KILLINGTON — Construction of the new Superstar six-pack chairlift has reached an exciting phase this summer, with helicopters now flying in concrete for the tower and terminal footings. On Wednesday, July 1, a helicopter was seen flying to Killington Resort with a payload of concrete.
Killington Resort is replacing its iconic Superstar Express quad with a Doppelmayr UNI-G six-person chairlift, marking the first of its kind from the manufacturer for the resort. The new lift is scheduled to open in early December 2025.
Over the past weeks, crews have removed the old Superstar lift, which was originally built in 1987 as a Yan detachable quad and retrofitted by Poma in 1997. Now, helicopters are being used to transport concrete to be poured at precise locations along the lift line. This method enables efficient work progress on the steep terrain of Skye Peak while minimizing ground disturbance.
The new lift will follow the same line as the previous chair but with towers repositioned for smoother operation, including shifting Tower 4 uphill and closer to the tree line. Once the concrete work is completed mid-summer, installation of terminals and towers will begin, followed by electrical, drive system, and lift control work in late summer and fall.
While the Superstar six-pack will not include a bubble due to storage challenges and the relatively short ride time, it will feature a reconfigured loading area for smoother access. Although the lift will carry six passengers per chair, it will operate at a speed that maintains the same uphill capacity as the previous quad.
Components of the old Superstar lift, including the chairs, will be repurposed, with many of the chairs destined for the Golden Express at Pico. Remaining steel will be salvaged and recycled as part of Killington’s sustainability initiatives.
The $12 million Superstar project is part of Killington’s $32 million in capital improvements planned over the next two seasons. While construction will impact spring skiing on Superstar, the resort plans to make additional snow in the Canyon and North Ridge areas to extend the season elsewhere on the mountain.
Due to the timing of the replacement, the 2025 Audi FIS Ski World Cup will be held at Copper Mountain, Colorado, over Thanksgiving weekend, with the World Cup expected to return to Killington in 2026.
Once complete, the new Superstar lift will improve efficiency and comfort, ensuring quicker access to some of the mountain’s most popular terrain for future seasons.
For updates on this project and other improvements at Killington, visit: killington.com.
The new tower base forms were in place and ready for concrete to be poured.
On Wednesday, July 1, a helicopter was seen heading up to Superstar with a load of concrete.
