Sugarbush Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sugarbush Resort |
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Sugarbush's Mt. Ellen area
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| Location | Warren, Vermont, US (2 miles ESE), Waitsfield (4 miles E) |
| Nearest city | Burlington (45 miles NW), Montpelier (26 miles NE) |
| Coordinates | 44°08′06″N 72°53′09″W / 44.135098°N 72.885962°W |
| Vertical | 2,600 feet (790 m) |
| Top elevation | 4,083 feet (1,244 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,483 feet (452 m) |
| Skiable area | 484 acres (1.96 km2)s (2.34 km²) |
| Runs | 111 |
| Lift system | 16 chairs: 5 high-speed quads, 5 fixed grip quads, 2 triples, 1 double, 3 surface lifts |
| Lift capacity | 25,225 |
| Snowfall | 250 inches (640 cm) |
Sugarbush Resort is a large ski resort located in Warren, Vermont. It is owned by Alterra Mountain Company and is one of the biggest ski resorts in New England.
Sugarbush covers over 4,000 acres (16 km²) of land. About 484 acres (2.34 km²) are used for skiing. The resort has 53 miles (85 km) of trails and 16 ski lifts. There are 111 ski trails and 18 extra marked wooded areas for skiing.
The highest point at Sugarbush is 4,083 feet (1,244 meters). It has a vertical drop of 2,600 feet (792 meters). This makes it the second largest vertical drop in Vermont and the third largest in New England.
Contents
History of Sugarbush
Sugarbush Resort first opened its doors on December 25, 1958. It was started by Damon and Sara Gadd along with Jack Murphy.
In 1977, the Gadds sold the resort to Roy Cohen. Cohen bought the Glen Ellen Ski Area (now Mount Ellen) in 1979. He then added it to Sugarbush, making the resort bigger.
New owners came in 1983, and they replaced the old gondola lift. They put in new chairlifts to carry more skiers up the mountain faster.
In 1984, Claneil Enterprises bought Sugarbush. They turned it into a resort that could be enjoyed all year round. They added tennis courts, restaurants, condominiums, and a golf course. They also improved the chairlift system on Mount Ellen.
The American Skiing Company bought Sugarbush in 1995. They installed seven new lifts and greatly increased the amount of snowmaking. They also built a huge reservoir to store water for making snow. During this time, Mount Ellen and the main part of Sugarbush were connected. This was done with the Slide Brook Express, a two-way quad chairlift. When it was built, it was the fastest chairlift in the world. It is still the world's longest detachable chairlift.
Summit Ventures NE LLC bought the resort in October 2001. Win Smith became the president of Sugarbush Resort. Since 2001, Sugarbush has updated some lifts and improved snowmaking. They also built the Lincoln Peak Village in 2010. This new area includes luxury condominiums, new base lodges, and restaurants.
Sugarbush celebrated its 50th Anniversary in December 2008. In 2019, Alterra Mountain Company purchased Sugarbush.
Skiing at Sugarbush
Sugarbush has two main mountain areas. These areas are separated by a wooded area called Slide Brook Basin.
Lincoln Peak
The south side of Sugarbush is called Lincoln Peak. This is the resort's main mountain area. Many of the resort's buildings and new condominiums are located here.
Lincoln Peak has a vertical drop of 2,400 feet (732 meters). Its summit is 3,975 feet (1,212 meters) high. Lincoln Peak has 72 of Sugarbush's 111 ski runs. Other smaller peaks at Lincoln Peak include Gadd Peak, Castlerock Peak, and North Lynx Peak.
Castlerock Peak
Castlerock Peak is known for its steep, narrow, and winding trails. These trails are in the classic New England style. A single double chairlift takes skiers to this peak. There are many signs warning that these trails are for "expert only" skiers. Castlerock is also the only peak at Sugarbush that does not use snowmaking. Rumble is a very difficult trail found here.
Slide Brook Basin
The area between Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen is called the Slide Brook Basin. This is a large wooded wilderness area, covering over 1,000 acres (4 km²). You can only ski here with a guided tour, and it is only for expert skiers. This area is not checked regularly by the ski patrol.
