Sugarbush Resort
Encyclopedia
Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort
located in the Mad River Valley in Warren
, Vermont
. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England
. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres (16 km²) total, 578 acres (2.34 km²) skiable, 53 miles (85 km) of trails, and 16 ski lift
s. Sugarbush has 111 ski trails, 18 additional marked wooded area, substantial off-piste skiing and riding, a summit elevation of 4083 ft (1,244.5 m), and a vertical drop of 2650 feet (807.7 m), second largest in Vermont after Killington
, and the third largest in New England
after Killington and Sugarloaf.
with the Super Bravo and Heaven's Gate triple chair lifts, effectively increasing uphill capacity from 450 skiers per hour to 1800.
Claneil Enterprises bought the resort in 1984 and transformed it into a four-season resort, purchasing adjacent tennis court
s, restaurants, condominium
s, and a golf
course. Claneil improved the chairlift
system by installing three new lifts on Mount Ellen. The American Skiing Company
purchased Sugarbush in 1995 and installed seven new lifts, increased snowmaking
by 300%, and built a sixty-three million gallon reservoir for snowmaking. During this period, Mount Ellen and the main part of Sugarbush were connected by the Slide Brook Express two-way quad chairlift
; when it was installed was the world's fastest chairlift, and is still the world's longest detachable chairlift
.
When the American Skiing Company bought Sugarbush, the Original Green Mountain Express (GMX) chair at Mount Ellen was moved to replace the aging North Ridge Double. Then the GMX was replaced with a new fixed grip quad from Doppelmayer that ran up to the base of Cliffs to encourage use of the new North Ridge Express and the Slide Brook Express. This lift became known as the "Slug" because it was slow and impractical. Current Sugarbush owner Summit Ventures replaced this chair with a Poma high speed quad which runs the full length of the original GMX (up to the Glen House), and "the Slug" is now Jay Peak's Metro Quad. Also, the North Lynx Triple was formerly the Sugarbravo triple chair, and was moved to the North Lynx peak to replace a platter lift
when the Super Bravo detachable quad was installed. The Castlerock double was also replaced in 2001 with another double following the same chair spacing specs as the original lift.
Summit Ventures (Win Smith, Bob Ackland, and Adam Greshin) purchased the resort in 2001, and has since replaced and reconfigured some of the lifts, made further snowmaking improvements by adding new low energy nozzles to the system, and has most recently completed the $60 million Lincoln Peak Village in 2006. http://www.lincolnpeakvillage.com, which includes the Claybrook luxury condiminium complex, a new 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²) Gate House lodge, and Timbers, a post-and-beam restaurant.
According to resort president Win Smith, the resort had no plans to add any further high speed chairs. The intent was, rather, is to keep lift capacity approximately the same to maintain the current uphill/downhill capacity relationship.
In 2008, Sugarbush purchased and refurbished a 12-person snowcat to be used for transport to Allyn's Lodge for dining as well as moonlight ski and snowshoe tours. There are plans to open Mt. Ellen to cat-accessed skiing in the spring of 2009 when the lifts are shut off for the season. Also in 2008, Sugarbush celebrated its 50th Anniversary in December.
has 2,400 vertical feet and a summit elevation of 3975 feet (1,211.6 m), with 72 of Sugarbush's 111 runs. Also at Lincoln Peak are several other smaller peaks: Gadd Peak, Castlerock Peak, and North Lynx Peak.
Formerly an independent resort (founded by Walt Elliot in the early 1960s), Mt. Ellen has Sugarbush's steepest run, FIS. Mt. Ellen also has a secondary peak, Inverness Peak, which is home to the Green Mountain Valley School's (GMVS) racing slopes Inverness, and Brambles.
Mt. Ellen is also home to Sugarbush's terrain park. Although some terrain features can be found all over Sugarbush, such as on Slowpoke at Lincoln Peak, the primary terrain parks on Mt. Ellen's Riemergasse and Graduation trails. Sugarbush has chosen not to build a half pipe in recent years, though it has the capability to do so.
Mt. Ellen's terrain includes groomers, terrain parks, and tree skiing, along with mogul terrain..
Sugarbush also has an 18-hole par 71 Robert Trent Jones
Sr. golf course, known for its mountainous topography.
Sugarbush is also available for hiking and biking, with mountain terrain for a variety of ability levels. The Bravo lift runs Friday through Sunday from late June through Columbus Day weekend and lift accessed Mountain Biking and Disc Golf is available as is an 800 feet (243.8 m) Zip Line.
This past summer the activities were expanded to seven(7) days per week. Sugarbush has two top-rated Disc Golf course. The mountain course requires a chairlift ride and is rated by the PDGA(Professional Disc Golf Assos)as the 3rd most difficult in the country. This past summer Sugarbush hosted the National Deaf Disc Golf Championship and the New England Championship.
