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West Mountain, a small ski and snowboarding operation just outside the Blue Line in Queensbury, NY, has announced the recent purchase of a triple chairlift from the Hermitage Club in West Dover, Vermont. The investment marks another turn in the fortunes of popular downhill resort, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013.
The newly acquired triple chairlift is over twice the length needed to replace the almost 60-year-old Summit Double Chairlift located at West Mountain’s base area. Spencer Montgomery, West Mountain’s co-owner and General Manager, has secured a second drive terminal and bull wheel, with intentions of replacing the Northwest Triple Chair as well. “There is a 50% chance that both lifts will be replaced this year,” Montgomery told the Glens Falls Post Star.
The Hermitage Club had planned to keep the Triple Chairlift, and invested nearly $400,000 into the lift over the last two seasons, but decided instead to upgrade the lift.
West Mountain’s new triple chairlift will move considerably faster, traveling at speeds of about 300-400 feet per minute. Currently the Summit Chairlift travels at about 150-300 feet per minute.
These announcements are being made just shy of the second anniversary of Apex Capital LLC’s takeover of West Mountain. The multi-million dollar lift replacement project is one of several capital improvements the new management team has planned, they said.
In December 2013, they company refurbished the Main Lodge. In August 2014, over 4,000 feet of 10″ epoxy coated steel snowmaking pipeline was installed, which tripled the Mountain’s snowmaking capabilities. A new Pisten Bully Groomer was purchased in December of 2014.
Apex Capital says future plans include opening more terrain, expanding snowmaking to the mountain’s northwest aspect (including the popular A.O.A trail), and adding summer activities.
West Mountain Ski area is one of few ski areas that offer night skiing and snowboarding, along with snow tubing. More information can be found online.
Photos of the triple chairlift loading station at the Hermitage Club in West Dover, Vermont provided.
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West is a great starter ski area. My kids both took lessons and learned to ski there. Plus, there is enough terrain so mom and dad don’t get bored. Once you’ve skied West you have the skills to move on to any other mountain in New York. Night skiing means kids can go there after school for a few hours too.
I am with you. Night skiing allows for ski school ski clubs which gets kids interested in a sport that they can do for the rest of their lives.