Industry News
On October 22, 2024, Killington Resort, Vermont, announced its plan to replace the Superstar Express chairlift during the summer of 2025. The old high-speed quad chair will be replaced with a Doppelmayr UNI-G six-pack. The original Superstar lift, a first-generation detachable quad from the Yan Lift company, was built in 1987, making it one of New England’s oldest detachable chairlifts. The estimated timeline was for the project to be completed in early December this year, which resulted in the World Cup race, which is typically held around Thanksgiving, being relocated to Copper Mountain, Colorado.
However, it looks like Killington is ahead of its timeline. On Wednesday, August 13, Killington Resort posted a video showing the current progress on its social media channels. In the video, all lift towers were in place from top to bottom of the legendary run, while a helicopter was flying equipment up the mountain. In fact, Killington officials said that the Super Six could be completed by November 15, which would mean it could be ready to go for the start of the season, weather dependent. Killington Resort usually opens for the season sometime in November, making it one of the first in the East each year.
- Related: New Killington Resort, VT, Ownership Group to Invest $30 Million in On-Mountain Capital Improvements
The new six-chair will be the first for the resort from Doppelmayr. The lift maze will be reconfigured for more effortless loading, and the lift will spin clockwise, like the Snowdon Six Express. Unlike the latter, this new lift will not have a bubble due to storage challenges and because Superstar is a relatively quick ride at 3 minutes 50 uphill with an hourly capacity of 3,000 people.
“Upgrading to a six-person chairlift is mostly about comfort. We want to provide the best possible experience for our guests, so this new, roomier lift made a lot of sense. The heavier chairs also help with the wind, an added bonus.”
– Killington President and CEO Mike Solimano
The new lift will follow the same line as the old chair, however, all towers will be relocated except for the terminal towers. Tower four will be shifted 80 feet uphill and closer to the tree line. The snowmaking pipe location will also be adjusted, and a small, new maintenance workshop will be added at the top of Skye Peak.
The $12 million Superstar upgrade is just one of several upgrades at Killington ahead of the 2025-26 season. The resort is investing a total of $38 million, including improvements to its snow-making infrastructure, including four new fully automated fan guns on the Superstar trail, as well as 116 new gondola cabins on the Skyeship Gondola. In addition, the surface lift on Snowshed will be replaced and will improve beginner access to the trails. These upgrades support the resort’s commitment under its new independent-local-ownership, to bolster its status as the Northeast’s premier destination.
For more information, visit Killinton’s website.
