By Katy Savage
Construction of the new 58,000 square-foot Killington base lodge won’t resume until next winter, for an anticipated opening in 2022.
The new three-story building was originally targeted to open in November 2020, in time for the Audi FIS Ski Women’s World Cup, but construction abruptly halted in March 2020 due to the pandemic and Gov. Phil Scott’s stay home, stay safe orders. The World Cup was also canceled this past November due to the pandemic.
“It’s definitely an exciting project,” Killington Resort Communications Manager Courtney DiFiore said. “We look forward to unveiling it when it’s complete. We realize there are other priorities we have to tend to.”
The current K-1 base lodge will continue to be used this season and next before it’s torn down in the spring of 2022. The new building will be 21,000 square feet larger than the current building and, like the Peak Lodge, will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, offering 180 degree views of the mountain. There will be a ticket window, a guest service desk, and a rental office on the first floor, a new kitchen with enhanced dining options on the second floor and a full-service bar on the third floor.
Breadloaf, the designer of the building, also designed the Killington Grand Hotel lobby and Preston’s Restaurant.
Construction of the new K-1 lodge broke ground in July 2019 and the shell of the building was complete before the pandemic hit. It now sits boarded up.
“We have to roll with the punches,” DiFiore said.
The new lodge is part of a number of improvements, totaling about $60 million, the resort has made since 2017. A new six-person bubble chairlift was installed, snowmaking systems were updated at Pico, a new four-person chairlift replaced the former North Ridge Triple, a new K-1 gondola was installed, the Woodward Peace Park was completed and new tunnels were constructed to improve ski traffic.
“This is a significant step in fulfilling our vision to transform the way guests experience and enjoy Killington for years to come,” Killington Resort President and General Manager Mike Solimano said in a press release when the lodge was announced.
