Mount Sunapee Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Sunapee Resort |
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| Location | Newbury, New Hampshire |
| Nearest city | Claremont, New Hampshire |
| Vertical | 1,513 ft (461 m) |
| Top elevation | 2,743 ft (836 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,230 ft (370 m) |
| Skiable area | 230 acres (93 ha) |
| Runs | 66 26% Beginner 48% Intermediate 26% Expert |
| Lift system | 2 HSQ, 1 Quad, 2 Triples, 1 Double, 5 Surface |
| Terrain parks | Four |
| Snowfall | 100 inches (250 cm) |
| Snowmaking | 97% of terrain |
Mount Sunapee Resort is a popular ski area and fun place to visit in Newbury, New Hampshire, USA. It's part of Mount Sunapee State Park. This resort offers exciting winter sports and has grown a lot over the years.
Contents
The Story of Mount Sunapee Ski Resort
Mount Sunapee started as a ski area a long time ago, around 1940. People thought about building a special tram, like a cable car, for sightseeing and skiing. New Hampshire even passed a law for it!
Early Days and Growth
After World War II, the tram idea was too expensive. Instead, a chairlift was built. This lift went up to North Peak, which is still part of the mountain today.
Through the 1950s and 1960s, the ski area got bigger. More lifts were added, including ones that went all the way to the top of Mount Sunapee. New ski trails were cut, and the resort kept growing until the 1980s. In 1982, they added snowmaking for the first time. This meant they could make their own snow, even if nature didn't provide enough!
New Owners and Modern Changes
By the 1990s, the resort needed some updates. In 1998, a family known for improving another ski resort, Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, started managing Mount Sunapee. They had big plans to make it even better.
They wanted to add two new ski areas, called the East Bowl and the West Bowl. The East Bowl idea was stopped because of special old trees there. But the West Bowl project moved forward. This plan included adding more ski trails and new lifts. It also aimed to bring night skiing to Mount Sunapee. However, the state governor at the time wasn't in favor, so the West Bowl expansion was put on hold. Instead, they focused on improving the existing ski areas with new lifts, better snowmaking, and a new lodge.
Becoming a Year-Round Adventure Spot
In 2012, Mount Sunapee opened a new "Adventure Center." This was a big step to become a place for fun all year, not just in winter! The center offered cool activities like:
- A canopy zipline tour
- A treetop obstacle course
- Guided Segway rides
- Disc golf
- Scenic rides up the Clipper Ship quad chairlift
Recent Updates and New Ownership
For the 2014-2015 ski season, an important lift called the Sun Bowl Quad was replaced. They installed a faster, modern Poma High-Speed Detachable Quad.
In 2015, Mount Sunapee finally got approval to move forward with the West Bowl Expansion. The plan was to finish this new area by 2018. It would also include upgrading the Sunapee Express Quad to an even faster six-person chairlift.
On June 4, 2018, a large company called Vail Resorts bought Mount Sunapee. They also bought Okemo Mountain in Vermont and Crested Butte in Colorado. Now, Mount Sunapee is part of Vail's Epic Pass system. This pass lets skiers visit many different resorts!
Mount Sunapee by the Numbers
Mount Sunapee Resort has three main buildings for visitors: the Spruce Lodge, the Base Lodge, and the Summit Lodge.
Ski Trails and Terrain
The resort has 66 different ski trails. These trails cover about 230 acres (93 ha) of land. The trails are rated for different skill levels:
- 26% are easy (great for beginners!)
- 49% are intermediate (for those who know the basics)
- 25% are advanced (for expert skiers and snowboarders)
There are also three special terrain parks. These parks have jumps, rails, and other features for tricks. A huge 97% of the ski area has snowmaking equipment. This means they can make sure there's plenty of snow for skiing, even if it doesn't snow much naturally.
Lifts and Mountain Height
Mount Sunapee has ten different lifts to take you up the mountain:
- Two fast detachable quads (four-person chairs)
- One fixed-grip quad
- Two triple chairs (three-person chairs)
- One double chair (two-person chair)
- Four surface lifts (like magic carpets or T-bars)
The bottom of the mountain is at 1,230 feet (370 m) above sea level. The very top is at 2,743 feet (836 m). This means you get to ski down a vertical distance of 1,513 feet (461 m)! Mount Sunapee usually gets about 100 inches (250 cm) of natural snow each year.
Fun Events at the Resort
Mount Sunapee hosts some exciting events throughout the year.
The Mount Sunapee Slush Cup
One of the most popular events is the Mount Sunapee Slush Cup. This happens every April to celebrate spring. People try to ski or snowboard across a 90-foot long pond of icy water! "Slushers" race down a slope and try to skim across the water. They compete for titles like "Best Skim," "Best Costume," and "Best Splash." It's a super fun and splashy way to end the ski season!
League of New Hampshire Craftsmen's Fair
Every August, Mount Sunapee Resort is home to the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen's Fair. This fair is known as "the oldest craft fair in America." It's a great place to see amazing handmade crafts and art.
Mount Sunapee State Park Beach
Right near the entrance to the ski resort, you'll find the Mount Sunapee State Park beach on Lake Sunapee. This beach is also called Newbury Beach. It's a great spot for summer fun! The beach has:
- A store
- Canoe and kayak rentals
- A playground
- A new bathhouse
You can also launch a boat there, but there are some rules to follow.
