Loon South Peak Expansion

[xlr8r]

James Niehues did make a sketch of the potential full buildout west of South Peak.



From listening to the podcast, it seems like the do not yet have the land rights yet to develop beyond the learning terrain they are cutting this year. This learning terrain is slightly skewed in its layout as it will run right up against their current National Forest Boundary which is clearly shown in the original two lift layout sketch

 

[deadheadskier]

Today

 

[ss20]

James Niehues did make a sketch of the potential full buildout west of South Peak.

View attachment 57916

WOW. That would've been a game-changer for the entire NH/ME market had the full buildout been completed. That massive pod to the right of Lincoln would've had to be a mssive 1600'-2000' vertical if I'm remembering the local geography correctly. Largest resort in the state and it wouldn't even be close.

 

[deadheadskier]

I would love to see that full Loon expansion happen plus Sunapee, Waterville and Ragged plans as well. Sununu or future governors should be pushing for them to happen. It would be good for NH tax revenue and good for VT skiers as combined the new terrain would syphon a fair amount of Boston area skiers away from VT.

 

[thebigo]

You forgot gunny and cranmore on the list of potential expansions. Attitash, wildcat and bretton woods also had expansions proposed at one time.

Sunapee is the most regrettable, they had the visitation, terrain and ownership to get the expansion done but politics got in the way.

Loon is the most likely to get done. They have all the necessary pieces. Would be unique in the east if they ever get a lift across the river into town.

 

[deadheadskier]

I guess I'm just thinking of places that have location and momentum in their favor. WV obviously less than Loon from a traffic perspective, but maybe someone buys it and does the village gondola and lower Green Peak terrain.

I didn't think Sunapee was completely dead? Sucks if true.

Ragged seems to have gone quiet on Pinnacle.

Loon has the most money and greatest need, but it took FOREVER to get South Peak part 1 done. So, I'm not holding my breath they get an easy permit to expand more south / west.

 

[Newpylong]

I don't see Pinnacle @ Ragged ever happening. PGR has their niche and that seems to be not competing with the big boys. They put out non-corporate and dependable product while providing affordable riding and I think most folks around here appreciate that and don't want to risk an expansion changing that. That's my take in talking to folks anyway.

 

[Smellytele]

I don't see Pinnacle @ Ragged ever happening. PGR has their niche and that seems to be not competing with the big boys. They put out non-corporate and dependable product while providing affordable riding and I think most folks around here appreciate that and don't want to risk an expansion changing that. That's my take in talking to folks anyway.

Well they did buy a large (by NE standards) area…

 

[machski]

I guess I'm just thinking of places that have location and momentum in their favor. WV obviously less than Loon from a traffic perspective, but maybe someone buys it and does the village gondola and lower Green Peak terrain.

I didn't think Sunapee was completely dead? Sucks if true.

Ragged seems to have gone quiet on Pinnacle.

Loon has the most money and greatest need, but it took FOREVER to get South Peak part 1 done. So, I'm not holding my breath they get an easy permit to expand more south / west.

^^^^This for Loon. The current South Peak's original proposal included something like 27 trails off the main summit point which got scaled back to what we have now. They would have a ton of hurdles to clear to ever expand west. I still wonder if The Riverwalk is still planning its pulse gondola acoss the river to the base of the South learner's pod. They had that lift on order back several years ago when Loon had the two quads on order in the original South Pod configuration. That was supposedly one of the big selling points of Riverwalk, it would be only the second resort hotel directly linked to the slopes (granted by way of a transfer lift). Can't find anything on it within their website by they are onto their massive Phase II expansion.

 

[deadheadskier]

^^^^This for Loon. The current South Peak's original proposal included something like 27 trails off the main summit point which got scaled back to what we have now. They would have a ton of hurdles to clear to ever expand west. I still wonder if The Riverwalk is still planning its pulse gondola acoss the river to the base of the South learner's pod. They had that lift on order back several years ago when Loon had the two quads on order in the original South Pod configuration. That was supposedly one of the big selling points of Riverwalk, it would be only the second resort hotel directly linked to the slopes (granted by way of a transfer lift). Can't find anything on it within their website by they are onto their massive Phase II expansion.

