The snow’s gone, and chairlift upgrade season is here. Construction is underway for Hunter Mountain, New York’s lift infrastructure improvements, which include replacing Broadway and the E Lift.
Previously a fixed-grip quad lift, Broadway will become a six-person, high-speed lift this summer, increasing uphill capacity by 55%.
Hunter Mountain is realigning the lift’s path so it passes over Gun Hill Road instead of the Kennedy Drive run. With Broadway’s previous lift towers gone, Hunter Mountain says Kennedy Drive will “feel like a whole new run.” Broadway will still provide access to the F Lift.
Instead of decommissioning the Broadway fixed-grip, Hunter Mountain is using it to replace and realign the two-person E Lift.
Previously, the E Lift traveled above Central Park and Central Park North. Next winter, it’ll be further east but still deposit skiers near the top of the Rip Van Winkle run.
“Central Park and Central Park North trails will have a wider feel without towers in the middle of the trails, making it a better experience for beginner and intermediate skiers and riders,” Hunter Mountain wrote on social media.
The lift upgrades, set to debut next winter, are part of a portfolio-wide 2024/2025 initiative at Vail Resorts-owned ski areas called “Epic Lift Upgrade.” The initiative includes resort infrastructure improvements at Whistler Blackcomb and Park City Mountain, among others. Hunter Mountain joined Vail Resorts in 2019.
Hunter Mountain is also adding automated low-energy snowmaking on Belt Parkway, Clair’s Way, and Way Out ahead of the 2024/2025 season. The automated snow guns will cover more than 48 skiable acres, improving Hunter Mountain’s ability to open terrain earlier in the season.
“By pairing this groundbreaking project with a new high-speed six-pack—making Hunter Mountain the only NY ski resort with two or more—we’re moving skiers and riders around the mountain faster and more efficiently, giving everyone more time on snow to do what they love,” read a statement from Vail Resorts.
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