Mad River Glen to Overhaul Sunnyside Chair, Install Mid-Station
The work is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2024-25 season.
Saturday, March 23, 2024, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Mad River Glen's workhorse Sunnyside Chair will receive a new mid-station and haul rope this summer, enhancing the ski area's early-season operations and boosting the lift's longevity.
Installed in 1961, the Sunnyside Chair climbs 1,405 vertical feet over a run of 4,300 feet. Originally a Mueller, the lift has been gradually replaced over time with a Doppelmayr drive in 1982, Garaventa CTEC chairs in 1998, a new communications system in 2022, and a new drive in 2023. In addition to the new haul rope, the lift will receive a new low voltage control system this summer. The project is expected to cost $850,000.
The lift previously had a mid-station that was removed decades ago.
The new mid-station unload will be located at the top of the ski area's snowmaking system, allowing the chairlift and terrain to operate when there is inadequate natural snowfall. In addition, skiers will be able to access easier terrain on the main mountain without having to descend the advanced trails from the top of the chairlift. The cooperative expects this to benefit season passholders and junior ski programs.
A future phase could involve the installation of snowmaking on terrain served by the Birdland Chair.
Located in Waitsfield, Vermont Mad River Glen has been in operation since the 1948-49 season. The area was largely eschewed snowmaking due to a lack of capital, access to water, and tradition. The area has been owned and operated by a cooperative since the mid-1990s.
