Berkshire East to Debut Largest Mountain Coaster in North American This Fall
Construction is underway at Berkshire East on a new mountain coaster and quad chairlift.
Thursday, August 28, 2014, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
A busy summer construction season at northwestern Massachusetts' Berkshire East Ski Resort will reveal a new mountain coaster and quad chairlift before the end of the year.
At 5,400 feet in length (including a 3,870 foot long descent), the new mountain coaster is reportedly the longest in North America. The Aquatic Development Group, Inc. coaster is being installed by Berkshire East's crew and is expected to open in September.
The new SkyTrac fixed grip quad chairlift will replace the mountain's first summit triple chairlift. The new lift will incorporate a ChairKid loading carpet, allowing it to operate faster than its predecessor and reportedly decrease ride time by 2 minutes. Towers are being installed by helicopter on August 28, 2014.
The latest improvements are part of a series of large investments made by the Schaefer family since purchasing the mountain outright in 2007. Since the purchase, investments have included millions in snowmaking (including new guns, pipeline, wiring, and summit pond), a three story main lodge expansion, a wind turbine, a solar farm, a snow tubing facility, a second summit triple chairlift, acquisition of additional property, and the installation of zip lines.
