Upgrades are in response to the King Pine rollback in March.
Friday, June 26, 2015, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
After months of uncertainty due to an expected divestiture by owner CNL Lifestyle Properties, Sugarloaf has announced $1.3 million in lift projects for the 2015 off season. As many as 7 of Sugarloaf's 10 chairlifts are included in the scope.
Most notable will be the replacement of the King Pine Quad base terminal with a new Doppelmayr Tristar terminal. The existing 1988 Borvig chairs, haul rope, line equipment, and top terminal will remain. The King Pine Quad suffered a roll back on March 21, resulting in 7 injuries and its closure for the balance of the 2014-15 season. The cost of the upgrade is budgeted at $800,000.
The King Pine Quad base terminal (2014 photo) to be replaced
A new terminal similar in design to the Skyline Quad (2014 photo) will be installed
King Pine's sister chairlift, the Timberline Quad, was shut down less than two weeks later when an inspection revealed similar issues. The lift, originally installed in 1988 by Borvig as the Whiffletree Quad, will have its gearbox rebuilt, as well as new braking and anti-rollback systems installed.
Three additional Borvig fixed grip chairlifts, the 1980s Skidway Double, the 1985 Snubber Triple, and 1984 West Mountain Double will receive new braking and anti-rollback systems. The 1970 Stadeli Sawduster Double will also receive similar upgrades. Undisclosed improvements will be made on the Double Runner chairlifts, which are 1973 and 1974 Borvig double-doubles.
In addition to the heavily publicized King Pine 2014 rollback, Sugarloaf also made headlines on December 28, 2010, when its Spillway East Double Chairlift deroped, resulting in multiple injuries. The resort promptly replaced the Borvig lift, as well as its sister Spillway West, with the Skyline Quad during the following off season.
Sugarloaf is planning a new marketing campaign to combat its recent incidents by launching a dedicated lift web site with information on all of its lifts, as well as providing a place for guests to contact the resort with related questions and concerns.