In the fall, Lincoln Peak offers Foliage Lift Rides Fridays and weekends through Columbus Day.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
located in the Mad River Valley in Warren
Warren, Vermont
Warren is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,681 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Vermont is located in Warren. It is set between the two ranges of the Green Mountains, with approximately 25% of the town under Green Mountain National Forest...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres (16 km²) total, 578 acres (2.34 km²) skiable, 53 miles (85 km) of trails, and 16 ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
s. Sugarbush has 111 ski trails, 18 additional marked wooded area, substantial off-piste skiing and riding, a summit elevation of 4083 ft (1,244.5 m), and a vertical drop of 2650 feet (807.7 m), second largest in Vermont after Killington
Killington Ski Resort
Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
, and the third largest in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
after Killington and Sugarloaf.
History
Sugarbush was opened on December 25, 1958, by Damon and Sara Gadd and Jack Murphy. In 1977, the Gadds sold the resort to Roy Cohen. Cohen purchased the Glen Ellen Ski Area (Mount Ellen) in 1979 and annexed it to Sugarbush. ARA Services purchased the resort in 1983, replacing the original gondolaGondola lift
A gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
with the Super Bravo and Heaven's Gate triple chair lifts, effectively increasing uphill capacity from 450 skiers per hour to 1800.
Claneil Enterprises bought the resort in 1984 and transformed it into a four-season resort, purchasing adjacent tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s, restaurants, condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s, and a golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course. Claneil improved the chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
system by installing three new lifts on Mount Ellen. The American Skiing Company
American Skiing Company
American Skiing Company was one of the largest operators of alpine ski, snowboard and golf resorts in the United States. Its resorts included Sunday River and Sugarloaf, in Maine and The Canyons in Utah....
purchased Sugarbush in 1995 and installed seven new lifts, increased snowmaking
Snowmaking
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun" or "snow cannon", on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski...
by 300%, and built a sixty-three million gallon reservoir for snowmaking. During this period, Mount Ellen and the main part of Sugarbush were connected by the Slide Brook Express two-way quad chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
; when it was installed was the world's fastest chairlift, and is still the world's longest detachable chairlift
Detachable chairlift
A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
.
When the American Skiing Company bought Sugarbush, the Original Green Mountain Express (GMX) chair at Mount Ellen was moved to replace the aging North Ridge Double. Then the GMX was replaced with a new fixed grip quad from Doppelmayer that ran up to the base of Cliffs to encourage use of the new North Ridge Express and the Slide Brook Express. This lift became known as the "Slug" because it was slow and impractical. Current Sugarbush owner Summit Ventures replaced this chair with a Poma high speed quad which runs the full length of the original GMX (up to the Glen House), and "the Slug" is now Jay Peak's Metro Quad. Also, the North Lynx Triple was formerly the Sugarbravo triple chair, and was moved to the North Lynx peak to replace a platter lift
Platter lift
A platter lift , platter pull or button lift is a surface lift, a mechanized system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill, along the surface of the slope. In Europe they are also known as Poma lifts...
when the Super Bravo detachable quad was installed. The Castlerock double was also replaced in 2001 with another double following the same chair spacing specs as the original lift.
Summit Ventures (Win Smith, Bob Ackland, and Adam Greshin) purchased the resort in 2001, and has since replaced and reconfigured some of the lifts, made further snowmaking improvements by adding new low energy nozzles to the system, and has most recently completed the $60 million Lincoln Peak Village in 2006. http://www.lincolnpeakvillage.com, which includes the Claybrook luxury condiminium complex, a new 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²) Gate House lodge, and Timbers, a post-and-beam restaurant.
According to resort president Win Smith, the resort had no plans to add any further high speed chairs. The intent was, rather, is to keep lift capacity approximately the same to maintain the current uphill/downhill capacity relationship.
In 2008, Sugarbush purchased and refurbished a 12-person snowcat to be used for transport to Allyn's Lodge for dining as well as moonlight ski and snowshoe tours. There are plans to open Mt. Ellen to cat-accessed skiing in the spring of 2009 when the lifts are shut off for the season. Also in 2008, Sugarbush celebrated its 50th Anniversary in December.
Skiing at Sugarbush
Sugarbush has two mountain areas separated by Slide Brook Basin. The south side of Sugarbush, Lincoln Peak, is the resort's main mountain area. Most of the resort real estate is located at Lincoln Peak, including the new Claybrook condominiums and hotel. Lincoln PeakLincoln Peak (Vermont)
Lincoln Peak is a mountain located on the border between Vermont's Washington and Addison counties, within the Green Mountain National Forest.The mountain is named after President Abraham Lincoln , and is part of the Lincoln Mountain section of the Green Mountains.Lincoln Peak is flanked to the...
has 2,400 vertical feet and a summit elevation of 3975 feet (1,211.6 m), with 72 of Sugarbush's 111 runs. Also at Lincoln Peak are several other smaller peaks: Gadd Peak, Castlerock Peak, and North Lynx Peak.
