By Polly Mikula
The days of Killington’s Superstar quad are limited. On Sunday, April 13, the resort will hold a final farewell party and removal will begin thereafter. The resort plans to replace the lift with a six-pack high-speed lift, which is scheduled to open in early December.
Killington will celebrate the lift’s 38 years of service with a special sendoff party in true Killington fashion.
“We’ll be sending off our iconic chairlift the only way we know how: a classic Killington spring party at the K-1 Umbrella Bar. Featuring live music, free giveaways, and more,” the resort stated on its event calendar.
For its final day, Superstar will stay open until 5 p.m. To commemorate the Superstar quad legacy, Killington also introduced a special achievement (27, actually) on its app. One of the tasks is to complete 87 rides on the Superstar Quad this season to honor the year it was built (1987). Those that complete all 27 will be entered to win the first ride on the new Superstar Six chairlift.
The $12 million lift replacement project is part of $32 million in capital improvements to be completed over the next two seasons.
“While we know spring skiing and riding will look a little different this year, this $12 million investment will elevate the guest experience for decades to come,” said Mike Solimano, president and CEO of Killington Resort. “We’re still committed to hosting the longest ski season in the East and will stay open as long as Mother Nature allows.”
The K-1 Gondola will operate daily through May 11, providing access to North Ridge and the Canyon. After May 11, Snowdon Triple and lifts in the Canyon will run Friday–Sunday, as long as conditions allow. Bear Mountain lifts are expected to operate until mid-to-late April. And the Snowdon Six Express and Ramshead Express Quad plan to remain open through April 20.
The process, permits
The quad removal process is expected to take approximately six weeks. Killington aims to complete much of the work on snow, utilizing grooming tractors to access terrain that traditional construction vehicles cannot. While Superstar Trail will be closed during this time, other trails in the area will remain accessible via Launch Pad. The full project timeline is estimated to be eight months, with the new lift scheduled to debut in early December 2025.
Elaine McDevitt, land use review board technician for the District 1 Environmental Commission, issued Killington Pico Ski Resort Partners LLC its Land Use Permit amendment to begin the transition, on March 24. The permit “specifically authorizes the replacement of an existing 3700-foot Superstar Quad Chairlift with a 6-place carrier chairlift along the same centerline and length. More specifically, this permit authorizes the deconstruction and removal of the existing lift and associated buildings; new construction of lift towers and top and bottom terminals; installation of a carrier integrated maintenance structure and stand-alone generator; and associated site grading and drainage improvements.”
Construction hours (including helicopter operations) shall be limited to official sunrise to official sunset, the permit further states, with blasting hours limited from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The permit also states that the resort must remove the existing tower located within the riparian zone by flush cutting the metal tower and pecking the concrete so the top of the concrete is below ground surface. Additional precautions must also be taken during Bicknell’s Thrush nesting season (from May 1 to Aug. 15). During that time no tree cutting or removal is allowed, the resort must use double blast matting, restricting helicopter flights to the area between the lower elevation staging area (the existing resort parking lot adjacent to the bottom terminal) and the top terminal of the Superstar lift and along the Superstar lift line; and use an excavator in lieu of a helicopter to deliver and pour concrete, wherever feasible.
