Independence Update: Recapping Year One & Looking Ahead to Year Two

This year’s annual Community Meeting at the K-1 Lodge brought the usual level of anticipation from the hundreds of locals in attendance. After last year’s landmark announcement of our new independent ownership committing $30 million to one year of on-mountain projects, a number that has since increased to $38 million, it was hard to see how we’d follow that up going into this winter. But we had even more game-changing news in store: year two of independence will bring another $22 million in capital improvements, bringing the two-year total to an impressive $60 million.

$38 Million Goes a Long Way

Before we get to what’s to come, there’s a lot to touch on that’s already happened around The Beast. This summer’s most notable construction project, the newly constructed Superstar Six chairlift, is still slated to open to the public early this winter (and yes, we will be throwing a party to celebrate—more details to come). Right next door is the new Roaring Brook Umbrella Bar, the longtime home of spring après camaraderie, which will be re-opening this winter with an entirely new roof, designed and built in-house by our talented staff.

Additionally, we’re nearing completion on our two-fold improvement of the Skyeship Gondola. Our Skyeship Gondola Barn, located at the lift’s mid-station, received a serious facelift that you’re sure to notice on your first trip up stage 1 this winter. Upgrades include an improved workspace for our Lift Maintenance team, heating units to counter overnight icing on cabins, and an overall aesthetic upgrade. The new barn will soon be ready to house our brand-new gondola cabins, as we replaced all 116 cabins with a modern fleet that matches those on the K-1 Gondola.

We’ll also be debuting a new Ledgewood Yurt this winter, featuring a redesigned seating area and improved facilities for our staff and food preparation. Plus, you’ll now be able to ski & ride to the Yurt from a new trail created this summer that can be accessed via High Road. One of the benefits of independent ownership has been the ability to adjust capital expenditure plans on the fly, and this project was no exception. A downed tree in April of this year caused irreparable damage to the previous Yurt, but we were able to pivot and secure the capital needed to re-open this luxurious on-mountain dining location.

$22 Million towards Even More

One of the focal points of next summer’s construction projects will be yet another lift improvement: $6.5 million is set to be invested in upgrading our Snowdon Triple to the Snowdon Quad. An adjusted loading area and increased chair capacity will help service some of our most popular terrain, and the lift will feature fixed-grip chairs as opposed to detachable ones to help it stay operational during tougher weather events. This is part of a long-term strategy to maintain our network of fixed-grip lifts, ensuring reliable lift access to all areas of the mountain, even during inclement New England weather.

Another exciting highlight of summer 2026 will be the $6 million construction of a totally reimagined Jerk Jamaican Mountain Grill. The go-to spot for mountain views and a taste of the islands in our Northbrook area, the “Jerk” has been a mid-mountain gem since its inception in 2016. Its new home will more closely match its popularity, as indoor seating will increase from 26 to 160. New amenities will also include indoor bathrooms, full indoor bar service, and increased food preparation and storage facilities for our staff.

Of the remaining $9.5 million, $2 million each will be allocated towards new snowcats and new snowmaking pipelines respectively. These new pipelines will help feed the over 1,000 low-energy snow guns from HKD that we’ve installed over the last two summers, moves that will only increase our already sizable snowmaking capacity. Finally, the remaining funds will go towards general maintenance and repairs around the resort.

Dreaming of Winter

We can’t wait for our first trips up the new Superstar Six and down to the new Ledgewood Yurt, and we hope you’re as excited as we are for snowy slopes to return. Stay tuned for updates from Pico Mountain, where investments from our independent ownership are also bringing about big advancements right down the road. We still have more to come as the cold temps approach, including a busy events calendar that will be announced here soon enough!