Loon bubble lift to debut in 2021
With the ski season just past the halfway mark, some resorts are already planning for next season. At Loon Mountain, winter 2021 will debut a high-speed, eightpassenger bubble chairlift, making it the first resort in the Northeast and the second in North America to install such a lift.
The lift comes as part of a new 10-year plan dubbed “Flight Path 2030” that Loon Mountain Resort owners and operators Boyne Resorts have developed. The goal with the plan is to elevate the ski experience, excel in every season, connect the community, and grow responsibly inside and out, Loon’s President and General Manager Jay Scambio said in a public forum recently.
“Loon’s 10-year plan will have a positive impact on development throughout the Lincoln and Woodstock communities as we travel together on our path to be New England’s premier mountain destination,” said Scambio.
The chairlift is a natural first move. It will replace the resorts busy and vital Kancamagus Express Quad that was considered the most advanced lift available when it was placed there in 1995. The location of that lift, a central spot for the popular resort, will help move traffic up onto the slopes quicker with it’s higher load capability, its speed and it’s RFID ticketing system.
The Doppelmayr lift will showcase the manufacturer’s new D-Line technology, making it the most technologically advanced lift ever installed in the East.
“The Kancamagus 8 chairlift will be a leap into the future of skiing for our guests,” said Scambio. “We are committed to bringing the latest advancements to our guests. This lift is the next example of that, following our first-in-the-world dual-frequency RFID installation.”
Each of the 62 chairs on the Kancamagus 8 will feature eight heated, extra-wide seats and tinted bubbles. It will move at a speed of 18 feet per second, delivering skiers to the top in under four and a half minutes. The lift will also be equipped with the most advanced safety features of any in North America, including auto-locking restraining bars, individual footrests and height-adjustable conveyor loading, which also increases efficiency in transporting guests of all sizes.
Mark Bee, president of Doppelmayr USA said, “We have a deep, long-standing relationship with both Loon and Boyne Resorts and are proud to be a part of a major step forward in the eastern ski scene that puts Loon on a path towards achieving its goal of having one of the most advanced lift systems in the world.”
Loon Mountain Resort, long popular for its easy access from Boston and other spots, top snowmaking and learning programs since it opened in 1966. Up next after the new lift installation will be a “reimagination” of the base areas starting with the West Basin and Governor Adams Lodge. The goal, the plan says, will be to elevate the arrival and dining experience of guests. An outline of the plan can be seen at www.loonmtn.com/ press-releases/kanc-8flight-path-2030.