Off-Season Upgrades
FEATURED IN THE SEPTEMBER EDITION OF THE WATERVILLE VALLEY WIG WAG
Fall signifies different things for different people: foliage season, back-to-school season, harvest season... the list goes on. But to Waterville Valley Resort, fall only means one thing - we're one season closer to winter. The lack of snow leaves us longing for corduroy cruises on Oblivion, but Waterville Valley Resort has been taking full advantage of the off-season downtime to prepare for the coming winter. Our team has been working non-stop, improving and enhancing the resort. Thanks to the tireless work of our on-mountain teams, the mountain will have more to offer this winter. Not only are we working hard to improve the skier experience, but also the experience of our team members.
THE FREESTYLE LOUNGE DECK is complete, and skiers and riders are in for a treat! This gorgeous, 2,000 sq. ft. deck is fitted with Adirondack chairs, yard games, and gas firepits. It's been an incredible addition to Waterville's summit-top weddings. Come wintertime, this deck will bring a new twist to Freestyle Lounge après. You'll be able to gather around a firepit, enjoy al fresco dining, and jam out to some live music from local musicians. The deck offers stellar views of the ski slopes. Parents will be able to lounge on Adirondack chairs while watching their kids learn on the Pasture Carpets. The Freestyle Lounge deck will be a place for skiers and riders to simply sit back, relax, and take it all in.
The Freestyle Lounge isn't the only restaurant receiving enhancements! T-BARS is getting a major remodel! With a fresh coat of paint, new carpets, and a brand-new menu in the works, T-Bars is shaping up to be better than ever!
Directly below the Freestyle Lounge, our facilities, maintenance, and construction teams completed building a 2,500 sq ft room, affectionately named "THE HIDEAWAY". Throughout the past few months, The Hideaway has operated as a Bridal Suite for our mountain-top weddings. During the wintertime, The Hideaway will serve as a dining and gathering space for Junior Seasonal Programs and Silver Streaks.
OUT ON THE SLOPES, our teams have been working across the entire mountain. We plan on making more snow this year - we are preparing to install additional snow fan guns on Valley Run and Lower Bobby's Run! This multi-faceted project is already underway, we're currently working on an electrical installation along these two runs. Alongside this electrical installation, we're installing fiber optic cable in preparation for the 2024 World Cup. Down at the Pasture Carpets, we've installed a new carpet belt. This new carpet belt is lighter and stronger than its predecessor. Plus, it's been fusion spliced, so there will be fewer stoppages throughout the winter.
Up at the summit area, we're building a brand-new SKI PATROL HEADQUARTERS. The current Ski Patrol Headquarters is far too small, the space was cut in half during the construction of the top terminal of Tecumseh Express. We're now constructing a brand-new, 2-story building and sled garage, located adjacent to the unload area of Northside Chairlift.
Lots of progress has been made down in TOWN SQUARE. We've built a new gazebo, replaced all the railings along the upper level, renovated the stairwells, added a fresh coat of paint to the exterior buildings, repatched the stairs to the Lower Level, and completed brick repair. The Waterville Valley Conference Center also received some upgrades: we installed a new roof and a new audio system.
We've made major upgrades to our EMPLOYEE HOUSING. The Snowstar, Waterville's 62-person employee housing building, received a new roof, new windows, and new siding. We're now in the process of renovating every single room. These enhancements will benefit the lives of a large portion of our year-round and seasonal team, including younger employees, international employees, and employees relocating from out of state.
There's something special about this valley. The mountains, the wilderness, the people, the community - Waterville is truly one of a kind. We want to facilitate enchanting memories for all who visit, live, and work in this wonderfully unique place. That's why we constantly strive to improve and enhance the experience for everyone. And this is just a small portion of the projects we’ve undertaken over the past few months. With so many incredible upgrades, major events like the World Cup, and recent forecasts of snow, this upcoming winter is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever! And we can't wait to welcome you back for another incredible ski season in this extraordinary place we call home.
P.S. Think Snow!