Bromley Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bromley Mountain |
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Bromley Mountain
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| Location | Peru, Vermont, USA |
| Nearest city | Manchester |
| Coordinates | 43°13′40″N 72°56′19″W / 43.22778°N 72.93861°W |
| Vertical | 1,334 feet (407 m) |
| Top elevation | 3,263 feet (995 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,956 feet (596 m) |
| Skiable area | 178 acres (72 ha) |
| Runs | 47 |
| Longest run | Pushover |
| Lift system | doppelmayr, hall and sun kid |
| Terrain parks | Halo, The garden, and Bonanza, Riglet Park for kids! (Special Events Only) |
Bromley Mountain is a fun ski and snowboard resort in southern Vermont, United States. It's part of the beautiful Green Mountains. You can find it in the town of Peru, about seven miles (11 km) east of Manchester.
Bromley Mountain was started by Fred Pabst Jr. His grandfather, Captain Frederick Pabst, was famous for creating Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. The resort has 47 trails, including 6 special forest trails called glades. It also has 3 freestyle terrain parks for tricks and jumps. The trails are for all skill levels, from beginners to experts. Ten lifts help skiers and snowboarders get up the mountain. In 2014, SKI Magazine said Bromley was one of the top three "Kid Friendly" mountains in the East!
Bromley is often called "The Sun Mountain." This is because it faces south, so it gets lots of sunshine. Two famous hiking paths, the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail, even cross over the mountain.
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History of Bromley Mountain
The idea for Bromley Mountain started in 1935. John Perry, David Parsons, and Rolando Palmedo planned the first ski run from an airplane! In 1936, the very first trail was cut on the west side of the mountain. This was done by Ralph Hutchinson and the Works Progress Administration.
In 1938, Fred Pabst Jr. opened the Little Bromley Ski Area. He was the son of the Pabst Brewing Company founder. In 1943, a "J-bar" lift opened, which was a type of ski lift. Soon after, another J-bar was added. These lifts made Bromley a big name in the New England ski world.
In 1958, Bromley added a new double chairlift to the top. This made it one of only four ski areas in Vermont with a chairlift! After a tough winter in 1964-65, Bromley made a big change. Fred Pabst Jr. invested in a huge snowmaking system. It had over 50 snow-guns and covered 23 trails. This was advertised as the largest snowmaking system in the world at the time! Two more chairlifts were also added that season.
Fred Pabst Jr. stopped being president of Bromley in 1971. In 1976, something new and exciting came to Bromley. Stig Albertsson installed North America's first triple-tracked alpine slide. This was a fun way to enjoy the mountain in the summer. Fred Pabst Jr. passed away in 1977. After that, Bromley was sold a few times.
A big upgrade happened in 1997-98. The old J-bars and first chairlift were removed. A new, faster chairlift called the Sun Mountain Express was installed. This new lift cut the ride to the top by more than half! In 2011, Brian and Tyler Fairbank started operating the resort.
Bromley Mountain Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Bromley Mountain:
- When it opened: 1936
- Number of Lifts: 9
- High-speed quads: 1 (these are super fast!)
- Quad chairs: 1
- Double chairs: 4
- Surface lifts: 3 (these pull you along the snow)
- How many skiers can go up per hour: 10,806
- Places to stay on the mountain: Bromley Village and Sun Lodge
Mountain Heights
- Bottom of the mountain (Base): 1,950 feet
- Top of the mountain (Summit): 3,284 feet
- How far you drop from top to bottom (Vertical drop): 1,334 feet
- Longest run: 2.5 miles - called Runaround
- How much of the mountain has snowmaking: 86%
Types of Ski Runs
Bromley has trails for everyone:
- Beginner: 32% (easy trails for new skiers)
- Intermediate: 37% (medium trails for those with some experience)
- Advanced: 31% (hard trails for expert skiers)
Trails at Bromley
| Easier | More Difficult | Most Difficult |
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| 13 | 17 | 16 |
Lifts at Bromley
| Lift Name | Vertical Rise | Length | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Chairlift | 672 ft | 2,593 ft | Double |
| Blue Ribbon Quad | 926 ft | 3,200 ft | Quad |
| East Meadow Chairlift | 385 ft | 2,140 ft | Double |
| Lord's Prayer T-Bar | T-Bar | ||
| Plaza Chairlift | 321 ft | 1,920 ft | Double |
| Sun Chairlift | 1,213 ft | 4,803 ft | Double |
| Sun Mountain Express | 1,302 ft | 5,444 ft | High Speed Detachable Quad |
Snow Grooming
Bromley uses special machines called snow groomers to keep the trails smooth. They have two Bison groomers and one Bombardier BR 350 groomer.
Lodges and Buildings
- Base Lodge: This is the main building at the bottom of the mountain. It has a ski shop, places to rent equipment, and ticket counters. You can also find two cafeterias, a restaurant called Boar's Head, a daycare, and desks for ski and snowboard lessons here.
- Kid's Cabin: This smaller building is in the Learning Center. It has a bathroom, hot chocolate machine, and water cooler, perfect for a quick break.
Ticket Prices
Skiing can be expensive, but prices have changed a lot over the years! In 2014, a one-day ticket for an adult cost $71. A ticket for a teen or senior was $61, and a junior ticket was $45. Back in the early 2000s, an adult ticket was about $50. In the early 1990s, it was around $35. When the mountain first opened, a one-day adult ticket was only $4!
Summer Fun at Bromley
Bromley Mountain isn't just for winter! In the summer, it turns into a Mountain Adventure Park.
- You can ride an alpine slide, which is like a bobsled on a track.
- There are multiple trampolines, a climbing wall, and mini golf.
- You can also try space bikes, a giant swing, and a waterslide.
- For younger kids, there's a Kidzone fun park.
- You can even take scenic chairlift rides to see the views.
Bromley also has an Aerial Adventure Park. This park has 5 different courses with ropes, zip-lines, and bridges. It's a great way to challenge yourself! Their biggest summer thrill is the Sun Mountain Flyer. This is a half-mile zip-line where you can go up to 50 miles per hour!
Mountains Nearby
Bromley Mountain has two close neighbors: Stratton Mountain and Magic Mountain. You can see both of them from the top of Bromley. They are also within a 20-minute drive. Stratton is a bigger mountain with 94 trails. Magic Mountain has 43 trails.
