Maine Ski Season Starts strong, new ownership
by Heather Burke Nov. 18, 2007
- If the almanac, acorn laden trees, and the
squirrels scurrying about are any indication (don’t you love these
Yankee legends), we’re in for a cold snowy winter.
Sunday River already attained “first in New England” by opening for
limited skiing on Halloween day, and reopening for the season Nov. 8.
Sugarloaf took second for season openers the next day, ahead of
projections and last year. Maine has led the charge of chairlifts in the
Northeast, a promising sign for skiers in the Pine Tree State.
The purchase of Sunday River and Sugarloaf this August by CNL Income
Properties, with Boyne USA as the management company, is an exciting
page-turner for Maine skiers. Already millions ($8.8 mill) have been
invested at Sugarloaf and Sunday River, more than financially-strapped
ASC (and now defunct) spent in years.
More good news for Mainers, a reasonable Maine Pass has been offered
with skiing at both the River and the Loaf, with bonus days at other
Michigan-based Boyne USA resorts like Big Sky in Montana and Brighton in
Utah.
Here’s a look at what’s up at your favorite Maine ski resort. Snowmaking
leads the list of mountain improvements.
Sugarloaf, now open, garnered $4 million in upgrades.
Much of this investment went into snowmaking, expanded water pumping
capacity, new proprietary Boyne fan guns, plus two new Prinoth groomers.
A magic carpet beginner lift has been added on the Birches slope.
Bullwinkle’s mid-mountain lodge has been expanded, while the dilapidated
Gondola mid-station has been removed. And the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel
(formerly “The Grand”) has been renovated. Sugarloaf’s Outdoor Center,
where cross-country skiing and ice-skating are offered, has also been
expanded, that was funded by the Town of Carrabassett.
Sunday River also received an infusion of cash, with
$4.8 million spread amongst snowmaking - 10 of Boyne’s proprietary fan
guns plus 85 new low energy guns, three new groomers, plus renovations
to the two hotels, South Ridge and North Peak lodges. Skiers will also
notice a new magic carpet has been added to the South Ridge Sundance
learning area and a brand new ticketing system has been installed at the
River. Next weekend, Sunday River will host Demo days, an opportunity to
test the latest equipment on snow.
Saddleback plans to open Dec. 15. Saddleback’s
signature America trail from the scenic summit received snowmaking and
extensive maintenance during the off-season, and a black diamond glade
named “Upper Jane Craig” has been cut. The Sandy River Chair has been
upgraded, and the Terrain Park will sport new features. The big news at
Saddleback is that the Berry family’s 10-year development plan was
approved by Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission, allowing for nine
new lifts and networking trail systems in the coming years. Design work
has already begun on a chairlift to replace the summit Kennebago T-Bar.
Shawnee Peak celebrates 70 years this season, with
special events planned for Feb. 2. Shawnee installed a new snowmaking
pump to dramatically bolster snowmaking, and added more low-energy tower
mounted guns, with plans to open Dec. 15. Skiers should be happy to find
the “Happiness is” trail has been widened on Pleasant Mountain. Shawnee
continues to be an environmental leader, this year the ski area will be
100% carbon neutral by offsetting all energy used with wind energy
credits and carbon sequestration (fancy enviro-speak for planting
hundreds of trees).
Mt Abram plans to open Dec. 22 with a new groomer added
to the fleet, and 12 new trailside guns to expand snowmaking coverage.
The Flying Squirrel Tubing Hill has been redesigned and ramped up - now
sporting 3 runs; it continues to be the longest tubing hill in Maine.
This year, the Mt. Abram Ski Club has been established, it’s a
non-profit to help promote events and activities on an ongoing basis.
Work has begun on the Snowmaking pond which will double Mt A’s
snowmaking water availability, part of the Burns’ family 3-year master
plan, now in year 2, which will culminate next year for the ski area’s
50th anniversary.
Eaton Mountain is under new ownership as of September.
Misty Bickford has taken the reigns; she is the niece of Mary Kent – the
previous owner who died of cancer last year. Already the ski area has
received extensive trail maintenance and widening, and the Terrain Park
has been expanded. Inside the Lodge, improvements have been made
including the cafeteria and the rental shop. Bickford said Eaton is
planning a Ski-A-Thon for Breast Cancer at Eaton this winter as a
tribute to Mary Kent.
Camden Snow Bowl has ramped up their Terrain Park
offerings, bringing the elements further up the hill. For glade lovers,
there is a new “Upper, Upper Glade” trail accessed from the chairlift
summit, and re-grading has taken place from Mussel Ridge to the Foxy
Trail.
Lost Valley’s main chairlift has been refurbished, and
painted to live up to its name “The Colored Lift.” More improvements
have been made to the popular Terrain Park to give a better flow, new
rails and boxes have been added - plastered with sponsors. Lost Valley
is also creating learning elements to their park with all the features
keeping in contact with the snow (read: no big air till you’re
schooled). Lost Valley looks to host more Rail Jams, day and night,
along with the return of the Maine Mountain Series. Opening day is
planned for Dec. 20.
Black Mountain in Rumford continues its Maine Winter
Sports’ mission to keep skiing affordable for locals. After last
winter’s success, Black’s 7-week Alpine Snow Kids program returns to
offer season-long lessons for kids on Saturdays and Sundays. Lift
tickets at Black stay at $20 for adults, and $16 for youth, and four
free ski nights are planned throughout the winter to encourage first
time skiers, or folks who haven’t skied in years, to come give snow
sliding a try. Black’s opening day is scheduled for Dec. 26.
Improvements have been made to Black’s Terrain Park, and snowmaking
continues to be upgraded on much of the 20 trails.
The future of Big Moose Mountain (a.k.a. Big Squaw Ski
Area) continues to be a big question in Greenville. Skiers have been
shut out from the summit since March of 2004 when the double chair
malfunctioned and still remains in disrepair. The owner Jim Confalone is
in continuous discussions with architects on short and long term
expansion plans to include a golf course and additional hotels and
condominiums. Meanwhile, no improvements have been made to the ski area
in years; the hotel, base lodge and the summit ski lift are not
scheduled to open this winter. According to general manager at the ski
area Javier Romero, the lower mountain triple will open for skiing on
weekends and school vacations as natural snow allows.
New ownership at three of Maine’s ski areas and early season openings at
two bode well for a strong snowy ski season. It’s time to get out there
and make tracks.
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All Stories by Heather Burke
All Photography by Greg Burke
