Polishing a Diamond

 

In 2007, Boyne Resorts and CNL Lifestyle Properties purchased Sugarloaf Mountain from the American Skiing Company. Sugarloaf was purchased because it is considered one of the best skier's mountains in the East, has a tradition that both companies respect tremendously,  and it complements the interrelationship with the other properties Boyne Resorts operates in the marketplace. 

Boyne and CNL recognized the Mountain would immediately benefit from an overdue capital infusion. Investment was made in fundamental infrastructure with an eye toward addressing basic maintenance items. The goal was to deliver an excellent skiing product—more consistently and more efficiently.  To that end, Sugarloaf has enjoyed $11 million in investment since 2007. (View Timeline of investments.)

After carefully evaluating its future needs and through many discussions with the core Sugarloafers, we have defined the necessary next steps to propel Sugarloaf to its rightful place.

Boyne and CNL will continue to invest in ways which reinforce the Mountain’s strengths while maintaining its core DNA. Sugarloaf 2020 outlines a ten-year road map of the key initiatives that will make Sugarloaf the largest and best skier’s mountain in the eastern United States.

Investment since 2007 (View Timeline)

On-Slope/Skiing Experience

  • Chairlifts
    During the summer of 2011, the Spillway chairlifts will be replaced by a new, state-of-the-art, fixed grip quad, built by Dopplemayr. The lift will be installed in the same path as the existing Spillway East lift, at a cost of roughly $3 million. The new quad will feature a conveyor loading system, which will improve the lift loading experience, reduce lift stoppage time, and allow the lift to run at speeds of up to 500 feet per minute, making it the fastest fixed-grip lift on the market. The lift will travel 3,746 feet, rise 1,457 vertical feet, feature a total of 16 towers, and will be powered by a 400 horsepower motor. An additional 400 horsepower Cummins Diesel engine will serve as a backup. The new lift has been designed to be as wind-resistant as possible. It will travel at a lower height, and will be installed closer to the treeline to reduce its exposure to wind. The specially designed chairs will be heavier than a standard four-person chair, making them more wind-resistant and less susceptible to chair-swing.  
  • Terrain
    In 2010, approximately 270 acres of new, gladed terrain were opened in Brackett Basin, between Sugarloaf and Burnt Mountain. The area includes tight, eastern tree skiing and wide-open western-style glades. Phase 1 of the Burnt Mountain expansion created nearly 2,300 vertical feet of sidecountry terrain, and made Sugarloaf the largest resort in New England in terms of in-bounds, developed acreage. During the summer of 2011, crews will continue work on Phase 2 of the Burnt Mountain expansion, which will open up an additional 135 acres of gladed, sidecountry terrain.
  • Snowmaking: Pumps, Compressors, Pipes, Guns
    The largest area of investment since 2007 has been Sugarloaf's snowmaking operations. With goals to get more snow on the ground during the early season, and to double snowmaking capacity while simultaneously cutting the cost of making that snow in half, Boyne and Sugarloaf have invested heavily in all areas of the snowmaking process. Over the last three years, Sugarloaf has added a total of 150 new low-energy snow guns (Boyne Low-E Fan Guns and traditional HKD Low-E tower guns) to it's fleet, replaced its five existing water pumps with six new ones to increase capacity and efficiency, constructed a new mid-mountain pumphouse to increase water capacity to the summit, rebuilt its air compressors and installed several thousand feet of new snowmaking pipe throughout the mountain. 
  • Wind Mitigation
    A challenge for Sugarloaf over the years has been wind and its effects on lift operations. Since 2007 steps have been taken to reduce the effects of the wind, including new wind fencing along key areas of the Double Runner West and T-Bar, new "over-under" sheave trains on the SuperQuad and Whiffletree lifts to reduce stoppage time, and improved procedures for checking lifts and placing them on hold. 
  • Lift Houses
    Since 2007 Boyne and Sugarloaf have updated and replaced most on-slope buildings, including all lift houses and snowmaking valve boxes. The lift houses, or lift-shacks as they had been know, had fallen into a state of disrepair over the years, were inefficient, and fell short of the standards expected of a world-class resort. These buildings were replaced with newly-designed, energy-efficient structures that improve the aesthetics of the on-hill experience.
  • Trail Signage
    Sugarloaf's entire system of trail signage (a total of more than 1,000 signs) has been replaced and improved over the last two years. The new signs add consistency throughout the mountain and help make navigation of Sugarloaf's trails easier for the first-time visitor.
  • Outdoor Center
    The Town of Carrabassett Valley, working with Sugarloaf and Boyne have renovated and expanded the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center. The $1.4 million project, funded by the Town of Carrabassett Valley, doubled the square footage of the lodge, added a new NHL sized ice-skating rink, updated trails, and replaced bridges throughout the 90+ kilometer trail network. The Outdoor Center now stands as one of the premier Nordic skiing, skating, and snowshoeing facilities in New England.


