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9.26.07
Busy Body
Boyne USA acquires Loon Mountain, launches a massive
expansion at Sugarloaf, and eyes adding night skiing to Sunday River.
It’s
official: Boyne USA is shaking up New England.
Just last month, the company finalized its purchase of Sunday
River and Sugarloaf resorts in Maine. Only days later, Boyne
announced it was bringing mountain biking back to Sunday River.
Now, the company has acquired Loon Mountain in New Hampshire,
has announced a massive expansion plan for Sugarloaf, and is
eyeing bringing night skiing to Sunday River.
Last week, Boyne announced it had signed a contract with Booth
Creek Ski Holdings to acquire Loon Mountain, as well as
acquiring other resorts in Washington. Immediately after the
acquisition, Boyne announced the creation of its New England
Pass – a tiered season pass that is valid at Sunday River,
Sugarloaf and Loon.
Meanwhile, Boyne has announced a $4 million expansion project at
Sugarloaf that will include adding more snowmaking, expanded
grooming and a new learning lift. The resort has received
several of Boyne’s high-output, energy efficient fan guns to
maximize early season coverage. Sugarloaf has also added 70 new
traditional snow guns. Those, along with other improvements, are
expected to increase snowmaking capacity by as much as 20
percent.
At Sunday River, Boyne may be considering adding night skiing.
According to a report in the Bethel Citizen, there will
be a hearing at the Bethel, Maine Town Office on October 3 to
consider a proposal by Sunday River to light its slopes for
night skiing. According to the report, the Bethel Planning Board
is currently reviewing an application to put 105 light towers on
three slopes. However, according to the paper, an official in
the Town Office reported receiving several unsupportive phone
calls on the issue.
Alex Kaufman, Sunday River’s Director of Communications,
declined to comment on the proposal other than to say any plans
to add lights are still only in the exploratory stage. “New
ownership simply wants to explore the idea,” he said, “and take
the needed steps to learn more about what it would take to
execute if Sunday River decided to add that amenity in the
future.”
-D.M.
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