability with off-site solar energy generating about 12% of the resort’s electricity.
    • New initiatives include new electric vehicle “smart” chargers.
24. Bear Basecamp Project:
    • Construction is set to begin in the spring, with four buildings planned for development.
    • Ten units have already been reserved.
    • The resort receives funds from the sale of each unit which can be reinvested.
25. Parks:
    • K Parks is back!
26. Board of Directors:
    • Listing key members of the board, including their roles and connections to the resort and community.
27. Due Diligence Conclusions:
    • The new owners have a positive assessment of the management team and infrastructure.
    • Confirmation that the planned village development is financially feasible, supported by POWDR’s investments and cash flow.

And that wrapped up the meeting! It was great to hear of all the work and planned improvements!