I'd say that lift idea ship has sailed. There's a whole bunch of houses and condos on both sides of the river in-between Riverwalk and the base of the new learning chair. Not sure how a connection from the hotel to that lift base is possible.

 

[t-to-b]

I'd say that lift idea ship has sailed. There's a whole bunch of houses and condos on both sides of the river in-between Riverwalk and the base of the new learning chair. Not sure how a connection from the hotel to that lift base is possible.

That lift was slated to go directly across the river. There is nothing between the Riverwalk and the Escape route area.

 

[deadheadskier]

That lift was slated to go directly across the river. There is nothing between the Riverwalk and the Escape route area.

I'm referring to the base of the new lift. That is well East of the escape route parking lot. Is there another lift going in over by the escape route lot?

 

[xlr8r]

I'm referring to the base of the new lift. That is well East of the escape route parking lot. Is there another lift going in over by the escape route lot?

The base of the new lift is located at the escape route lot. The original plan for the south peak learning area with 2 lifts would have had the location of the lower lift's base a little bit further west than the current single quad lift base is located. But, the new lift is still located at the east end of the escape route lot. The gondola can cross the river to a point near this new lift without going over any any houses or condos.

Based on listening to the storm podcast, it seems like Boyne still plans to build the full build out of South Peak as shown in the drawing, but the GM will not go into any details yet. The hold up is permitting and land rights. The quirky layout that the new beginner area has, is due to the fact they are building right up to the limit of their current permitted land area. They would have built this new quad further west if they could. The James Niehues drawing is only about 10 years old, so it was drawn well after the first stage of South Peak (Lincoln Express) was built, and after Boyne had taken over Loon operations.

 

[deadheadskier]

You sure about that? From my visit to check it out Sunday, the base of the chair seemed to be right about where I have the red circle on this map. I definitely recall taking a left onto Crooked Mountain RD and traveling up it a short ways before reaching the lift base. It would appear that a lift heading to that location would have to go right over the Links condominiums.

 

[xlr8r]

You sure about that? From my visit to check it out Sunday, the base of the chair seemed to be right about where I have the red circle on this map. I definitely recall taking a left onto Crooked Mountain RD and traveling up it a short ways before reaching the lift base. It would appear that a lift heading to that location would have to go right over the Links condominiums.

The cut trails are already on Google Earth. A Gondola can easily go from the phase 2 end of Riverwalk to the vicinity of the new lift.

 

[bigbob]

South Peak Expansion

Sum of Its Parts. Take a look at the progress our teams have made on the South Peak Expansion.

www.loonmtn.com

 

[Newpylong]

Well they did buy a large (by NE standards) area…

Yes but with zero competitors within how many miles? Jay kinda takes niche to the extreme in the East.

 

[Smellytele]

Yes but with zero competitors within how many miles? Jay kinda takes niche to the extreme in the East.

Jay has smuggs (and Burke) within an hour, plus others in Canada.
Burke only has Jay and cannon

 

[DoublePlanker]

Loon had a massive proposal to go all the way to route 93 back in late 70 early 80. I remember reading about it in either ski or skiing mag. I think Lincoln water/sewer was the thing that killed it. I've searched for that old article but never found it. This was before ski area expansion became so difficult.

 

[machski]

The cut trails are already on Google Earth. A Gondola can easily go from the phase 2 end of Riverwalk to the vicinity of the new lift.
View attachment 58631

And they could land it a bit further West than you drew it in. The White trail to the lot is the current and future Escape Route after all. You have to be able to slide down to the new quad from there, so they could land the mountainside terminal just East of Escape Route and keep the transfer Gondola away from crossing the road bridge if desired.