Sugarloaf to install new terminal on King Pine lift, part of $1.3 million in chairlift upgradesCARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine - Sugarloaf will install a new, state-of-the-art terminal at the bottom of the King Pine chairlift this summer, part of more than $1.3 million in upgrades to the resort's lift infrastructure, the company announced. The new terminal will replace the entire load-terminal at King Pine, including the tensioning system, braking systems, anti-rollback systems, electronics, and gear box. The new terminal will be a Doppelmayr TRISTAR (the same style used on Sugarloaf's Skyline Quad), and will feature a redesigned gear box, as well as the latest braking and anti-rollback technology. The existing King Pine towers and chairs will remain in place, as will the top terminal. The new terminal will be designed and manufactured by Doppelmayr at a cost of roughly $800,000. "The new King Pine terminal will dramatically improve the lift experience for our guests, and is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring our lift infrastructure is reliable and safe," Sugarloaf General Manager Karl Strand said. "The towers and chairs will remain the same, but King Pine will, in essence, be a completely new lift." Construction on the new King Pine terminal is scheduled to begin in early July, and the lift is expected to open in December of 2015. The work on these lifts will upgrade all braking and anti-rollback systems to newer technologies. While all of Sugarloaf's lifts meet manufacturer specifications and are certified by lift engineers and inspectors each year, many feature older designs that will be updated to modern, automated systems. West Mountain, Skidway, Sawduster, and Snubber will all receive new automated braking and anti-rollback systems, as well as electrical upgrades. The Timberline lift will also see updated braking and anti-rollback systems, as well as a rebuilt gear box. Sugarloaf will also launch a new website this summer, devoted exclusively to the topics of chairlift safety and maintenance. The site will feature detailed information on all of Sugarloaf's lifts, updates on maintenance projects, articles on rider safety, and an email "hotline" where guests can submit questions or report any lift-safety concerns. "We're strongly committed to lift safety, and part of that is being open and thorough with our communication about that topic," Strand said. "Our hope is that this website will be a conduit for that information, and provide a direct line of communication for our guests." Elsewhere on the mountain, the resort will continue to invest in its snowmaking system, with upgraded hydrants and snowmaking pipe in various locations around the mountain. Sugarloaf will also continue with general resort and village enhancements, including building upgrades and a new Burton Signature Store, located in the former home of the Base Lair Arcade. The store will be designed by Burton, and will feature the latest in Burton hard goods and apparel. The offseason projects are a continuation of the ongoing Sugarloaf 2020 Ten-Year Road Map, which outlines the resort's ten-year vision for development. In the five years since the plan was introduced, the resort has seen numerous upgrades and improvements, including expansion onto more than 500 acres of new terrain, a new quad chairlift, massive upgrades to its snowmaking system, a new irrigation system for the Sugarloaf Golf Club, a custom 30-person outdoor hot tub at the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel, new restaurants and food options, and upgraded facilities throughout the resort. About Sugarloaf - Located in Carrabassett Valley, ME, Sugarloaf is largest ski area in the East, and is home to the only lift-serviced above treeline skiing and riding in the East. In the summer, Sugarloaf is home to the number one golf course in the state of Maine, according to Golf Digest. Sugarloaf is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions. |