Sugarloaf Village

  • The Beach
    During the summer of 2008, Sugarloaf flattened and resurfaced the area in front of the Base Lodge, known as "The Beach," added a new bonfie pit, stage area, and constructed a new outdoor barbecue area. These renovations have created a more festive and welcoming atmosphere around the Base Lodge, particularly during the warm spring days for which Sugarloaf is famous.
  • Base Lodge
    The inside of the Base Lodge has undergone a number of renovations since 2007 as well, with the ticket windows and season pass desks streamlined and updated to help expedite the ticket purchasing process and create a better initial impression for first-time guests. The Narrow Gauge cafeteria has also been redesigned, and the old food service area in the King Pine Room has been transformed into a convenient, grab and go snack bar.
  • Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel
    The Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel has seen extensive upgrades over the past three years, thanks in large part to the Sugarloaf Mountain Condominium Center Association. A new porte-cachere was constructed on the main entrance to the Hotel in 2007 to create a vastly improved sense of arrival for Hotel guests. In the summer of 2009 the Hotel saw more than $600,000 in upgrades that included new flat panel televisions throughout the hotel and new Boyne Beds in every room.
  • Sugar Shack
    Constructed throughout the 2009-10 season, the Sugarloaf Sugar Shack was a new addition to The Beach and Base area, which allowed guests to see real Maine maple syrup being made on site, with sap from trees tapped right here at Sugarloaf. The Sugar Shack was a tremendous hit with guests, particularly on Maine Maple Sunday, when Sugarloaf handed out more than 1000 samples of homemade syrup and Giffords Ice Cream. The Sugar Shack provides an added ammenity for guests, and provides them with a truly authentic Maine experience.

Sugarloaf Golf Club

  • Redesign and rebuild of hole #6
    During the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010, Sugarloaf redesigned and rebuilt the sixth hole to enhance playability and correct drainage problems that were hurting the health of the turf. New drainage was installed throughout the fairway and approach area, playable area around the green and approach was increased, and several thousand square feet of new sod was installed. The result has been a transformation of number six from a notorious score-killer to a true signature hole that golfers of multiple ability levels can appreciate. 
  • Tree Removal
    As a true wilderness golf course, Sugarloaf naturally is heavily wooded. While the trees provide the secluded setting that makes Sugarloaf unique, they also block sunlight from greens and fairways, creating challenges for course crews. Over the past several seasons Sugarloaf has enagaged in selective tree removal in key areas that will allow additional sunlight to hit key areas while still maintaining the remote, wilderness feel that is a hallmark of the Sugarloaf course.
  • Turf Management
    Under Course Superintendant Bob Bruce, who joined the Sugarloaf team in 2008, the Sugarloaf Golf Club course crew have engaged in aggressive cultural practices to promote the health and long-term sustainability of Sugarloaf's turf. These practices include increased verticutting, which removes thatch and promotes improved turf density and agressive overseeding of greens and fairways with heartier varieties of grass to improve resilience after the winter months.