Killington Resort broke ground on its new K-1 Base Lodge on Tuesday, July 16, upon receipt of final permitting. The new, 58,000 square foot lodge, which will be 21,000 square feet larger than the previous lodge, is slated to open for the 2020-21 winter season in time for the 2020 Audi FIS Ski Women’s World Cup.
This project consists of two phases, the first of which began July 16 with construction of a new structure in front of the existing K-1 Base Lodge on grade with the K-1 Gondola. Killington will continue to use the existing base lodge for the upcoming 2019-20 winter season. Come spring 2020, the existing base lodge will be removed and phase two of the new building will be completed.
Once complete, the new three-story lodge, designed by Breadloaf, will be more than 50 percent larger than the existing lodge and will include a full-service bar, a food court, a coffee bar, additional space, and unobstructed 180-degree views of the beautiful Vermont mountain landscape. The new K-1 Base Lodge will feature many of the characteristics that make the Peak Lodge such a desirable destination for Killington visitors including an open floor plan featuring mixed seating arrangements, floor-to-ceiling windows, a grandiose fireplace, and an upscale food court set to offer fresh, farm-to-table cuisine. This new lodge can double as a multi-purpose space, hosting conferences, weddings, groups, events and more. Skier services will include rentals and tune shop, lift ticket sales, retail store, changing rooms, including a mothers nursing room, bag storage and additional restrooms on all three floors.
“We’re excited to begin phase one of the K-1 Base Lodge build. This is a significant step in fulfilling our vision to transform the way guests experience and enjoy Killington for years to come,” says Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort. “In the past two years alone, we’ve set the stage for the next 50 by making more than $60 million dollars in improvements, and we have big plans for Killington moving forward that will continue to solidify us as the Northeast’s hub for year-round adventure.”
Construction of the lodge is taking place in concert with the addition of a new four-person, fixed grip chairlift debuting this winter to replace the old North Ridge Triple and significant upgrades to Killington and sister resort Pico Mountain’s snowmaking systems. Staying true to our Play Forever Pledge, snowmaking upgrades include new low energy tower snowguns, and new semi-automatic water and air hydrants, which will significantly decrease the time it takes to start up snow guns on ski trails. Additionally, snowmaking upgrades at Pico Mountain will increase the capacity for the 2019-20 season resulting in a more consistent and more reliable snow surface, all with a lower impact on the environment. Some permits are still pending for 2019-20 season projects.
