Killington invests over $3.5 million for Summer 2015

KILLINGTON, Vt. Primarily focused on expanding summer activities, Killington’s current wave of investment exceeds $3.5 million for this upcoming summer.

The new summer attractions will be located in the Snowshed base area, Killington’s new summer epicenter for outdoor activities. At the center of these attractions, the Snowshed Express Quad chairlift will operate daily through the summer as a new addition to complement the K-1 Express Gondola, serving hikers, expanded mountain biking terrain for all ability levels and nature enthusiasts.

Eight new attractions will open in the summer energy epicenter anchored by a 4,800’ alpine mountain coaster experience, a four-story ropes course with 42 obstacles above a 5,000 square foot maze, a 1200’ long Skyeride that seats two guests at a time and rises over 200’ in the air, Segway tours, ATV/UTV mountain tours, re-designed and expanded beginner and intermediate mountain bike trails built along with our industry leading mountain bike venue designers Gravity Logic, and a new BOGS Hiking Center.

“Killington won’t just have a different look this summer, it will have a whole new energy,” says Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort. “This wave of investment is a significant effort by the resort to grow summer business, and will bring more visitors and extend stays during our non-winter months, benefitting the entire Killington region.”

The Killington Sports retail and bike shop at Snowshed Lodge will feature an expanded fleet of rental mountain bikes including over 50 new mountain bikes from SCOTT and KONA, including youth sizes and accessories like riding shoes and gloves. The BOGS Hiking Center will include hiking shoe rentals, plus hiking sticks, trekking poles and more.

Construction commences during Killington’s spring ski season with phase two of a five-year mountain bike park expansion plan to include riding experiences for all ability levels of mountain bikers. The expansion plan adds new bike trails in the Snowshed area, including lower-ability options, intermediate options with winding banked turns and terrain for the most advanced riders, all of which is accessible by two lifts. This meticulously designed five-year plan will set Killington Resort apart as the leading mountain bike destination in the East.

Grand Opening of this exciting new summer activities venue and the kick-off of Killington Resort’s summer operations is slated for June 26, 2015 with the alpine mountain coaster expected to open on August 1.  Although summer operations and activities will conclude on Sunday October 18, 2015 to prepare the mountain for snowmaking and the winter ski and snowboard season, the coaster will operate year round.

Major events for the summer season include the Cooler in the Mountains Concert Series featuring free live music on Saturdays from July to September, the Dirty Girl Mud Run on July 11, Killington Wine Festival July 17-19, the first annual Vermont JerkFest & Reggae Festival July 31-August 1, and Spartan Race September 19-20.

Photo Courtesy Killington Resort/Chandler Burgess