Turning 50 may be over the hill for some, but when Killington, Vt.’s, premier ski resort celebrates its half-century anniversary this December, it will be revealing a younger, fresher face with the debut of $8.4 million on-mountain improvements that include a new lift, the Skye Peak Express, and The Stash, a revolutionary snowboard run.
Opening for business in 1958, Killington started with just two lifts and seven trails.
“My first skiing experience was at Killington when I was in high school, and I thought it was pretty grand back then,” said Gary Clifford, a computer analyst from Arbutus. “Now that I am a much more seasoned skier, I appreciate the changes and upgrades they made to keep the resort up to date.”
The new Skye Peak Express is the first lift installed at the Killington resort in more than 10 years and reduces the ride time from 14 minutes to just less than five minutes.
“By reinvesting in our mountain, we’re proud to offer a much-improved experience for our guests,” said Chris Nyberg, Killington president and general manager. “With our many enhancements, guests will be able to enjoy uninterrupted cruising on some of our mountain’s best terrain.”
Snowboarders will not want to miss The Stash, Killington’s freestyle run that utilizes the natural terrain, local wood products and organic features to create a half-mile long run that features a street-style wooden staircase and jibbable fence — the first of its kind on the East Coast.
“Bringing The Stash to Vermont has been an objective from the start,” said Jake Burton, founder of Burton Snowboards and creator of The Stash. “This run will take snowboarding here to the next level, giving riders a chance to have that much more fun on the mountain.”
To commemorate the founding of the resort, Killington will offer 1,958 50th Birthday medallions valid for skiing and riding the weekend of Dec. 13-14. The $50 medallions are available to purchase through Killington’s Web site and are valid for a full weekend of skiing and riding.
“The entire weekend of events and activities will offer our guests an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful heritage and history or our resort,” Nyberg said.
