Sugarbush unveils two new lodges

Category: News

Created on Thursday, 16 December 2010 05:38

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 05:38

Published Date

Sugarbush Resort raised the curtain Friday, December 10, on a revitalized Lincoln Peak base area, showcasing two buildings that will serve as integral parts of a $10 million project.

Sugarbush president Win Smith hosted an official opening of the two recently completed structures known as The Schoolhouse and The Farmhouse. A wide range of local business leaders, politicians and contractors that worked on the project joined Smith at the ceremony, including Vermont Governor Jim Douglas who wielded a pair of oversized scissors for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Devoted to ski school and family-friendly guest facilities, the two new buildings are part of Phase 2 of the Lincoln Peak revitalization; the other component being an upgrade of 2.5 miles of snowmaking pipe servicing both Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen.
 
"Vermont has a powerful brand," said Governor Jim Douglas. "Maintaining and enhancing that brand is what the Lincoln Peak project is all about."
 
The Schoolhouse, at approximately 12,500 square feet, will house the resort's Micro, Mini and Sugar Bear snowsport educational programs, après-ski activities for children, and summer camp programs. The structure features murals, sculptures and other artwork created by local artists, and provides slopeside on-snow access for the youth programs.
 
"The amenities offered here at The Schoolhouse, The Farmhouse and Sugarbush Resort for kids give us a better chance of retaining them and keeping them committed to the state we all love," Douglas said.
 
The Farmhouse, at approximately 14,500 square feet, is dedicated to a variety of skier services and adult learning programs. This building will house the new Sunrise Cafe, ticket and season pass sales, public storage lockers and restrooms, the adult ski school, and rentals and repairs.
 
The Farmhouse is also home base for Sugarbush's First Timer to Life Timer program - a ski industry program designed to recruit adults into skiing and riding with an approachable curriculum and an affordable price. Participants in the First Timer to Life Timer program are rewarded with a free season pass to Sugarbush.
 
Smith highlighted the Vermont-specific architectural style in both The Farmhouse and The Schoolhouse and pointed to the interior of The Schoolhouse that features the work of five Vermont artists.

He noted a number of local jobs created by the project and thanked those who contributed to the financing of Sugarbush's Phase 2 improvements, particularly NBT Bank, VEDA, and EB-5 funding, a federal program that uses foreign investment capital to put Americans to work.

Work on the Phase 2 project began in mid-April and was general-contracted by Pizzagalli Construction of South Burlington. Kingsbury Construction, Waitsfield, worked on the project as well. Landscaping will be installed in the spring to complete the resort's new grand entrance, according to Smith.
 
"This project was completed in nine months," Smith said. "That's really remarkable."

Sugarbush will play host to the inaugural celebration of Vermont Governor-Elect Peter Shumlin on January 7. For more information, visit www.sugarbush.com.
 

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