Castlerock
Castlerock Peak is known to for its steep, narrow, winding, New England-style runs. It is also the only peak of Sugarbush that does not use snowmaking, although there are several runs such as Paradise and Domino not in the Castlerock area that also do not incorporate snowmaking. Castlerock is also home to Rumble, arguably the most difficult trail at Sugarbush.Mt. Ellen
To the north, separate from Lincoln Peak, is Sugarbush's other mountain area called Mt. Ellen. Mt. Ellen's top elevation is 4,083 feet (tied for third highest in the state with Camel's Hump), and it has one of the largest continuous vertical drops in Vermont at 2600 feet (792.5 m). Several states and southern Quebec are visible from the summit of Mt. Ellen.Formerly an independent resort (founded by Walt Elliot in the early 1960s), Mt. Ellen has Sugarbush's steepest run, FIS. Mt. Ellen also has a secondary peak, Inverness Peak, which is home to the Green Mountain Valley School's (GMVS) racing slopes Inverness, and Brambles.
Mt. Ellen is also home to Sugarbush's terrain park. Although some terrain features can be found all over Sugarbush, such as on Slowpoke at Lincoln Peak, the primary terrain parks on Mt. Ellen's Riemergasse and Graduation trails. Sugarbush has chosen not to build a half pipe in recent years, though it has the capability to do so.
Mt. Ellen's terrain includes groomers, terrain parks, and tree skiing, along with mogul terrain..
Snow at Sugarbush
Sugarbush receives an annual average of 262 inches (6.7 m) of snow. Sugarbush has approximately 70% snowmaking coverage, with some areas intentionally devoid of snowmaking systems.Biodiesel
Sugarbush's Mt. Ellen was also the resort to operate all of its grooming equipment on bio-diesel. The entire resort now runs all of its diesel equipment on bio-diesel.The Slide Brook
The area between Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen is called the Slide Brook Basin. This wooded wilderness area comprises over 1000 acres (4 km²) and is skiable only with a guided tour and is for expert skiers only. The two areas of Sugarbush, Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen are connected by a two mile long chairlift known as the Slide Brook Express Quad. The Quad only operates on weekends and holidays, and will not run if the temperature is below five degrees, or if there is not sufficient hard pack in Slide Brook Basin.The Mountains
- Mount Ellen: 4083 ft (1,244.5 m)
- Lincoln Peak: 3975 ft (1,211.6 m)
- Castlerock Peak: 3812 ft (1,161.9 m)
- North Lynx Peak: 3300 ft (1,005.8 m)
- Gadd Peak: 3150 ft (960.1 m)
- Inverness Peak: 2750 ft (838.2 m)
Lodges
- Valley House (LP)
- Gate House (LP)
- Mount Ellen Base Lodge (ME)
- Allyn's Lodge (LP)
- Glen House (ME)
Stats
- 4,000 acres (16 km²) total skiable of trails
- 11 wooded areas summit elevation base elevation vertical drop
- 262 inches annual snowfall
- 68% snowmaking coverage
Lifts
- 16 total lifts
- Quads: 7 (5 are high speed detachableDetachable chairliftA detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
) - Triples: 2
- Doubles: 4
- Surface LiftsT-bar liftA T-bar lift, also called T-bar, is a mechanised system for transporting skiers and snowboarders uphill, along the surface of the slope...
: 3 - Uphill Capacity: 25,463
Terrain
| Green Circle | Blue Square | Black Diamond | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 trails, 82 acres (331,842.5 m²) | 51 trails, 184 acre (0.74462224 km²) | 36 trails, 142 acre (0.57465412 km²) | 111 trails, 508 acres (2.1 km²) |
| 20% | 45% | 35% | 100% |
Off Season at Sugarbush
Sugarbush has a health and racquet club, known as the SHARC , with three indoor tennis courts, four outdoor clay courts, two outdoor hard courts, one racquetball court, two squash courts, a weight room, indoor and outdoor pools and hottubs, steam rooms, massage rooms, a rock gym, and a dance/exercise floor.Sugarbush also has an 18-hole par 71 Robert Trent Jones
Robert Trent Jones
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. was a golf course architect who designed about 500 golf courses in at least 40 US states and 35 other countries all around the world...
Sr. golf course, known for its mountainous topography.
Sugarbush is also available for hiking and biking, with mountain terrain for a variety of ability levels. The Bravo lift runs Friday through Sunday from late June through Columbus Day weekend and lift accessed Mountain Biking and Disc Golf is available as is an 800 feet (243.8 m) Zip Line.
This past summer the activities were expanded to seven(7) days per week. Sugarbush has two top-rated Disc Golf course. The mountain course requires a chairlift ride and is rated by the PDGA(Professional Disc Golf Assos)as the 3rd most difficult in the country. This past summer Sugarbush hosted the National Deaf Disc Golf Championship and the New England Championship.
In the fall, Lincoln Peak offers Foliage Lift Rides Fridays and weekends through Columbus Day.