Highway Star
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- Sep 27, 2005
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(The thead about NEP inspired me to post this)
Many of you may be aware that Killington was planning to connect themselves to Pico back in the mid-late 90's. Les Otten (ASC) bought Pico shortly after aquiring S.K.I. Ltd. The plan was to install 2 lifts and 110 acres of skiing on the ridge between Rams Head and Pico Peak, in conjunction with building a base Village in the Killington basin area. Then later, two more lifts, one down to Killington road, and another serving advanced terrain in the middle of the ridge (all permitted in act 250). Potentially, the skier visits target was 1,400,000 per year at the combined resort.
They got as far as building a road to nowhere in '97, a large traverse from the side of Pico down to below Rams Head. It can be seen from the top of Killington. Don't bother going out there, the interconnect is flat, there's no good skiing, trust me. They really need to cut some trails.
Anyway, they ran out of money, couldn't build the village, and shelved the interconnect for the last 12 years. POWDR rolled into town, bought the resort, and has their own plans. They want SP Land to build a Village, however, they seem to think the Interconnect is not part of this plan. The interconnect is supposedly on hold for at least another 5 years.
The inteconnect should cost $10M or so as planned for the first phase of the buildout. One fixed grip lift, on HSQ, trail cutting, snowmaking and additional parking at Pico. Maybe $25M total for 2 more lifts, more trails, and a mid mountain lodge. Thus, this a big chunk of change and something that they have to save up for.
Looking at the terrain, I've presented idea of a limited, low cost interconnect several times. It is possible to cut a traverse off the side of the Rams Head quad that would take you over to the south shoulder of Pico. Then a lift is needed to get you up Pico. There is more than enough natual snow for traverses and natural snow trails/cut glades at that elevation, they run snowmoblie tours up there. This could probably be done for about $2M or so.
Either option would truely combine them into one resort, creating by far the largest resort in the east.
Question is, how interested are you in the interconnect? The full plan or a basic plan? Would it make you ski Killington more often, or keep you there as a customer? Would you ski Pico more often? What do you think?
Many of you may be aware that Killington was planning to connect themselves to Pico back in the mid-late 90's. Les Otten (ASC) bought Pico shortly after aquiring S.K.I. Ltd. The plan was to install 2 lifts and 110 acres of skiing on the ridge between Rams Head and Pico Peak, in conjunction with building a base Village in the Killington basin area. Then later, two more lifts, one down to Killington road, and another serving advanced terrain in the middle of the ridge (all permitted in act 250). Potentially, the skier visits target was 1,400,000 per year at the combined resort.
They got as far as building a road to nowhere in '97, a large traverse from the side of Pico down to below Rams Head. It can be seen from the top of Killington. Don't bother going out there, the interconnect is flat, there's no good skiing, trust me. They really need to cut some trails.
Anyway, they ran out of money, couldn't build the village, and shelved the interconnect for the last 12 years. POWDR rolled into town, bought the resort, and has their own plans. They want SP Land to build a Village, however, they seem to think the Interconnect is not part of this plan. The interconnect is supposedly on hold for at least another 5 years.
The inteconnect should cost $10M or so as planned for the first phase of the buildout. One fixed grip lift, on HSQ, trail cutting, snowmaking and additional parking at Pico. Maybe $25M total for 2 more lifts, more trails, and a mid mountain lodge. Thus, this a big chunk of change and something that they have to save up for.
Looking at the terrain, I've presented idea of a limited, low cost interconnect several times. It is possible to cut a traverse off the side of the Rams Head quad that would take you over to the south shoulder of Pico. Then a lift is needed to get you up Pico. There is more than enough natual snow for traverses and natural snow trails/cut glades at that elevation, they run snowmoblie tours up there. This could probably be done for about $2M or so.
Either option would truely combine them into one resort, creating by far the largest resort in the east.
Question is, how interested are you in the interconnect? The full plan or a basic plan? Would it make you ski Killington more often, or keep you there as a customer? Would you ski Pico more often? What do you think?