The two main areas of Sugarbush, Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen, are connected by the Slide Brook Express Quad. This chairlift is two miles long. It usually runs on weekends and holidays. It might not run if it's too cold or windy.
Mount Ellen
To the north of Lincoln Peak is Sugarbush's other mountain area, Mt. Ellen. Mt. Ellen's highest point is 4,083 feet (1,244 meters). This makes it one of the highest points in Vermont. It has one of the largest continuous vertical drops in Vermont, at 2,600 feet (792 meters). From the top of Mt. Ellen, you can see several states and even parts of southern Quebec.
Mt. Ellen used to be its own separate resort. It has Sugarbush's steepest run, called FIS. Mt. Ellen also has a smaller peak called Inverness Peak. This peak is home to the Green Mountain Valley School's racing slopes.
Mt. Ellen is where Sugarbush's main terrain park is located. While some terrain features are found elsewhere, the main parks are on Mt. Ellen's Riemergasse and Sugar Run trails. Mt. Ellen offers groomed trails, terrain parks, tree skiing, and mogul terrain.
Snow at Sugarbush
Sugarbush gets an average of 262 inches (6.65 meters) of snow each year. About 70% of the skiable area has snowmaking coverage. Some areas are left without snowmaking on purpose.
Mountain Facts
The Mountains
- Mount Ellen: 4,083 ft (1,244 m)
- Lincoln Peak: 3,975 ft (1,212 m)
- Castlerock Peak: 3,812 ft (1,162 m)
- North Lynx Peak: 3,300 ft (1,000 m)
- Gadd Peak: 3,150 ft (960 m)
- Inverness Peak: 2,750 ft (840 m)
Lodges
- Valley House (Lincoln Peak)
- Gate House (Lincoln Peak)
- Allyn's Lodge (Lincoln Peak)
- Castlerock Warming Hut (Lincoln Peak)
- Mount Ellen Base Lodge (Mt. Ellen)
- Glen House (Mt. Ellen)
Statistics
- 4,000 acres (16 km2) total area
- 508 acres (2.06 km2) skiable area
- 53 miles (85 km) of trails
- 11 wooded areas for skiing
- 4,083 ft (1,244 m) summit elevation
- 1,483 ft (452 m) base elevation
- 2,600 ft (790 m) vertical drop
- 262 in (670 cm) annual snowfall
- 68% snowmaking coverage
Terrain Types
| Green Circle (Easy) | Blue Square (Medium) | Black Diamond (Hard) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 trails, 82 acres (330,000 m2) | 51 trails, 184 acres (0.7 km2) | 36 trails, 142 acres (0.6 km2) | 111 trails, 508 acres (2.1 km2) |
| 20% | 45% | 35% | 100% |
Lifts
- 16 total lifts
- Quads: 10 (5 are high speed)
- Triples: 2
- Doubles: 1
- Surface Lifts: 3
- Magic Carpets: 2
- Uphill Capacity: 25,463 people per hour
Off-Season at Sugarbush
Sugarbush offers many activities when it's not winter.
It has a health and recreation center called the SHARC. This center has indoor and outdoor tennis courts, racquetball and squash courts, a weight room, and pools. There are also hot tubs, steam rooms, massage rooms, a rock climbing gym, and a dance studio.
Sugarbush also has an 18-hole golf course. It is known for its hilly design.
You can also go hiking and biking on the mountain trails. The Bravo lift runs in the summer and fall for mountain biking and disc golf. There is also an 800-foot (240 m) zip line.
Sugarbush has hosted concerts in the past. The band Phish performed here in 1994 and 1995.
The resort has two highly-rated disc golf courses. The mountain course is considered one of the most difficult in the country.
In the fall, you can take scenic lift rides at Lincoln Peak to see the colorful foliage.
The Long Trail, a 272-mile (438 km) hiking trail that runs through Vermont, crosses the tops of both Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen.
- The official Sugarbush Resort website: http://www.sugarbush.com
