Waterville Valley New T-Bar for 25/26

[sull1102]

Just saw a post on WV’s Instagram that they are planning to install a new T-bar from the bottom of Lower White Caps to the bottom of The Chute. Sounds like it is basically replacing the old World Cup Triple chair to the mid station that was there before the Green Peak expansion. They’re also going to be ripping out the Exhibition platter and the old World Cup T-bar as part of this project.

Oh, and of course MND is the partner on this one. MND is going to replace the bubbles on the new 6-pack this summer as well, apparently they’ve been testing a new one on one of the chairs this season.

WV Press Release

 

[doublediamond]

Are the MND Ts as fragile as the Bubbles? Last time I rode the High Country T Bar there were numerous broken Ts, probably 50/50 broken/usable.

 

[deadheadskier]

Prepare for splinters in your ass on that thing if MND is building it

 

[Newpylong]

Expect nothing less than cheap when it comes to Waterville.

 

[thebigo]

Is MND the successor of LST?

 

[crystalmountainskier]

Is MND the successor of LST?

Yes

 

[machski]

So Waterville is now serious about expanding Green Peak down towards town. The current proposal before the NFS is a Chondi (hearing 8/10 configuration) which is not cheap and no way to get one cheap. What they are proposing on the Cheap is just 6 new trails and 200 acres of glades. Glades are cool, but on that side of Green and dropping to the lowest elevation at the resort, not sure those will be open often. Looks like trails will stop at a new base area and the lift will have a second segment to connect to town. Given the proposal includes a large restaurant at the top of Green, I wonder if they would upgrade the Green Peak triple to what it should have been to start. They are also proposing to expand their SUP area to lookers left of the expansion for added future expansion.

Forest Service Launches Review of Proposed Waterville Valley Expansion - NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com

Linking town would be a game changer in New England skiing that part is certain.

 

[xlr8r]

I don't get why they are making it a two stage single lift. It would be simpler to build the gondi connecting the town to the new base, then a new chair to the top of green peak.

Waterville continues to make cheap decisions.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm not sure I understand the logic in the restaurant at the top of Green Peak. That will be extremely expensive to run water and sewer to, nevermind the building itself; for not that much revenue benefit. Just rehab and commit to the lodge at the base of Bobby's that they've seemingly forgotten....if the F&B venue capacity is needed and can be staffed.

With how slow development moves in NH on USFS land and knowing how WV ownership spends, we thinking 10 years from now at best?

 

[thebigo]

They are also updating and expanding the schwedi hutte in the near term.

I find WV boring, this expansion will do nothing to change the impression but they do have their market. Massachusetts people who want a "village", race and FS families content with groomers.

The overall trend in NH skiing since I was a kid has been a shift from the MWV side to the 93 corridor. 93 side has seen tenney reborn, expansion at loon, mittersill rebirth and WV expansion over the last couple decades. Meanwhile NC areas have seen nothing since the bear peak expansion at attitash.

 

[deadheadskier]

Most people I know who ski Waterville would ski Loon if it wasn't so crowded.

 

[Smellytele]

They really have the least amount of glades of any ski area of that size I have skied and need some. That is the only part that excites me at all. The village has no interest to me. Also agree why not refurb the mid lodge near the bottom of Bobby’s. With this expansion they will have 3 base lodges (counting the t-bar) plus the village and 3 on mountain lodges. Overkill.
Rather see them replace sunny side lift and I would say the north double but that really only feeds 3 trails only 1 with snow making.

 

[Smellytele]

Parking lot is always more crowded than the mountain at Waterville

 

[deadheadskier]

Actually looking at the drawing, the best part of the project is the trail going past the parking lots. If it's anything like the new slopeside parking at Sugarloaf, I'm in. Waterville has the worst parking in the state.

As for glades. Go big and skiers left towards Tecumseh true summit. Long and steep terrain at higher elevation. Think a Burnt Mountain scenario or what's being proposed out past Walking Boss at Lion. I agree, those low elevation trees in the expansion area probably don't open often.

 

[machski]

As to the midstation lift and lodge/restaurant at the top of Green, to me those go hand in hand. The summit is single lift direct connected to the village and the restaurant can operate apres and into the night for guest directly from the village.

Would love to see high elevation glades off Tecumseh proper but I cannot imagine the red tape with the NFS to get those at Bicknell Thrush elevations and habitat. Let's see how successful Loon is at getting the glade plans beyond Walking Boss Woods through the NFS first.

 

[thetrailboss]

Expect nothing less than cheap when it comes to Waterville.

Yeah, I was going to say that it seems that the owners have grand ambitions but are doing things on the cheap. It seems like the trajectory is an eventual sale to someone who has adequate resources to properly run the place.

 

[deadheadskier]

Some things they do there seem cheap, others not. The renovated and expanded base lodge is one of the more posh lodges in New England.

And @machski while I hadn't considered that the reason a summit lodge for Green makes more sense because of the lift, I still doubt the ROI. WV is not Loon/Lincoln. Place is ghost town except for winter weekends and holidays. I just don't see the revenue supporting the investment. I'd be trying to keep that audience down in the village anyway.

 

[chuckstah]

I'm thinking wedding venue on the top of Green, with direct gondola access from town?

 

[machski]

Some things they do there seem cheap, others not. The renovated and expanded base lodge is one of the more posh lodges in New England.

And @machski while I hadn't considered that the reason a summit lodge for Green makes more sense because of the lift, I still doubt the ROI. WV is not Loon/Lincoln. Place is ghost town except for winter weekends and holidays. I just don't see the revenue supporting the investment. I'd be trying to keep that audience down in the village anyway.

That may very well be the case now. But a connected village to the ski mountain doesn't exist much in the East. If this comes to pass, that would make the village of WV very unique in the East and very well could heighten the draw. Not to mention WV would vault to the most vert in NH (granted it would be by double digit feet, but still another brag card).

 

[deadheadskier]

That may very well be the case now. But a connected village to the ski mountain doesn't exist much in the East. If this comes to pass, that would make the village of WV very unique in the East and very well could heighten the draw. Not to mention WV would vault to the most vert in NH (granted it would be by double digit feet, but still another brag card).

For sure. Lots of unrealized potential there.