Killington Resort officials have announced they are investing $25 million in infrastructure improvements across Killington and Pico this summer, including upgrades to lifts, snowmaking, bike trails, and more.
The $25 million investment in the Killington, Vermont resort this summer brings the total invested since the ski resort was brought under new independent ownership two years ago to $65 million.
New Snowdon Quad
Killington is in the process of replacing their Snowdon Triple with a new, fixed-grip quad chairlift manufactured by Doppelmayr. The new Snowdon Quad will remain a fixed-grip lift as part of the resort’s long-term strategy to maintain fixed-grip lift access across the resort.
Though the ride will be a bit slower than the nearby Snowdon Six Express, resort officials said fixed-grip lifts generally provide more reliable lift access during any potential weather events. The new lift will also provide a 33 percent increase in capacity and a slightly faster ride than its predecessor, plus a backup generator that can run the lift at full speed in case of a potential power outage.
Construction work began in April. In late May, crews were out blasting holes in the earth where the new lift’s towers and terminal foundations will live. This approximately $7.5 million lift project is expected to be completed near the start of winter 2026-27.
Needle’s Eye Lodge
Last fall, Killington officials announced an upcoming expansion to the Jerk Jamaican Mountain Grill, the resort’s slopeside dining option that they said has outgrown its current physical footprint.
Many of those details are still the same—the new building will have more indoor seating (increasing from 26 to 160), an expanded deck with 100 outdoor seats, additional indoor bathrooms, full bar service, and improved food preparation and storage spaces for staff, all in a space that’s four times the size of the current building. The ski-on, ski-off flavors of the Jerk will remain, but officials said that once completed, the building will now take on a new name: the Needle’s Eye Lodge.
Officials said most of the summer’s work will be about getting the site ready for the larger changes coming next year. Crews will soon begin building a retaining wall around the project’s full footprint, which will help set the stage for the new building to start going up in summer 2027.
Access to the Jerk Jamaican Mountain Grill is expected to remain unaffected during the 2026-27 winter season. The full $8.5 million project is currently projected to open during winter 2027-28.
Lift Maintenance
Along with these large lift infrastructure projects at both Killington and Pico, the resort’s owners are reportedly investing an additional $1.3 million in lift maintenance projects.
This summer’s work includes projects on the Needles Eye Quad, Skye Peak Quad, Skyeship Gondola, K-1 Gondola, and Bear Mountain Quad, as well as the Summit Quad at Pico Mountain.
Maintenance work will focus on acceleration and deceleration systems, drive and brake upgrades, tower work, and other key components, all aimed to boost lift reliability and the guest experience.
Officials said these investments are designed to strengthen lift performance all across the resort while supporting more consistent access to terrain each winter.
Snowmaking Upgrades
Alongside the Snowdon Quad project, Killington is installing new pipelines and around 23 more new low-energy snowguns along Conclusion, a trail that hasn’t seen active snowmaking in around a decade.
Additional work includes ongoing pipeline replacements at Bear Mountain, a project that will soon deliver increased snowmaking reliability to trails like Upper Wildfire.
Two higher capacity fan guns are also set to be installed this summer on Mouse Trap and Skyeburst, replacing the existing fan guns on both trails that will be re-located in the future.
Food And Beverage Checkout
In the resort’s Snowshed Lodge, a new AI-powered checkout process has been implemented this summer that will see year-round usage going forward.
To pay for food and drinks at Snowshed, visitors can simply place all of their items within the view of the resort’s new 3D cameras, and software will total the whole purchase. Users can then scan their season pass discounts (if applicable) and pay with a quick tap of a card or smartphone.
Officials said the overall checkout process is up to 400 percent faster than a traditional point-of-sale location.
Pico Mountain Outpost Lift
At Pico Mountain, officials said the Outpost Double suffered a mechanical failure this past winter that unfortunately could not be repaired. The resort now has a two-part replacement in the works.
First, to provide access to all of Outpost’s terrain during winter 2026-27, the resort is installing a temporary rope tow that will bring skiers and riders from the intersection of Prospector and That A Way to the top of Bronco, located near the unload station of the retired Outpost Double.
Second, looking ahead to winter 2027-28 (Pico Mountain’s 90th anniversary), officials said permitting and lift procurement are underway for a new chairlift that will be constructed in the footprint of the previous Outpost Double, with a target opening during the 2027-28 winter season.
More details on the chairlift’s capacity and manufacturer will be announced at a later date.
The Trail Crusher
Resort officials said they have also invested $237,000 towards a remote-controlled Moritz crawler carrier from German manufacturer Pfanzelt. Built to operate on steep and sensitive terrain, this compact machine can access areas that are difficult for larger equipment while using specialized attachments for trail construction and maintenance. Among the machine’s specialized attachments is the trail crusher.
The Moritz was first showcased last summer at the 2025 NSAA Downhill Bike Park Summit hosted at Killington and is due to arrive later this summer. Once in use, the machine will immediately support bike park maintenance and trail development.
Officials said their first task for the trail crusher is slated to be Easy Street. Overall, the machine is expected to help the resort’s trail crew more efficiently restore washed-out sections of trail, build new lines, and clear, shape, open, and maintain bike park trails throughout this summer and beyond, all while limiting disruption to the surrounding terrain.
Bike Park Improvments
The Ramshead Express will open to service the resort’s bike park beginning on Friday, July 12, and resort officials said they are doing all they can to prepare that terrain quicker for guests. The resort has reportedly enlisted additional third-party trail building support to assist with some of the most popular bike trails on Ramshead. Working alongside the resort’s own trail crew, this added support will help prepare Black Magic, the resort’s premier 2+ mile long jump trail, as well as Blue Magic, another one of the most popular trails. Using this additional assistance, the resort is looking to get both trails opened to the public around early July this summer.
The Ramshead base area will also feature a new dual slalom course and jump line this summer, both to also be built by the resort’s trail crew.
Summer Adventure Center Upgrades
Officials also said $215,000 has been invested in summer attractions alone, one of the resort’s largest investments in summer activities in the past decade.
First up, the Adventure Center will add two new attractions that are expected to open ahead of July Fourth weekend this year: Beast Tower and Climbing Wall. Along with an incoming new Trampoline Jump, the number of attractions available with Adventure Center access is now up to nine.
Additionally, the Roaring Brook Mining attraction is now double its previous size after being extended by 20 feet while now offering a more convenient nearby option for purchasing gem bags.
Free attractions already available to all guests include three new lawn games and an upgraded Kick Start track, a bike loop in the Snowshed Base Area designed for small children to ride using complimentary balance bikes. The resort also has a new and improved playground on the way that is expected to open ahead of the Fourth of July.
